What Is the Difference Between Snowflakes and Hail?

Snowflakes and hail are both made from ice, but they form in different places.

Snowflakes

Snowflakes start high up in the sky where it's cold. They grow slowly as water vapor turns into ice. This makes them look like tiny stars or flowers.

Hail forms inside thunderstorms. Strong winds and rising air make ice particles bounce around and get bigger, it’s like a game of ice ball tag!

Because they form in different ways, snowflakes and hail look very different.

A snowflake might look like a six-pointed star because it grows slowly in calm clouds.
Hail can be as big as a golf ball because it gets tossed around inside a storm for hours.
Snowflakes are delicate, while hail is tough and round.