While such an event may seem incredible to some, it is not entirely unprecedented, and several factors could have contributed to this phenomenon.
The first thing to understand is that hailstones, which are typically associated with ice falling from the sky, are relatively rare in Nigeria.
However, ice-blocks can sometimes form within the clouds during thunderstorms when the temperature at the top of the clouds drops below freezing point. This occurrence is known as graupel, also called soft hail or snow pellets.
When graupel forms, it falls through the warmer layers of air and collects a layer of water droplets on its surface.
The droplets freeze, creating a layer of ice around the graupel. As the graupel is carried upwards by the wind, it collects more water droplets that freeze around it, forming a larger ice-block. When the ice-block becomes too heavy to be supported by the wind, it falls to the ground.
Another factor that may have contributed to the unusual occurrence in Okada is the state of the atmosphere. During thunderstorms, the atmosphere can become highly unstable, with warm air rising rapidly and cold air sinking. This rapid movement of air can cause moisture to freeze, leading to the formation of ice-blocks.
It is worth noting that while this phenomenon may seem rare, it is not entirely unheard of in Nigeria. In 2015, residents of Jos, Plateau State, witnessed a similar occurrence when hailstones fell alongside rain. Similarly, in 2018, hailstones fell in Ilorin, Kwara State. Both incidents were attributed to the state of the atmosphere during thunderstorms.
While the occurrence of ice-blocks falling alongside rain in Okada, Edo State, may have seemed remarkable, it is not entirely unprecedented. The formation of graupel during thunderstorms, combined with the state of the atmosphere, could have contributed to the event. It is a reminder that nature is full of surprises and that we still have much to learn about the forces that shape our world.