CAUAYAN CITY, Isabela — Residents in parts of Cauayan City were surprised after small hailstones reportedly fell during a severe thunderstorm on Thursday afternoon. The weather event was captured on video by a resident in Barangay Maligaya, Forest Region around 5:00 PM, accompanied by strong winds, heavy rain, thunder, and lightning.

Hail forms inside powerful thunderstorm clouds when water droplets are carried upward by strong rising winds into extremely cold sections of the cloud. There, the droplets freeze into ice pellets. As they grow heavier, they eventually fall to the ground as hailstones once the updraft can no longer hold them aloft.

While hailstorms are less common in the Philippines than in temperate countries, they are not impossible. They usually occur when thunderstorms become intense enough to produce strong vertical air movement and sharply contrasting temperatures within storm clouds.

For many Filipinos, hail remains an unusual and fascinating sight. Yet it can also bring damage. Even small hailstones may harm crops, dent vehicles, break fragile roofing materials, and pose risks to people caught outdoors. When paired with lightning and strong winds, the danger rises significantly.

This incident also reflects a broader reality: weather is becoming more volatile and harder to predict. Communities may experience extreme heat one day and violent thunderstorms the next. Whether or not a single hail event can be directly linked to climate change, shifting atmospheric conditions can increase the frequency of severe weather episodes.

As unusual weather events become more visible, public awareness becomes essential. Residents should treat hail-producing storms seriously and seek shelter immediately when thunder, lightning, and strong winds begin.

Nature often signals change through uncommon events.

When rare weather phenomena start appearing more often, are they isolated curiosities—or warnings that climate extremes are becoming the new normal?

(Larawan mula: Cherry Lim / Facebook)