Giant hailstones could soon become the norm in Britain – with climate change to blame.
That’s according to scientists from Newcastle University, the Met Office, and the University of Bristol, who have revealed how severe weather will change in Europe amid global warming.
According to the experts, rising temperatures might actually lead to less frequent hail storms.
However, the storms that do occur will be bigger and more devastating than usual.
In fact, the storms will batter Europe with ‘very large’ hailstones measuring over 5cm (1.9 inches) in diameter.
‘These results are very concerning,’ said Professor Lizzie Kendon, Head of Climate Projections at the UK Met Office and an author of the study.
‘They imply we need to be prepared for tropical–type hailstorms impacting Europe in the future, associated with very large hailstones that can cause severe impacts.
‘This possibility also extends to the UK, although the risk of hail here remains low into the future.’
Giant hailstones could soon become the norm in Britain – with climate change to blame (stock image)
In their study, the team modeled how hail will change across Europe with global warming.
Their findings revealed that under a high–emissions scenario, ‘very large’ hail – hail with a diameter of 5cm (1.9 inches) or more – will become more common.
There are several reasons for this increase, according to the researchers.
Hail forms higher in the atmosphere as it warms, where storm updrafts could be weaker.
This gives hailstones more time to melt before reaching the ground.
The researchers also point to the weakening large scale circulation, affecting the vertical profile of winds and leading to environments not beneficial for thunderstorm organization.
‘Our findings indicate that the effects of climate change on severe thunderstorms are more complex than previously thought, and high-resolution models can produce results that differ significantly from earlier research,’ said Dr Abdullah Kahraman, lead author of the study.
‘Society may need to prepare for less frequent, yet more damaging hail events locally, in a 5-degree warmer future.’
In their study, the team modeled how hail will change across Europe with global warming. Their findings revealed that under a high–emissions scenario, ‘very large’ hail – hail with a diameter of 5cm (1.9 inches) or more – will become more common
Worryingly, the giant hailstones have the potential to wreak havoc on aicrafts, as well as homes and buildings, according to study co-author, Professor Hayley Fowler.
‘As a society we need to be better prepared for unprecedented extreme events and this study shows that future storms in the Mediterranean could bring giant hail, with devastating impacts,’ she explained.
‘Recent hailstorms have caused significant direct damage to properties and infrastructure, crops, and even aircraft!’
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