SHAMROCK, Texas — Amidst intense storms wreaking havoc across the nation’s midsection, a dedicated group of scientists is venturing into the heart of these tempests. Their mission: to study hail, one of the weather phenomena that, while often overlooked, causes $10 billion in damages annually in the United States.
While hail rarely proves fatal, its destructive power is undeniable, damaging roofs, vehicles, and crops across large swathes of land. In a cooperative effort funded by the National Science Foundation, under the project known as ICECHIP, scientists from various universities are collaborating to understand the formation of hailstones. The endeavor has already resulted in the collection of massive hailstones, some as large as small cantaloupes, alongside a variety of smaller ice formations.
These scientists navigate hailstorms in specially equipped vehicles uniquely designed to withstand the intense barrage of hailstones in a region referred to as the “shaft.” This operation represents a unique form of storm chasing, akin to the pursuit of tornadoes but focusing on icy tempests.
Victor Gensini, a meteorology professor at Northern Illinois University and one of the principal researchers, describes the experience as akin to having one’s vehicle hammered from the outside. Recently, a team of journalists joined the scientific convoy on their expedition through the Great Plains, beginning in northern Texas. The expedition kicked off with a pinpoint analysis of imminent severe weather conditions, which was followed by the scientists embarking on a quest to observe and collect hail.
The operation is supported by an impressive array of equipment, consisting of over a dozen radar trucks and vehicles equipped to launch weather balloons. At various study locations, drones, cameras, and lasers, along with other specialized equipment, are deployed to gather data. Various tools, including foam pads to measure hail impact and experimental roofing materials, are part of their arsenal, highlighting the diversity and depth of this scientific research.
On their recent treks through Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas, the scientists encountered hailstones exceeding 5 inches in diameter. The remnants of these encounters are marked on their equipment and vehicles, symbolizing tough battles with nature’s forces.
Tim Marshall, a forensic engineer focused on enhancing roofing materials’ resilience against hail, talks about the damage with a sense of achievement, noting their encounters during their data-gathering missions. Meanwhile, forecasts provided by retired National Weather Service forecaster David Imy direct the convoy’s movements, with central regions in Texas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico identified as potential storm hotspots.
During a chase that followed Imy’s briefing, the team pursued a major storm. Although the radar indicated large hail at high altitudes, what reached the ground was comparatively small due to warm air closer to the surface. Despite this, valuable data were collected, and the team had unobstructed views of stunning storm-related phenomena.
This research is far more than an exhilarating pursuit akin to what might be seen in storm movies. It addresses a critical aspect of severe weather—one with profound economic implications—explains Gensini. Remarkably, the insurance industry, recognizing the overarching costs associated with hail damage, provides financial aid towards the mission.
A 2024 study led by Gensini indicates that as climate change progresses, while smaller hail becomes less frequent, the likelihood of larger and more damaging hail increases. This shift is attributed to intensifying storm updrafts retaining potential hail aloft longer, facilitating their larger size upon landing.
The methodology utilized in this research—driving into storms in conjunction with deploying an array of radars and weather balloons—offers comprehensive insights into storm dynamics. Historically, hail has not received the attention it warrants in the hierarchy of severe weather phenomena, a fact changing with this initiative.
Meteorologists, such as Jeff Masters from Yale Climate Connections, emphasize the urgent need for this research, given that hail is a significant contributor to the escalating costs of billion-dollar weather disasters in the United States. Highlighting the societal impact of hailstorms, Masters notes that increased development puts more people and resources in harm’s way, exacerbating the financial burden brought on by such natural events.
The implications are particularly profound in states like Colorado, where hail is heralded as the most costly natural disaster. Lori Peek, director of the Natural Hazards Center at the University of Colorado, points out the extraordinary damage hail inflicts on property, underscoring the importance of the ongoing research efforts.