Q1: What is the exact diameter of a dime in inches and millimeters?
A1: According to official U.S. Mint coin specifications, a dime measures exactly 0.705 inches in diameter, which converts to 17.91 millimeters. It features a thickness of 0.053 inches (1.35 mm).
Q2: Will dime-sized hail damage my car or roof?
A2: Dime-sized hail rarely causes structural roof punctures or auto-body dents. It may strip leaves from trees, bruise garden plants, or knock loose gravel from older asphalt roofs, but widespread vehicle or shingle insurance claims typically require hail measuring 1 inch (quarter size) or larger.
Q3: Why doesn't the National Weather Service issue severe warnings for dime hail?
A3: In 2010, the National Weather Service raised its severe thunderstorm hail criterion from 0.75 inches (penny size) to 1.00 inch (quarter size). Decades of structural damage assessments proved that sub-inch stones, including 0.705-inch dime hail, inflict minimal property damage, and warning for them caused public alert fatigue.
