HailChatter

Mayfield, KY EF4 Tornado - America’s Deadliest December Storm | S2 E9 | HailChatter | HailTrace

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 [ https://youtu.be/A6j_wBShh6Q?si=G_4N_vktOFMbFSp9] 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? 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

It's Not All About Size! Ground Breaking New Hail Study | S2 E8 | HailChatter | HailTrace

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 here [https://youtu.be/uDGj2O4pTCE]Don’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

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

Breaking Records In Hail Research! First Major Study In 40 Years | S2 E6 | 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 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/@HailTrace2025 Epic Hail Chase! 7,000 Hailstones Collected by ICECHIP | S2 E6 | HailChatter | HailTracehttps://www.youtube.com/@HailTrace

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