VIDEO: Storm Chaser in Illinois Finds Rare Star-Shaped Hail

You don't see something like this everyday. As storms canvased Illinois recently, a storm chaser who also happens to be a meteorologist found something unusual. It was hail in the distinct shape of a star which is rare.

Meteorologist Matthew Cappucci captured a video as he chased storms in Illinois on in the middle of June. His video was shared by the weather app MyRadar. It was star-shaped hail that he located near Arthur, Illinois.

What makes hail transform into a star shape?

Matthew shared his details in a story he wrote for The Washington Post. As Matthew says and the National Weather Service confirms, a hailstone in the shape of a star can happen when what is described as a wet growth happens to a hailstone that's only partially frozen. It then collides with other smaller hailstones within the storm that can stick to the larger hailstone. That's how you get the weird angles with some hail having these peripheral edges sticking out.