KOTA, July 21 — Two distinct thunderstorm events are forecast for Kota on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, according to the local weather outlook. The first is set for 3 PM under partly cloudy skies with an 84% chance of rain; the second, at 9 PM, carries a 92% probability of precipitation and is accompanied by slight hail. The forecast, which covers the July 22 weather conditions for Kota, specifies that the 3 PM thunderstorm will occur during partly cloudy conditions.
The later storm, at 9 PM, introduces a new element: minor hailstones. The chance of rain increases from 84% to 92% between the two events, and the evening storm includes slight hail — defined in the forecast as hailstones less than 1 centimeter in diameter.
Wind speeds during both storms are expected to be light, ranging from 3 to 9 kilometers per hour. That reduces the risk of windborne debris, though the forecast notes the danger of lightning remains. Humidity is high at 89%, a factor the outlook says contributes to storm intensity by providing ample moisture in the atmosphere.
How hail forms
The forecast explains the mechanism behind hail: updrafts within thunderstorms carry raindrops into extremely cold upper layers of the atmosphere, where they freeze into ice pellets. Slight hail, with stones under 1 centimeter, generally results in minimal structural damage, but the outlook warns it poses a risk to exposed skin and vehicles. Such small hailstones can still cause injury if individuals are caught outdoors, and they can dent car bodies or crack windshields, according to the forecast’s guidance.
Residents are advised to take specific precautions. The forecast recommends staying indoors during thunderstorms, avoiding open fields and tall objects — standard lightning safety — and protecting vehicles if hail occurs.
With the evening storm arriving at 9 PM, many residents will be home, but those driving or working outdoors during the first event at 3 PM are urged to monitor conditions.
Why high humidity matters
The 89% humidity level is notable because it fuels thunderstorm development. High moisture content in the air, driven by abundant evaporation, supplies the energy that sustains updrafts and can lead to more intense convection. That same moisture, when drawn into the upper atmosphere by the storm’s updrafts, feeds the hail formation process.
The forecast treats the humidity as part of the storm’s overall intensity, linking it directly to the likelihood of the 9 PM hailstones. Light winds — 3 to 9 km/h — mean hail may fall nearly vertically rather than being driven horizontally, which could limit the area of impact but concentrate the pellets in a smaller zone.
The forecast does not specify the duration of either storm, only the timing and conditions. For Kota residents, Wednesday evening presents a clear weather timeline: an early afternoon thunderstorm with a high rain chance, followed several hours later by a second, wetter storm with minor hail. The record shows two distinct events rather than a single prolonged system, a detail the forecast uses to illustrate thunderstorm and hail behavior in the region.
