Public invited to see storm chasing instruments and learn how to participate in hail research
May 6, 2025 - by Audrey Merket
Members of the public are invited to attend a hailstorm field day that will kick-off the In-situ Collaborative Experiment for the Collection of Hail In the Plains (ICECHIP). ICECHIP is the first U.S. hail-focused field campaign in over 40 years. For six weeks, researchers will chase hailstorms in order to collect data that will be instrumental in advancing hail detection, improving forecast models and strengthening public warning systems.
The hailstorm field day will take place on May 17th before researchers head into the field. The community event will provide firsthand access to live weather demonstrations, storm-tracking tools and Q&A about hail research with leading atmospheric scientists. Hands-on demonstrations will include weather balloon launches, Doppler on Wheels (DOW) trucks, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and other hail video and collection instruments. Attendees can also learn about ways they can participate in hail research.
After the field day, researchers from fifteen institutions, including the U.S. National Science Foundation National Center for Atmospheric Research (NSF NCAR) and four international partners will deploy a fully mobile network for six weeks across the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains and the Central Plains. They will gather observations from a wide variety of hailstorms and hail types. The study is funded by NSF.
"We need better observations so we can understand the complex processes taking place in a hailstorm, which in turn will lead to better forecasts," said Andy Heymsfield, NSF NCAR scientist and one of the ICECHIP PIs. "We're also hoping to convert excitement about this campaign into community participation in hail research. The more people we have collecting data, even just by doing something as simple as submitting a picture you took on your phone, the more we'll know about hail."
Details:
What: Hailstorm field day
When: Saturday, May 17 from 2-4 p.m.
Where: FARM facility, 4820 63rd St, Boulder, CO 80301
Who: Weather enthusiasts of all ages
Cost: Free
Learn more: https://www.eol.ucar.edu/field_projects/icechip
https://news.ucar.edu/133022/largest-us-hail-study-40-years-kicks-boulder
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Audrey Merket
Science Writer and Public Information Officer
UCAR, UCP and NSF NCAR
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