Where does the majority of hail happen in a thunderstorm? a. within the updrafts b. within the downdrafts c. with lightning's return stroke d. with the step-leader of lightning?

Option (A)-  Within the updrafts

Explanation:

Hails are generally formed within the updraft portion of a strong thunderstorm. It is comprised of a high amount of liquid water and an extensively large amounts of droplets that are vertically extending up to a huge height. These form clouds that are typically below the freezing temperature. When these updrafts are extremely strong and violent then it indicates the occurrence of a tornado. The formation of hailstones is influenced by various factors namely the wind shear, lower temperature zone (freezing zone) and larger height.

Further explanation:

Hailstorms are defined as those hails that reach the surface of the earth originating from the thunderstorm. They usually have a diameter of 5 mm or even higher than that.

They are made up of ice (or alternate layers of transparent and translucent ice), accumulated over the hailstone during its motion within the Cumulonimbus cloud. These are suspended above the air with much stronger upward motion until it attains a weight that controls the upward movement of air and eventually precipitates back to the ground.  

This mainly occurs in the mid-latitudinal region within the continental areas where the height of that particular place is below 3500m with respect to the sea level. When the dry air moves into the stronger and intense type of thunderstorms over the regions of continents, the possibility of occurring hails rises as it favours the evaporation-cooling process, as a result of which the temperature of the thunderstorm significantly decreases.

Learn more:

1. Hail and its formation (answer by Kalahira)  

2. Hail formation in the updrafts of cumulonimbus clouds (answer by Prinbunsongsikul)

Keywords:

Hails, Thunderstorms, Updrafts, Tornado, Hailstorms, Cumulonimbus cloud, Evaporation and cooling process.