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

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

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• Subscribe for more! X: https://twitter.com/HailTrace
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• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.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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YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HailTrace

From storm chasing to forecasting hurricanes, HailTrace CEO Derik Kline joins Meteorologist Taylor Cox and Collin Hunt to break down how he’s forecasted the weather for 25+ years.

He answers questions like why weather apps get it wrong and what models can (and can’t) tell you. Plus, we take a look back on weather forecasting over the last 25 years and a look at the future of AI in meteorology.

Weather always has a way of humbling you. Here’s a video breakdown:

(00:00 - 02:20) How has forecasting changed since the 90s?

(02:20 - 05:28) How do meteorologists forecast the weather?

(05:28 -07:30) How can models hurt a weather forecast?

(07:30 - 09:00) Forecasting vs Nowcasting while storm chasing

(09:00 - 11:45) Why are weather apps wrong?

(11:45 - 14:51) What does POP mean?

(14:51 - 16:55) Which Weather Model is the Best?(16:55 - 21:30) Major Forecasting Busts

(21:30 - 28:46) Can AI improve or replace weather forecasting?

#weather #Forecast #StormChasing #SevereWeather #Meteorology

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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hailtrace

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hailtrace

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

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

What’s it like to fly into powerful storms—sometimes at night—with lightning flashing all around you? Dr. Dan Stechman, a Meteorological Software Engineer at HailTrace, shares what it’s really like inside NOAA’s Hurricane Hunter aircraft.

From flying through massive nighttime thunderstorms to capturing tornado data from the air, Dan breaks down the science behind these missions—and why it matters to everyone.

👉 Like, subscribe, and share this with someone who loves crazy weather and restoration insights.

Chapters

(00:00 - 01:19) What is it like to fly on a NOAA hurricane hunter plane?

(01:19 - 02:40) Why would a scientist fly into a nighttime thunderstorm?

(02:40 - 05:24) How do hurricane hunter planes work and are they safe?

(05:24 - 06:50) What have PECAN and TORUS taught us about tornadoes?

(06:50 - 07:45) Why can’t radars see what’s happening near the ground?

(07:45 - 08:41) Who’s onboard a hurricane hunter flight?

(08:41 - 11:55) What’s it like to see a tornado from the air?

(11:55 - 16:30) How do NOAA scientists prepare for dangerous flights?

(16:30 - 22:28) How did NOAA’s hiring freeze change meteorology careers?

(22:28 - 29:06) Why does losing weather balloon launches matter?

(29:06 - 30:23) Why does NOAA’s data matter for everyone?

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

#SevereWeather #Stormchasing #HailTrace #ExtremeWeather #Tornado