Hail is finally getting its turn in the spotlight. ICECHIP is a massive, international field project with 100+ researchers, mobile radars, drones, hail pads, impact disdrometers, and even portable freezers—built to measure hail from cloud to ground and everything in between.

In this episode of HailChatter, Meteorologist Taylor Cox and Collin Hunt interview Becky Adams-Selin and John Allen to unpack why hail has been under-researched and how ICECHIP ran a 6-week chase across Texas to North Dakota.

From limitations of MESH to brand-new tools like hail cameras and fall-speed radars, this is a rare look behind the scenes of the biggest hail study in over 40 years.

Don’t miss the Part 2 follow-up in two weeks—subscribe so you get it the moment it drops: https://www.youtube.com/@HailTrace?sub_confirmation=1

#HailTrace #HailChatter #Hail #ICECHIP

ABOUT HAILCHATTER

Welcome to HailChatter, the HailTrace podcast that helps those in the restoration industry understand weather and its impact on their work. HailChatter is hosted by HailTrace's Taylor Cox, Digital Meteorologist with 5 years of experience in Plains weather, and Collin Hunt, Product Evangelist with 7 years experience in product messaging. Tune in every other Tuesday as they break down storms, uncover opportunities, and help the restoration industry weather every season.

ABOUT HAILTRACE

HailTrace is a weather technology company that simplifies storm data, empowering the restoration industry to respond instantly with reliable information. They do this through meteorologist-created storm maps, detailed weather reports, and sales tools that help teams reach the right neighborhoods first and confidently sell there.

CHAPTERS

0:00 - What is ICECHIP and why is hail finally getting its moment in research?

2:08 - How did 100+ scientists from 4 countries unite to study hail?5:15 - What are the biggest gaps in hail science and radar products like MESH?

9:01 - Why study hail instead of tornadoes or wind?

11:38 - What was it like chasing storms for six weeks across the Plains?

15:33 - What new technology was used to capture hail size, speed, and shape?

21:43 - How 7,000 hailstones were collected and how this research could change weather forecasting

WANT MORE WEATHER?!

• Subscribe for more! X: https://twitter.com/HailTrace
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Epic Hail Chase! 7,000 Hailstones Collected by ICECHIP | S2 E6 | HailChatter | HailTracehttps://www.youtube.com/@HailTrace

Downbursts are powerful, straight-line winds that explode out of thunderstorms and can topple trees, power lines, and even damage roofs with 80–100 mph force.

In this episode of HailChatter, Meteorologists Taylor Cox and Collin Hunt sit down with NSSL researcher Charles Kuster to explain what downbursts are, how radar helps detect them, and why new forecasting tools are keeping communities safer.

From the 2011 Norman downburst to the recent Austin event, we unpack the science and the impacts you need to know.

Don't miss a video! Subscribe NOW!

#HailTrace #HailChatter #Downbursts

ABOUT HAILCHATTER

Welcome to HailChatter, the HailTrace podcast that helps those in the restoration industry understand weather and its impact on their work. HailChatter is hosted by HailTrace's Taylor Cox, Digital Meteorologist with 5 years of experience in Plains weather, and Collin Hunt, Product Evangelist with 7 years experience in product messaging. Tune in every other Tuesday as they break down storms, uncover opportunities, and help the restoration industry weather every season.

ABOUT HAILTRACE

HailTrace is a weather technology company that simplifies storm data, empowering the restoration industry to respond instantly with reliable information. They do this through meteorologist-created storm maps, detailed weather reports, and sales tools that help teams reach the right neighborhoods first and confidently sell there.

WANT MORE WEATHER?! Subscribe for more!

• X: https://twitter.com/HailTrace
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hailtrace
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hailtraceFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/HailTrace/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HailTrace

CHAPTERS0:

00-2:30 Why do downbursts matter and how common are they?

2:30-5:20 Who is Charles Kuster and how did he get into downburst research?

5:20-7:40 What exactly is a downburst and how is it different from a tornado?

7:40-10:15 Are terms like “rain bomb” or “downward tornado” accurate to describe downbursts?

10:15-13:00 What happened during the 2011 Norman downburst and other recent cases?

13:00-15:40 How did plane crashes in the 60s, 70s & 80s prompt downburst research?

15:40-18:20 How does dual-pol radar help to spot wet downbursts and hail?

18:20-20:50 Can we detect dry downbursts and what are the current limits?

20:50-23:00 What does a KDP core look like and how do warnings improve safety?

23:00-25:12 What’s next for downburst research and how will it reach operations?

Devastating Downbursts Bring NEW Research and Faster Warning Times | S2 E5 | HailChatter | HailTrace

Wichita, Kansas just lived through a rare September run of severe weather — two hailstorms in a week and reports of softball-size hail in southern Kansas.

In this episode of HailChatter, Meteorologist Taylor Cox and Collin Hunt react to storm chaser Justin Hugh’s wild story of being pummeled by 5” hailstones and having his car struck by lightning during a similar September hailstorm back in 2010.

They also give you a behind-the-scenes look at how Meteorologists tracked the September 3, 2025 hailstorm that slammed Wichita, Kansas.

👉 This is an episode you don’t want to miss! Like and subscribe for more storm stories and restoration insights.

👉 Watch our full Wichita radar breakdown with CEO Derik Kline here. https://www.youtube.com/live/B2ez5ZfHQo0

HailChatter — where restoration meets weather.

Chapters:

0:00–0:56 Why did Kansas get pounded by massive hailstorms in September?

0:56–2:12 How big was the record-setting hailstone that fell in Kansas?

2:12–3:47 What happened when storm chaser Justin Hughes got trapped in giant hail?

3:47–5:19 Could a nearly 8-inch hailstone really smash through a roof?

5:19–6:48 What was it like to have your car struck by lightning during a hailstorm?

6:48–9:30 How did two Wichita hailstorms explode out of nowhere in 2025?

9:30–13:45 How do meteorologists use radar to spot monster hail?

13:45–16:04 How does HailTrace prove where the biggest hail really fell?

#HailChatter #HailTrace #KansasHail

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