December tornadoes are rare, but the EF4 that struck Mayfield, Kentucky on December 10, 2021, became one of the deadliest winter tornadoes in U.S. history. It leveled neighborhoods, claimed 89 lives, and caused more than $3 billion in damage.

In this closing episode of Season 2, Meteorologist Taylor Cox and Collin Hunt look back at the atmospheric setup that made this outbreak possible, why the Mayfield supercell was so unusual, and how the HailTrace Meteorology team tracked it live as it hit the city.

You’ll also hear powerful stories from the HailTrace team who helped with recovery efforts on the ground. From the emotional moments of seeing entire neighborhoods wiped clean to the overwhelming response from the restoration community, this episode captures both the devastation and the restoration that followed.

Watch the full interview of HailTrace’s experience tracking the Mayfield Tornado

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 - Why tell the story of the Mayfield tornado?

1:20 - How rare are December tornadoes?

2:19 - What ingredients made December 10, 2021 so dangerous?

4:39 - What was it like for a Meteorologist to watch the tornado impact Mayfield, Kentucky?

7:06 - What was it like seeing the Mayfield Tornado destruction up close?

7:57 - How did HailTrace decide to help the community?

9:51 - What challenges came with delivering donations to Mayfield, Kentucky?

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Hail is the most expensive severe weather hazard in the U.S., racking up as much as $15 billion in losses each year—yet key parts of hail science remain under-researched.

ICECHIP set out to change that with a first-of-its-kind campaign measuring hail from cloud to ground using mobile radars, aircraft, drones, and a brand-new hailsonde that rides the updraft like a hailstone.In the second part of this interview, Meteorologist Taylor Cox and Collin Hunt continue their conversation with Becky Adams-Selin (Senior Manager of Science) and Dr. John Allen (Professor of Meteorology, Central Michigan University) along with HailTrace’s Ben Baranowski about the extensive hail research they conducted last spring. Together, they unpack what ICECHIP discovered in the field — from surprising updraft velocities and new insights into hailstone strength, to how windblown hail and drone mapping could reshape forecasting, roofing, insurance, and agriculture.This is Part 2 of our ICECHIP interview. If you missed Part 1, watch that episode hereDon’t miss a video! Subscribe NOW

#HailChatter #HailTrace #Hail #HailResearchABOUT 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 HAILTRACEHailTrace 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.CHAPTERS0:00 - How do drones, aircraft and mobile tech track hail storms?5:18 - What is a hailsonde and how does it “ride” the updraft?8:21 - Did ICECHIP find stronger updrafts than we thought?11:05 - How will these findings change forecasting and warnings?14:31 - Beyond size what really causes hail damage on roofs?18:08 - What’s next for ICECHIP students and global campaigns?WANT MORE WEATHER?! Subscribe for more! X: https://twitter.com/HailTraceInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/hailtraceTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hailtraceFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/HailTrace/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HailTrace

An EF-3 tornado in Enderlin, North Dakota was upgraded to EF-5—108 days after the event. That’s rare.

In this episode, meteorologists break down why the rating changed, the damage indicators that mattered (rail cars, a swept-clean foundation), and how radar signatures and storm interactions created a brief “perfect window” for violent intensity.

HailChatter hosts Meteorologist Taylor Cox and Collin Hunt are joined by the HailTrace team—Heather Kay, Mikayla Smith, Joey Kragness, COO Ben Baranowski, and CEO Derik Kline—to unpack the June 20th, 2025 Enderlin tornado, the “nudger” idea, nocturnal jet impacts, and the limits of the EF scale when ratings depend on what a tornado hits.

We also discuss the math and modeling behind moving 30 - 50 ton grain cars and flinging an empty tanker up to 450+ feet, plus what this upgrade could mean for future tornado classifications.

#HailTrace #HailChatter #EnderlinTornado #EF5

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/@hailtrace

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HailTrace/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HailTrace

CHAPTERS

0:00 - Why was the Enderlin Tornado upgraded from an EF-3 to an EF-5 tornado?

3:13 - What did radar show as the Enderlin tornado formed and strengthened?

8:51 - What is the “nudger” and how can storm mergers supercharge a tornado?

14:01 - How does a brief “perfect window” create violent intensity—and why is it rare?

18:08 - Can a nocturnal jet really fuel a midnight EF-5?

19:14 - Why does the EF scale depend on what a tornado hits, not just how it looks on radar?

30:01 - After the Enderlin Tornado, should we expect more post-event rating upgrades?

38:24 - What physics explain tossing 30 - 50 ton grain cars and a tanker up to 450+ feet?

Enderlin EF-5 Tornado…Meteorologists React To The Rare Upgrade | S2 E7 | HailChatter | HailTrace