When spring hailstorms strike, we may fret about our cars. But vintners in Lodi, where hail struck April 7, worried about their grapevines. Those frozen ice balls, big or small, can take out portions of a grape crop, especially in early spring, when vines are just starting to sprout leaves and tender shoots.

Many of the vines in Lodi were in a growth stage called pre-bloom, when baby clusters form flower buds that look like tiny, hard green berries. Hail can shred leaves, batter those baby buds or even break whole clusters off the vine. No buds means no flowers, and that means no fruit.

Last month's damage was not widespread, but some growers suffered as much as an 80 percent loss, while others had no damage at all.

Source - http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/