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Big hailstones? Here's the best way to photograph and report hail

Is it the size of a pingpong ball or a hen egg? What's the best way to get your report to the National Weather Service? Here are the answers.

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DENVER — The Denver metro area was pounded with hail late Thursday night.

A severe thunderstorm left a path of destructive hail through Broomfield, Thornton, Commerce City, Northglenn and Aurora. 

The largest hail report was a 2.75-inch hail stone, or baseball-sized, in southeast Commerce City.

RELATED: Severe thunderstorms deliver lightning, hail to Denver metro area

The National Weather Service in Boulder shared some guidance on the best way to report hail size.

When taking photos of hailstones, set them next to a ruler, coins, golf balls, tennis balls or baseballs to give a good size comparison. Holding them in your hand likely doesn't give a good measurement, and neither does putting them next to marbles. Why? Because not all marbles, or hands, are of equal size.

RELATED: Here's how big the hail was that hit the Denver area

Hail size comparisons

  • Dime/penny: 0.75 inches
  • Nickel: 0.88 inches
  • Quarter: 1 inch
  • Half dollar: 1.25 inches
  • Pingpong ball: 1.5 inches
  • Golf ball: 1.75 inches
  • Hen egg: 2 inches
  • Tennis ball: 2.5 inches
  • Baseball: 2.75 inches
  • Tea cup: 3 inches
  • Grapefruit: 4 inches
  • Softball: 4.5 inches

RELATED: How is hail formed?

The biggest hailstone ever recorded in Colorado fell on Bethune on Aug. 13, 2019. It was 4.83 inches in diameter, weighed 8.5 ounces and had a circumference of 12.875 inches.

The best way to send hail reports and photos to the National Weather Service is to tag @NWSBoulder on Twitter. Include the location, with the cross streets, the maximum measured hailstone size and the time of observation.

A photo of hailstones with a ruler is also helpful, the NWS said.

RELATED: How to share your weather photos, videos with 9NEWS

RELATED: Latest forecast

Hail hits Denver area

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Monica Kasten
Credit: Monica Kasten

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If you have a weather report, photo or video to share, you can contact the 9NEWS Weather Team in these ways:

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If you have a weather report, photo or video to share, you can contact the 9NEWS Weather Team in these ways:

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