Watch as storm chasers drive into the heart of a huge hailstorm
Watch as storm chasers drive into the heart of a massive hailstorm to learn more about the weather hazard that causes billions of dollars of damage every year.
Footage from the Associated Press shows a team of meteorologists setting up radar systems and cameras in the Great Plains in order to monitor the hail and 'make better forecasts'.
Victor Gensi, co-lead scientist of ICECHIP, the first US hail-focused field campaign in over 40 years, said: 'We want to know that a storm is going to produce baseballs and that storm is only going to produce golf balls. And if we can constrain those forecasts, the people receiving that information will be better served.'
Student meteorologist Katie Wargowsky said she has to ignore her 'natural instincts to hide' and 'know that you are changing the world one storm at a time'.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
2 hours ago
- The Independent
Met Office warns Britons tornado could hit as severe thunderstorms set to strike UK
The Met Office has warned Britons that a tornado could hit as severe thunderstorms are set to strike the UK within hours. The forecaster warned parts of the country 'could start to see tornado activity' later on Saturday as a yellow thunderstorm weather warning comes into force. The alert covering all of northern England, from Nottingham up to above Newcastle, will be in place from 5pm until 3am on Sunday. The Met Office said the most intense storms could produce 'frequent lightning, large hail and gusty winds', along with a chance of flooding. Jonathan Vautrey, a meteorologist at the Met Office, said the forecaster will also be 'looking out for the potential of tornado activity' and 'can't rule it out'. He told The Independent: 'Lots of ingredients have to come together to produce it, but there is the potential as we head into, particularly this evening, once the thunderstorm warning comes in, we could start to see tornado activity in regards to that system... We can't rule it out. It's something we'll be monitoring across the course of the day, but it's difficult to pinpoint a location.' However, Mr Vautrey explained that the areas most likely to see a tornado, if one does hit the UK, will be those covered by the storm warning on Saturday evening and into the night, adding that the storm system is expected to develop across northern England and south east Scotland. He said: 'Our main focus point is the warning area itself. This is the area where we've got the greatest chance of seeing severe thunderstorms into the course of the evening and start of the night – [and] the main area where we'll be looking out for the potential of tornado activity.' The scattered thunderstorms are set to mix with continued high temperatures on Saturday, with up to 34C possible in some areas. Parts of eastern England could see temperatures peak high enough to eclipse the 32.2C seen on Thursday and become the hottest day of the year so far. An amber heat-health alert for all regions in England is also in place for the whole of the weekend, after heatwaves were triggered across the county and in Wales on Friday.
The Sun
2 hours ago
- The Sun
Fears for 2026 World Cup as extreme weather threatens game delays, ruining the football and forcing fans to leave early
FEARS are growing over the 2026 World Cup as extreme weather wreaks havoc. Four Club World Cup matches have been hit by delays within the first five days of the tournament being played across the United States. 11 11 11 And with a heatwave including temperatures as high as 41C set to hit next week, further problems are expected - with fans and players alike at risk. Now there is an increasing concern about the impact it could have on next summer's World Cup - hosted by the USA, Canada and Mexico. CLUB WORLD CUP CHAOS So far at the Club World Cup, the matches have been delayed due to thunderstorms. Mamelodi Sundowns vs Ulsan HD was the first fixture to be impacted with kick-off delayed by more than an hour. Salzburg vs Pachuna saw a 90-minute pause during the second half in Cincinnati while Palmeiras vs Al-Ahly was halted for 40 minutes in New Jersey. Then the second half of Benfica's 6-0 thumping of Auckland City started two hours late. Both Benfica vs Auckland and Mamelodi vs Ulsan were in Orlando. And although no World Cup matches are being staged in the city, there are seven scheduled for Miami - three hours' drive south in Florida. That may well include some England games as Miami is in the eastern region for the 2026 event. Similarly, Cincinnati is not on the list of host cities for next summer - but surrounding places such as Kansas City, Atlanta and Toronto are. Club World Cup clash takes over three hours to complete due to poor weather conditions at the TQL Stadium And New Jersey, the site of the thunder and lightning when Palmeiras faced Al-Ahly, will stage eight World Cup matches - including the final. Again, like Miami's Hard Rock Stadium, the MetLife Stadium is within the eastern region England are set to be part of - along with nearby Boston and Philadelphia. Crucially, the 64-team World Cup will be staged from June 11 to July 19 - the same time as year in the same areas as the heavily-disrupted Club World Cup 12 months earlier. Due to the time difference, to make sure European fans get to watch their teams play, many of their matches will be scheduled at lunchtime and in the afternoons - the hottest parts of the day. IMPACT ON PLAYERS... Of course, the extreme weather - both heat and storms - is leaving many players and referees at risk of heat stroke, exhaustion, dehydration plus other health issues and injuries. Atletico Madrid star Marcos Llorente said it was "terribly hot" when his side lost 4-0 to PSG in Los Angeles when it was 32C. By next week, players could be forced to take to the field in temperatures 9C hotter. Environmental physiologist and heat stress in sport expert at the University of Roehampton Dr Chris Tyler told the BBC: "Many of the players expecting to compete in 2026 are already getting a taste of what's to come. "Such conditions will be commonplace with many of the fixtures scheduled for before 5pm to maximise TV audiences. "Extreme heat could become the tournament's most formidable opponent." 11 11 11 11 Fossil Free Football - a campaign group highlighting the impact of the climate crisis on the beautiful game - added: "Particular concern is for the fixtures in the no-shade stadium in Charlotte where a heat index of 38C (Real Madrid v Pachuca) and 41C (Benfica v Bayern) is forecast for the next two matches. "This underlines the dangers facing players and fans at this tournament and in 2026. Fifa have done very little to allay safety concerns." Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca admitted he cannot field his strongest starting XI for every game - which will be a major worry for international managers hoping to lead their countries through eight matches to World Cup glory. Maresca said: "It's not easy because of the temperature. We're going to try to rotate players." ...AND ON FANS... It is not just those on the pitch at risk, either. Fans being in stadiums when torrential rain falls or the sun is beating down could also find themselves in difficulty. Reports claim spectators at the Club World Cup have been forced to leave the stands during matches due to the heat. They also found long queues and restricted water availability at stadiums - even despite shoddy, low attendances. Sporting events are seemingly seeing play stopped to tend to fans taken ill in the crowd - with many of those due to heat-related incidents. This week at Queen's, Jack Draper's match was temporarily halted as stewards rushed to help a stricken spectator in the uncovered stands - with temperatures at 26C in West London. ...AND ON BROADCASTERS The TV companies from around the globe have spent big money to secure the rights to show World Cup matches next summer. But matches at risk of being delayed could be a nightmare for broadcast executives - and fans trying to watch the action at home. That is because if a match has to be stopped for a lengthy period, it might not finish in time before the next match kicks off due to the frantic schedule. Exact kick-off times are yet to be confirmed but at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, there were at times four matches per day kicking off every three hours at 10am, 1pm, 4pm and 7pm UK time. But at the Club World Cup, the reality was laid bare. The Benfica vs Auckland game was due to finish an hour before Chelsea vs Flamengo kicked off. However, not only did the two matches overlap but the long stoppage meant the full-time whistle ended up blowing AFTER Chelsea's 3-1 defeat had finished. Benfica gaffer Bruno Lage said: "This is the longest game of my career. "A special thanks to our fans, who have been here for five hours supporting the team. "We played as well as we could. The temperature made it very difficult." FIFA'S RESPONSE So, what have Fifa said and done in response? Well, they released a brief statement in which they claimed health is their "top priority" and medical experts have been providing guidance. The world football governing body said: "Fifa's top priority is the health of everyone involved in football, and Fifa's medical experts have been in regular contact with the clubs participating to address heat management and acclimatisation." Fifa confirmed that a drinks break to give players the chance to take on fluids and cool down will take place at 30 minutes and 75 minutes if needed. They added fans will also be permitted to bring an empty clear water bottle up to one litre into stadiums. But while that is a helpful step for fans to be able to drink water a little easier, it is hardly going to make a major difference if fans are sat in unsheltered stands in the relentless driving rain with thunder and lightning or if temperatures reach dangerous levels in excess of 35C or even 40C. 11 11 11 11
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Study pinpoints exact number of coffees per day that can cut the risk of sudden cardiac death
A coffee a day might be enough to keep the doctor away. For US researchers have found coffee lovers tend to have healthier hearts, putting them at lower risk of cardiac death. And the benefits can be achieved by drinking just one cup a day, they claimed—but only if they drink it black. Those who drank between two to three cups, however, saw the most benefits, slashing their risk by almost a fifth. The findings, from the study of more than 46,000 people, add to the growing body of evidence highlighting the drink's health benefits. Professor Fang Fang Zhang, a nutrition expert at Tufts University in Boston, said: 'Coffee is among the most-consumed beverages in the world, and with nearly half of American adults reporting drinking at least one cup per day, it's important for us to know what it might mean for health.' Some research has already linked coffee to reducing the risk of heart disease, heart failure and strokes, while other studies report it prolongs life. But medics remain divided, warning that excessive amounts of coffee—packed full of caffeine—can actually damage the heart. The new study, in The Journal of Nutrition, tracked the daily coffee consumption of 46,332 people over the age of 20. Over a follow up of 11 years, they found black coffee and coffee with low levels of added sugar and saturated fat—like milk or cream—had a 14 per cent lower risk of death compared to no coffee consumption. But one cup of black coffee a day, specifically, slashed the risk of death including cardiovascular death, by 16 per cent. Those who drank between two and three a day saw the risk lowered by 17 per cent. However, researchers noted that the benefits peaked at three cups a day. They also found that those who added high amounts of sweeteners and dairy to their coffee did not experience the same benefits. Researchers acknowledged, however, that the coffee consumption was self-reported by volunteers, so may have been underreported, limiting the findings. It was also assessed without detailing the roast used and preparation methods. NHS data shows a rise in the number of younger adults suffering from heart attacks over the past decade. The biggest increase (95 per cent) was recorded in the 25-29 year-old demographic, though as numbers of patients are low even small spikes can look dramatic Under NHS guidance, consuming more than four cups a day can increase blood pressure. Around 2million people in the UK are diagnosed with some form of heart disease, according to Government figures. But charities estimate that a further six million have undiagnosed high blood pressure—one of the leading risk factors for stroke and heart attack. Heart disease describes a range of conditions that affect the heart and blood vessels. It's often caused by fatty deposits in the arteries that can make it harder for blood and oxygen to flow properly through the vessels and to and from the heart. This increases the risk of a blockage, and therefore stroke or heart attack. Last year, alarming data revealed that premature deaths from cardiovascular problems, such as heart attacks and strokes, had hit their highest level in more than a decade. MailOnline has previously highlighted how the number of young people, under 40, in England being treated for heart attacks by the NHS is on the rise. Cases of heart attacks, heart failure and strokes among the under-75s has tumbled since the 1960s thanks to plummeting smoking rates, advanced surgical techniques and breakthroughs such as stents and statins. But now, rising obesity rates, and its catalogue of associated health problems such as high blood pressure and diabetes, are thought to be one of the major contributing factors.
