A hailstorm was reported in Barangay Salabaca, Esperanza, Sultan Kudarat on Tuesday, April 29, 2025.

Residents were startled as chunks of ice fell from the sky after rain poured.

A resident, Glenrose Cejes, said said she and her family were inside their house while their children were picking mangoes from a neighbor’s tree when strong winds blew and rain began to pour.

Shortly after, they heard unusual sounds hitting their roof and it was when they saw ice crystals.

“Nag-eenjoy yung mga bata, naglalaro, naliligo sa ulan. Kahit masakit yung tama ng ice, sinasalo nila, yung ibang bata pinupulot nila yung ice tapos kinakain,” Cejes said.

The hailstorm lasted for several minutes.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said hailstorm occurs during severe weather disturbances, such as thunderstorms accompanied by lightning or strong winds.

“Namumuo talaga ito kung may gaya po nitong mainit yung panahon natin so kung marami po yung moisture content ng hangin so nagkakaroon ng sudden up drop and doon sa may freezing point ng clouds Cumulo-nimbus, meron pong mga ice na nabubuo and pag-sudden drop nito, ito yung tinatawag na hailstorm,” PAGASA-GenSan Weather Observer, Roy Jumawan, said.

PAGASA is also monitoring the low pressure area (LPA) that may affect Mindanao.

“Meron po tayong LPA dito sa silangan ng katimugang Mindanao, halos nasa 800 km mula dito may timog Mindanao, nakapaloob ito doon sa umiiral na ITCZ natin,” Jumawan added.