Scientists Chase Storms to Study Hail’s Impact on U.S. Infrastructure
By Seth Borenstein, Carolyn Kaster, and Brittany Peterson, The Associated Press
SHAMROCK, Texas (AP) — Amidst ongoing severe storms battering the central U.S., a team of scientists is venturing into the heart of these weather systems to investigate hail—an often overlooked yet costly meteorological phenomenon. Project ICECHIP, one of the few federally funded weather research initiatives remaining after budget cuts, aims to unravel the mechanisms behind hail formation, which inflicts approximately $10 billion in damages annually.
Using specially-equipped vehicles, researchers are driving into "the shaft," known for the most intense hail activity. With ingenious methods, they collect and assess hailstones, including specimens as large as small cantaloupes. According to Victor Gensini, a meteorology professor at Northern Illinois University, this unique approach is both impactful and exhilarating, likening the experience to being struck by a hammer.
The research caravan, featuring radar trucks and drones, travels across the Great Plains, launching weather balloons and gathering data to improve understanding of hailstorms and their destructive capabilities. The team has already recorded hail exceeding 5 inches in diameter and is employing innovative tools like foam pads to gauge hail impact on various materials, including roofing samples.
The urgency of this research is underscored by projections which suggest an increase in larger hailstones due to climate change—expected to rise between 15% and 75% this century. With rising temperatures, stronger storm updrafts will likely contribute to larger hail formation, exacerbating already significant damages.
Experts emphasize the necessity of devoted research into hail, especially as its economic toll rises in a world increasingly defined by extreme weather. As the ICECHIP project progresses, the insights gained promise to enhance strategies for mitigating hail damage and protecting infrastructure nationwide.
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