Hailstones start life as raindrops which are pushed by updrafts into the higher, cooler areas of the atmosphere - a process which can be repeated several times before they're finally deposited   downwards (at speeds of up to 160kph for the larger ones). The heaviest individual hailstones (at around 1kg) were recorded in Bangladesh's Gopalganj district on 14 April 1986 ... they sent 92 people to an early grave. Oh, and they were also the worst thing about having shorts as a part of your school uniform too. DP

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