LAOAG CITY, (PNA) –- Ice crystals fell in some barangays of Solsona town late Tuesday afternoon but did not cause any damage to crops.
Solsona Mayor Joseph de Lara welcomed the hailstorm as the ice crystals brought enough water needed by growing plants in the farm lands.
“This was the second time that a hailstorm such as this happened in our place,” de Lara said.
Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) weather forecaster Cynthia Iglesias of Laoag confirmed that hailstorm often occurs in Solsona town, considering the presence of a mountain range in the area.
“Hailstorm is usually happening not only in Solsona but also in the eastern towns of the province like Dingras and Marcos due to their proximity to high mountains where clouds are normally forming,” she said.
Iglesias explained that the hailstorm in Solsona was brought out by the cumulonimbus clouds formed in the atmosphere covering the town.
“However, the ice crystals that fell in Solsona town easily melted due to the hot weather but this will not pose any danger to growing crops,” she stressed.
Iglesias said that the formation of cumulonimbus clouds or the so-called thunder clouds have four hazards – lightning, heavy downpour, tornado and hailstorm.