Slight edge distortion suggests AI generation. Clip has no confirmed location, date, or source details
The abnormally large hail image was generated by AI. Photo: Video grab
Since April 2026, videos have been circulating on social media showing giant ice balls falling from the sky and bouncing over roads, vehicles and homes. Heavy rain and wind can also be seen in the clip.
In X, a social media user shared a video with the caption: “Giant hailstorm: Ice bombs from the sky.” It recorded 1.7 million views. However, the post did not mention the location shown in the clip, nor did it include any dates or context as to when or where the footage was recorded.
The clip was reshared by multiple users and gained a lot of attention. One user called it “horrible” and another said, “Astaghfirullah [I seek forgiveness from Allah]Others also took to the comments section to question whether the video was real.
The clip was also shared on Instagram. “It starts like rain… then everything changes. The skies open up and frozen projectiles start falling with great force,” the caption reads, adding that “strong updrafts keep the ice floating in the storm clouds longer, allowing it to grow before it falls,” adding that hailstorms can spread quickly.
what we found
Check out viral videos frame by frame, iVerify Pakistan I’ve noticed some visual inconsistencies. First, the alleged snowballs appear unnaturally uniform in shape and size, and the snowball’s movement across the street does not consistently match real-world physics. In multiple frames, objects appear to slide and bounce in physically impossible ways, while interactions with water, vehicles, and surrounding environmental elements appear inconsistent or visually unstable.
Small distortions are also observed around object edges and background structures, indicating AI-generated content.
Additionally, the clip lacks verifiable supporting details such as confirmed location, date, or original source.
Forensic analysis of this video revealed that several AI detection tools flagged it as fake. Hive Moderation has determined that there is a 99% chance that it was generated by AI.
Google’s SynthID detection also showed patterns in the clip that matched synthetic media.
The clip then received a community note on X, which revealed it to be AI-generated content.
Additionally, a Google search turned up a research paper from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which states that the largest officially recorded hailstone was about 8 inches in diameter, weighed about 2 pounds (about the size of a volleyball), and was recorded in 2010 in Vivian, South Dakota, USA.
A record-breaking hailstone measuring 7.1 inches in diameter was recently recorded in Texas. According to the National Center for Environmental Information, the animal was found lying in a ditch next to the road on June 2, 2024.
conclusion
A viral video showing huge hailstones falling is false.
Clips are generated by AI.
This fact check first published By iVerify Pakistan — a project of CEJ-IBA and UNDP.
