A hailstorm hit western Singapore on Tuesday, pelting the area with pebble-sized ice chunks, but a National Environment Agency spokesman said the precipitation was not toxic, despite the heavily polluted air.
The last hailstorm in Singapore was five years ago, according to Yahoo! News.
"The wind suddenly turned very cold, and these crystal-like stones started raining down," witness Laura Tang told Yahoo on Tuesday. "It was very frightening. I could not believe my eyes."
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Hail is caused by supercooled water droplets
freezing on contact with particles in the air, such as dust, during a thunderstorm, according to the NEA.
The hail broke the
heavy haze that has lingered in the air for the last week. It reached unhealthy levels last Monday, when Singapore's NEA released a statement discouraging people from going outside.
"Given the current hazy conditions, it is advised that children, the elderly, and those with heart or lung diseases reduce prolonged or heavy outdoor activities," the NEA said in a statement. "Everyone else should limit prolonged or heavy outdoor activities."
Officials warned Monday that the forecasted precipitation would probably only provide a brief reprieve from the haze, which will most likely return.
Tuesday's rare storm had Twitter users speaking out.
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