Sunday, May 17, 2026 · Updated Sunday, May 17, 2026
Jos, Nigeria
In a dramatic turn of weather, the city of Jos, Nigeria, experienced a heavy hailstorm that lasted approximately 13 minutes, blanketing urban areas in a layer of ice. This extreme weather event, characterized by rapid and forceful precipitation, created an unusual spectacle across the cityscape.
A close-up shot shows a dark-skinned hand holding a cluster of small, translucent hailstones. The hand is wet, and the hailstones appear icy and slightly rounded. The hand then releases the hailstones, which scatter onto a concrete floor. In the background, there are several stacked plastic crates in blue and yellow. One yellow crate contains green bottles. The floor is damp and has a few scattered spots of yellow. The hailstones are visible as they land on the floor, forming a small pile near the base of a white wall.
The storm's intensity was evident in various locations. Videos captured hailstones falling rapidly, accumulating on wet ground and striking roofs with considerable force. One striking visual showed the hailstones next to a stack of colorful crates, some filled with beer bottles, highlighting the sudden disruption to everyday scenes.
The video shows a hand holding a handful of small hailstones over a yellow crate filled with green glass bottles. The hailstones are semi-transparent and round. They are scattered on the ground next to the crate, which is labeled "STAR Cold Filtered. Enjoy the Brighter Life." The crate sits on a blue crate. The background is a concrete surface.
Residents observed the hailstones, with some even collecting handfuls of the semi-transparent, round ice pellets for closer inspection. Yellow crates, notably branded 'STAR Cold Filtered. Enjoy the Brighter Life,' became temporary backdrops for documenting the unusual phenomenon.
The video shows a person holding a handful of hailstones. The hailstones are small, round, and clear. The person's hand is dark-skinned. In the background, there are several crates stacked. The crates are different colors, including blue, yellow, and brown. Some of the crates contain bottles. The floor is wet. The person says, "So crazy rains today." Then, "really cold."
A hand picks up a handful of small, round hailstones gathered along a wall. The hail is mostly white and translucent. The hand is dark-skinned. The wall is light brown and has some marks on it. The background is filled with more of the same small hailstones. The hail is lying on what appears to be bare ground or dirt.
Beyond immediate observation, the hailstorm impacted street scenes, turning paved roads into slick, hail-covered surfaces. While the event was brief, its visual impact and the sheer volume of precipitation left a memorable impression on the city, underscoring the unpredictable power of nature.
The video shows a pile of small hailstones that have collected against a weathered wall and under a small, dark-wood table. The ground is wet. A hand comes into the frame and scoops up a handful of the hailstones.
A dark-skinned hand holds a cluster of small, clear ice pellets against a backdrop of a concrete surface covered in more of the same. The hand tilts, letting the pellets fall back onto the surface. The hand then touches the accumulated pellets on the ground, scattering them slightly. The hand picks up another cluster of pellets, holding them in its palm. The background includes a stained concrete wall and a corner where the floor meets the wall.
The video shows a close-up shot of a pile of hailstones on a surface, which appears to be concrete. A dark-skinned hand reaches into the pile of hailstones and gently moves them around. The hailstones are mostly small and round, and they have a transparent, icy appearance. There is some water visible beneath the hailstones.
The video shows a heavy hailstorm occurring outside of a gray wall next to a stack of colorful crates, some containing beer bottles. A silver pipe and rectangular base are next to the crates. The ground is wet and textured. Hail falls rapidly and forcefully, accumulating on the ground.
The video shows a layer of small, round pieces of ice, likely hail, on the ground. There is some water mixed in with the ice. A dark-skinned hand reaches into the ice, picks up a handful, and then drops the ice back onto the ground. The background appears to be a concrete or stone surface.
A close-up shot shows a dark-skinned hand holding a cluster of small, translucent hailstones. The hand is wet, and the hailstones appear icy and slightly rounded. The hand then releases the hailstones, which scatter onto a concrete floor. In the background, there are several stacked plastic crates in blue and yellow. One yellow crate contains green bottles. The floor is damp and has a few scattered spots of yellow. The hailstones are visible as they land on the floor, forming a small pile near the base of a white wall.
A young woman stands on an asphalt road in Jos, Nigeria, facing the camera. She is wearing a black head covering, a light pink long-sleeved shirt with a white Peter Pan collar, and a dark-colored floral print skirt. Her feet are clad in simple sandals.
Behind her is a corrugated metal structure, possibly a shop, with a sign that reads "CHERITH". Beyond the structure, utility poles are visible.
Several three-wheeled vehicles, commonly known as "keke" or "tuk-tuks," are parked further down the road. The sky is overcast, suggesting a gray and possibly wet day.
The video shows a hand holding a handful of small hailstones over a yellow crate filled with green glass bottles. The hailstones are semi-transparent and round. They are scattered on the ground next to the crate, which is labeled "STAR Cold Filtered. Enjoy the Brighter Life." The crate sits on a blue crate. The background is a concrete surface.
A close-up shot shows a pile of small, translucent hailstones accumulated on a ground surface next to a wall. The camera then focuses on a dark-skinned hand scooping up a handful of the hailstones. The hand moves towards a wooden surface and drops the hailstones onto it.
The video shows a person holding a handful of hailstones. The hailstones are small, round, and clear. The person's hand is dark-skinned. In the background, there are several crates stacked. The crates are different colors, including blue, yellow, and brown. Some of the crates contain bottles. The floor is wet. The person says, "So crazy rains today." Then, "really cold."
The video shows a hailstorm. The camera is pointed upward, capturing the view from under a roof. Hailstones are falling heavily, hitting the roof and ground. In the first shot, the side of a building is visible with a stack of colorful crates, possibly for beverages, against the wall. As the camera angle changes, a window and a drainpipe running down the wall become visible. The ground appears wet and muddy. The hailstorm is intense, and the hailstones are quite large.
A hand picks up a handful of small, round hailstones gathered along a wall. The hail is mostly white and translucent. The hand is dark-skinned. The wall is light brown and has some marks on it. The background is filled with more of the same small hailstones. The hail is lying on what appears to be bare ground or dirt.
A dark-skinned hand holds a pile of melting hailstones. The ice fragments are irregular in shape and vary in size. Behind the hand, on a wet, concrete surface, are yellow crates containing glass bottles. In the background, stacked crates are visible, with "MALTINA" printed on one and a black logo on another. The sound of falling rain can be heard.
A man with a beard is seated at a desk and drinking from a clear plastic bag. He is wearing a black basketball jersey with the number 24 in gold and a black and gold stripe around the shoulders. He has a brown strap crossing his chest. The desk has a pink folder and other papers, a blue stapler, a remote, keys, and several glass bottles of Schweppes drinks on it. The background shows a green wall and other furniture. The location is Jos, Nigeria.
A man sits on a partially disassembled motorcycle on a paved road. He wears a gray jacket, blue collared shirt, gray pants, and sandals. He is holding a black smartphone. Another person, wearing a blue patterned garment, stands partially in the lower portion of the frame, also holding a smartphone. The motorcycle is missing some body panels, exposing the engine and wiring. The background shows buildings and foliage. A blue utility box with the letters "POS" and "PAY YOUR NEPA BILL" is visible to the left of the frame. The scene appears to be in an urban or suburban area, consistent with Jos, Nigeria.
A close-up shot captures a dark-skinned hand holding a collection of small, round hailstones. The background reveals a pile of similar hailstones covering the ground, wet from the melting ice. The scene is confined to a corner, defined by a wall on one side. The hand is seen dropping the hailstones back onto the ground, where they mix with the existing pile.
The video shows rain falling on a small dirt yard adjacent to a building with a window. The yard is covered with wet dirt and puddles, and the rain falls in sheets. Along the building’s wall are stacked several dozen plastic crates of various colors. Some of the crates appear to contain glass bottles. The crates are stacked in a pyramid shape. A red gate is visible on the left side of the frame. There are some black plastic bags behind the stack of crates.
A video depicts a hailstorm occurring on a street. The camera seems to be positioned inside or adjacent to a vehicle, with parts of the vehicle visible on the left side of the frame. The street is wet and covered with hail. A concrete wall runs along the side of the street, with some grass visible at its base. Hailstones are clearly seen falling and bouncing off the ground. The sound of the hailstorm is audible in the background. The scene suggests a sudden and intense weather event.
The video shows a patch of ground covered in small hailstones next to a yellow plastic bin with the word "STAR" printed on it. A hand reaches into the hailstones and picks up a handful, holding them up to the camera for closer inspection.
Jos, Nigeria · May 17, 2026, 12:22 PM
The video shows a person picking up hail from the ground. The hail is small, round, and clear. The person is holding the hail in their hand, showing the size and shape of the pellets. The ground is wet and there are many hail pellets scattered around. There is a yellow plastic crate in the bottom left corner of the frame. In the background, stacks of plastic crates, some yellow and some blue, can be seen. The location appears to be outdoors, next to a building.
A close-up shot shows a collection of small, round hailstones on a damp surface, likely concrete. The hailstones range in size and appear to be mostly white and translucent. A hand reaches into the frame and gathers a handful of the hailstones, then drops them back onto the pile. The background features what looks like a section of a wall or curb, adding to the confined space.
A dark-skinned hand is shown holding a collection of small, round hailstones. The background shows a pile of similar hailstones covering a surface, likely a drain or gutter, alongside a section of a wall. The hand is cupping and moving the hailstones. The camera angle is from above, focusing on the hand and the hailstones. The scene suggests a recent hailstorm.
A dark-skinned hand holds a handful of small, round hailstones, with a larger pile of the same hailstones covering a beige-colored surface. The hand slowly lowers and releases the hailstones back into the pile. Another hand is then seen swirling around the hailstones in the pile.
A man is seated at a desk, eating from a small white bowl with a spoon. He is wearing a black and yellow basketball jersey with the number 24. The desk is covered with papers, a notebook, and a cell phone. A small black shoulder bag is slung across his shoulder. He is in an indoor space with green walls and a gray wire-frame chair is visible in the background. He takes a bite of the food and then uses the spoon to stir the contents of the bowl.
Two African men are in an outdoor setting. One man is seated on a silver motorcycle that appears to be undergoing repair or customization. The man on the motorcycle is wearing grey pants, a blue shirt, and a dark grey jacket. He's holding a black smartphone in his left hand. The second man stands beside the seated man, also looking at a black smartphone, while wearing a patterned blue shirt and matching pants, and blue and grey shoes. The location is near buildings with corrugated metal roofing, possibly in a residential area. The setting may be located in Jos, Nigeria.
A man is sitting on a motorcycle that has been stripped of its fairings, seat, and some other components. The motorcycle's frame and engine are visible. He is wearing a grey jacket, a blue shirt, grey pants, and brown sandals. He is holding a smartphone and looking at it. Behind him is a blue metal utility box with "POS" and "PAY YOUR NEPA BILL" printed on it. A woman is walking in the background, and the scene takes place on a paved road.
A man is standing on a street in Jos, Nigeria, looking at his mobile phone. He is wearing a white t-shirt and black pants with dark-colored sandals. The street is paved and littered with leaves. There are people walking in the distance, and buildings and trees line the street. A gutter or drainage ditch runs along the side of the road. A tree with dense foliage is visible, along with glimpses of other buildings in the background.
Three men are standing on a paved road in an urban environment. The man at the top of the frame is wearing a grey traditional outfit and sunglasses. The man in the middle is wearing a black t-shirt and black shorts. The man at the bottom is wearing a yellow jersey with blue shorts. The road is littered with leaves. In the background, there are buildings and power lines. Based on the attire and architectural style, the location is likely within the city of Jos, Nigeria.
A medium shot shows a man facing left, walking on a grey paved road. He is light-skinned and bald with glasses, wearing a navy blue long-sleeved button-down shirt, dark pants, and yellow shoes. He holds a shiny black object in his right hand. The location is Jos, Nigeria, indicated by the architecture consisting of buildings with corrugated iron sheets and unfinished concrete. Power lines stretch overhead, and cars are visible in the distance. A green and orange building and other structures line the street. The weather appears overcast.
Jos, Nigeria · May 17, 2026, 1:37 PM
A woman stands in the street in Jos, Nigeria, near a parked blue sedan. She wears a patterned red and yellow skirt, a black lace blouse, and silver sandals, and carries a brown tote bag. The street is asphalt, with buildings lining the road, including corrugated metal structures. A power pole with numerous wires is visible. The sky is overcast. Other people are faintly visible in the distance.
Two women stand on a cracked, uneven dirt and stone path in front of a weathered building, possibly in Jos, Nigeria. The building has a mix of worn plaster and exposed brick, with green-painted wooden window shutters. The woman in the foreground wears a black zip-up jacket and blue patterned shorts. She holds something small to her mouth. The woman in the background is dressed in a blue t-shirt and black pants. She carries a black plastic bag and a black purse. The sky is overcast.
