Hail Storm in Malaysia

Quoted from " http://www.tornadochaser.net/hail.html" How does large hail form or why does hail form?
Updrafts within thunderstorms push rain high into the cloud where very cold air freezes it. Once frozen it starts to fall but gets caught in another strong updraft where it gathers more moisture on its way back up making it larger. If the updrafts are strong enough they will continue this process for long periods of time allowing the hail to accumulate more moisture and more moisture. In a severe thunderstorm downdrafts may act like a wedge and increase the intensity of the updraft. Updrafts can get so strong they even intrude into the stable stratosphere. When updrafts are this strong it becomes possible to suspend large hail for long periods of time further adding moisture to the hail, sometimes building it to incredible sizes. Updraft winds can be from 100 to 120 miles per hour when producing baseball and larger size hail.

To actually watch this happened in Malaysia’s climate and before my eyes was something I would never expect let alone believe but that was what happened when I was on my way back from my husband’s hometown, Seremban yesterday afternoon.

The journey, started as normal. The jam was terrible starting from town due to the strong wind and torrential rain pelting down heavily. As we passed the trees along the way, they all look threateningly about to come crashing down on top of us. That was how heavy and strong the rain and wind was. While we were almost reaching the toll we suddenly heard thunderous sounds of “things” dropping on the roof car. Then as we watched closely, we saw that it was small ice cubes. It was not as big as those that we can find in our freezers, more of like how ice-blended ice cubes looks like.

We were all amazed, more like stunned that we actually saw hail storm happening in Malaysia, in a climate like ours but when it started coming down really heavily, and started to chip the wind screen, I suggested we detoured and go find cover before our wind screen really cracked. So we ended up going to Jusco’s parking for shelter while we waited out the storm. Luckily it only went on for a couple of minutes but as much as it was an eye-opener and pretty exciting to a certain extent, the potential of what could really happen if a huge hail storm occurs actually came to my mind and it was quite a grim picture.

So, I’m still thinking of how in the world can a mini hail storm occur in our Malaysian climate and from what I hear this is not a first time, but still a first in front of my eyes. I wonder when actual winter will occur then?? Any chance you think?