Can you imagine a 24 acre glass greenhouse in a hail storm?

What is the Hail Cannon?

A “Hail” cannon is a shock wave generator used to disrupt the formation of hailstones in the atmosphere in their growing phase.

The Hail Cannon is fueled with acetylene gas. There are 12 cylinder tanks that are controlled with spark plugs, one per 6 tanks. An explosive charge of acetylene gas and air is fired in the lower chamber of the machine (cannon). When the gas fills up, a plunger goes down, and releases a big boom of sound waves up into the air.

As the resulting energy passes through the neck and into the cone it develops into a force that becomes a shockwave. This shockwave, clearly audible as a loud, thunderous “boom” sound, then travels at the speed of sound through the cloud formations above, disrupting the growth phase of the hailstones.

The “cannon” is fired every 4 seconds over the period when the storm is approaching and until it has passed. What would have fallen as hail instead comes down as slush or rain.

It is critical that the hail cannon is started as the storm approaches, as there is nothing that can be done with an already developed and solidified hailstone. Garden Fresh Vegetables has one hail cannon, which amply provides coverage.

How does it work?

Upon a pending storm, our management team scans and patrols not only the skies but the metrological radar. They monitor and watch attentively any threatening storm developments over our geography. As a threat approaches, the hail cannon is activated.

It is amazing! As a bystander, watching the team work, they are well in tune with each other and the process. The storm is diligently monitored on the radar, and as soon as it approaches proximity, the cannon is released.

Once the cannon is activated, the radar indicates a dissipation of the stone formation, until it has passed the cannon’s reach.

While some scoff at this device, we do not, and greatly benefit from the investment. Can you imagine a 24 acre glass greenhouse in a hail storm?