Hail-Hunting Vehicle Part of $11M National Hail Study

The Largest Hail Study in History

• 🔬 Northern Illinois University scientists are leading a massive, six-week field expedition, collaborating with 17 institutions on the largest hail study ever conducted.
• 🎯 The primary goals are to improve hail storm forecasts and to develop strategies for mitigating damage caused by severe weather.

Specialized Hail-Hunting Vehicles

• 🚗 Researchers are using specialized vehicles, described as looking like "Swiss cheese" due to hail impacts, to drive directly into severe storms.
• 🛰️ Over two dozen vehicles were deployed, covering 15,000 miles across the Great Plains, equipped to gather data and provide a 3D view of hailstone development within clouds.

Understanding Hail Formation and Impact

• 💡 The study aims to understand how hail forms within storms and its impact at the surface.
• 🏗️ The ultimate objective is to use this knowledge to build a more resilient society capable of withstanding severe weather events.

Funding and Scope of the Study

• 💰 The project is supported by an $11 million grant from the National Science Foundation, awarded to NIU meteorology professor Dr. Victor Gensini.
• 🧑‍🔬 The initiative involves over 100 researchers, coordinating efforts to collect crucial data.

Data Collection and Analysis

• ⏱️ A critical challenge is the rapid collection of hail samples before they melt, requiring immediate action after storms pass.
• 🧊 The largest hailstone collected was over 5 inches across, comparable to a cantaloupe, highlighting the potential danger.
• 📊 While storm chasing was difficult, the analysis of the vast amount of collected data is expected to take up to a decade to complete.
• 🏠 Scientists are also collaborating with the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety to test the resilience of different roof shingles against hail damage.