What is "soft hail" in the context of crop damage?

In the context of crop damage, "soft hail" is defined as small, less damaging hailstones. These smaller hailstones are usually not severe enough to cause extensive damage to crops compared to larger hailstones. While larger hailstones can cause significant physical harm to plants, such as breaking stems or damaging leaves, soft hail tends to have a lesser impact, often leading to minor bruising or superficial damage.

Understanding this distinction is crucial for farmers and insurance providers when assessing the potential risk and damages associated with hail events. Soft hail typically represents a lower level of threat to crops, making it an important term in the field of agriculture and crop insurance. The impact on crop yield and health will vary significantly depending on the size and mass of the hail, which is why the characterization of hail as "soft" is important in evaluating damage levels.