Project ICECHIP: Advancing Hailstorm Science in the U.S.

In a pioneering effort to better understand and predict hailstorms, scientists have launched Project ICECHIP (In-situ Collaborative Experiment for the Collection of Hail In the Plains), the first U.S. hail-focused field campaign in over four decades. This initiative, running from May 15 to June 30, 2025, spans the U.S. Central Plains and the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains, including regions in Colorado, Wyoming, Kansas, and Nebraska.

Supported by the National Science Foundation and the insurance industry, Project ICECHIP brings together researchers from approximately a dozen institutions, including the University of Alabama in Huntsville. The project's primary goal is to enhance the understanding and forecasting of hailstorms, which have caused an average of $10 billion in annual damages in the U.S. over the past 15 years. These damages impact homeowners, businesses, agriculture, transportation, and renewable energy sectors.

To collect comprehensive data on hail formation and storm behaviors, researchers are employing a variety of advanced instruments and techniques. These include mobile radars, unpiloted aerial systems, weather balloons, and specialized vehicles equipped to drive into active storms. This marks a significant advancement in hail science, as it is the first U.S. hail-focused field campaign in over 40 years.

The urgency of this research is underscored by climate change projections indicating that larger, more damaging hailstones will become more common as global temperatures rise. A 2024 study led by Victor Gensini, an atmospheric science professor at Northern Illinois University, found that as the world warms, small hailstones will become less likely, while larger, more damaging ones are projected to increase by 15% to 75% this century, depending on the extent of global warming. Gensini explained, "Our study suggests golf ball-size hail or larger will become more common because of more atmospheric instability, which leads to stronger thunderstorm updrafts."

Hail is the number one reason for soaring costs in billion-dollar weather disasters in the United States. The increasing frequency and severity of hailstorms have led to rising insurance costs and unaffordability in many areas. In Colorado, for instance, hail is considered the most costly natural disaster.

This collaborative effort among academic institutions, government agencies, and the private sector highlights the importance of interdisciplinary research in addressing complex meteorological challenges. By leveraging cutting-edge technologies and methodologies, Project ICECHIP aims to provide critical ground-truth data for materials science, improve radar detection and monitoring of hail, and ultimately enhance the nation's capabilities in predicting hailstorms and their impacts.

As the project progresses, the data collected will be instrumental in improving radar-based hail detection, hail models and forecasting, and resulting warnings. This comprehensive approach represents a significant leap in understanding and forecasting hailstorms, marking a new era in hail science.

In conclusion, Project ICECHIP stands as a testament to the power of collaborative research and technological innovation in addressing the challenges posed by severe weather events. By advancing our understanding of hailstorms, this initiative holds the promise of mitigating the economic and societal impacts of these destructive natural phenomena.