Hailstones with greasy residue in Morgny-la-Pommeraye

Summary

On March 31, 1979, an unexpected hailstorm struck the train-station car park in Morgny-la-Pommeraye, scattering ice fragments over about thirty meters. No injuries or damage occurred, but one piece of ice contained beige and red substances. Analysis indicated they could be plant- or animal-based fats, possibly shed from an aircraft, as the site lies beneath a busy air corridor. The phenomenon can be explained by weather conditions and local air traffic.