Climate change is rewriting the rules of hailstorms

Climate change is not only transforming temperature and precipitation but also the nature of storms. According to a recent international study, hailstorms may become less frequent across Europe, but the number and intensity of thunderstorms will increase. Hungary will not be an exception: in the future, the sky will be characterized by more lightning, windstorms, and heavy downpours – while hailstorms, although less frequent, may cause more severe damage. According to the study published in the journal Nature Communications, one consequence of global warming is that the ice formation level in the atmosphere is rising higher. This means that ice particles have a longer path before reaching the surface, giving them more time to melt. As a result, the frequency of hailstorms may decrease, but when hailstorms do occur, they can be much more powerful. The formation of hail requires strong updrafts that lift water droplets from the thunderstorm cloud into the sub-freezing layers. The ...