France's hailstorm goes viral, but hard data is missing

There is no official confirmation that the hailstorm in France reached the intensity suggested by a viral video, which speaks of projectiles "per second". What is missing is the figure that really matters: the economic damage.

The image circulating these days is of a sky unleashing hail like shrapnel. A video shared on social media claims the amount of hailstones heard falling "is absolutely insane". The phrase is catchy, but it is not data. And in economics, when the data is missing, what remains is uncertainty.

## What the video says and what it does not

The video offers no figures. It talks about hailstones per second, a way of describing the intensity of the hail, not a verifiable count. It does not identify locations, does not date the events and cites no sources. It should be treated for what it is: an impression, not a report.

## Why hail is an economic problem

Hail damages crops, roofs and vehicles. In France, the agricultural sector is particularly vulnerable: vineyards, orchards and cereal fields can lose an entire harvest in minutes. Without an official assessment, there is no way to know whether we are facing a serious episode or just a scare.

## What is missing: the damage figure

Insurers and agricultural bodies are the ones who usually put a number on these events. Until they do, any estimate is speculation. The viral video is no substitute for that count.