Rare hailstorm surprises people across Cambodia

The Star

28-04-2025

Cambodian people witnessed a sudden deluge of hailstones, during an April 26 storm. - FB
PHNOM PENH: Cambodia witnessed a rare and surprising weather phenomenon over the weekend, as hailstones hit several parts of the kingdom during heavy storms.
Social media platforms lit up on April 26, with posts from amazed Khmer sharing images and videos of the small ice pellets that blanketed their rooftops and fell into their hands. The event, particularly extraordinary given Cambodia's tropical climate, generated widespread buzz, with many people amazed by the sight.
One of the most memorable moments came from Siem Reap, where a Facebook user captured a video of the hailstorm near the world-famous Angkor Wat temple complex. The sight of hailstones near such an iconic landmark left many wondering about the implications for the region's climate.
Hail in Cambodia is rare due to its tropical climate, but experts note that such storms can occur during the transitional periods between the dry and wet seasons.
Authorities have confirmed that no significant damage or injuries were reported during Saturday's unlikely storm.
However, the event has sparked discussions about the increasingly unpredictable weather in the region and the need for improved forecasting capabilities.
This isn't the first time Cambodia has dealt with extreme weather. In 2013, severe hailstorms wreaked havoc in several provinces, leaving one dead, over 10 injured, and nearly 200 houses damaged or destroyed.
In Kratie province, a woman tragically lost her life when a storm caused her home to collapse, and several other provinces, including Stung Treng, Svay Rieng, and Kampong Thom, were also severely affected.
In March last year, northern Thailand was struck by a fierce hailstorm, with ice chunks so large that people had to stay indoors until the storm subsided.
Singapore experienced similar conditions in January 2022, when hailstones the size of 5-10 cent coins caused damage in Yishun and Seletar, including breaking sliding doors. Malaysia's Selangor province saw a freak hailstorm in the same month.
Experts explained that the process of hail formation involves supercooled water droplets freezing onto a condensation nucleus in a thunderstorm updraft. These droplets freeze onto the growing hailstone, causing it to become larger. The hailstone can travel multiple rounds within the updraft, layering more ice as it goes.
When it gets too heavy for the updraft to keep it aloft, the hailstone falls to the ground.
The unusual hailstorm in Cambodia comes at a time when many countries in South-East Asia have been grappling with increasing extreme weather patterns.
Thailand, for example, has been experiencing severe thunderstorms, gusty winds, and hailstorms. The Thai Meteorological Department issued warnings for northern and central Thailand in mid-April, urging people to stay indoors during storms and avoid large trees and unsecured structures.
A moderate high-pressure system from China and easterly winds over upper Thailand are driving the summer storm, according to the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD), according to The Nation Thailand on April 14, 2025.
'The TMD urged people to take care of their health, avoid outdoor activities during storms, and stay clear of large trees and unsecured structures,' it noted. - The Phnom Penh Post/ANN