Science & Scripture · Meteorology

Hailstones weighing approximately 34 kilograms each can fall from the sky during a supernaturally triggered storm.

Meteorology 18 passages in this field

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The cited passage

What current science says

The largest verified hailstone on record fell in Vivian, South Dakota in 2010 — it was 20 cm in diameter and weighed about 0.88 kg (just under 2 lbs). A 34 kg hailstone would need to be roughly 40 cm in diameter (basketball-sized) and would require updrafts far stronger than anything observed in Earth's atmosphere. The strongest supercell thunderstorms produce updrafts of about 60 m/s; suspending a 34 kg ice chunk would need updrafts that don't exist in terrestrial meteorology. At terminal velocity, a 34 kg hailstone would hit the ground at roughly 160 m/s (360 mph) — it wouldn't just injure someone, it would create a small crater.

What the text says

This comes from Revelation 16:17-21. The text describes hail 'about the weight of a talent' falling on people — a talent being roughly 34 kg (75 lbs). Combined again with voices, thunder, lightning, and 'a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth.'

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