Britain will be battered by giant HAILSTONES thanks to climate change

"'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.'"

"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. 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."

"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. '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'"

Models show very large hail (≥5cm) will become more common in Europe under high-emissions scenarios. Rising temperatures will likely reduce hailstorm frequency but increase the size and destructiveness of storms that do form. Hail is expected to form higher in the atmosphere as it warms, exposing hailstones to longer melt times because storm updrafts could weaken. Weakening large-scale circulation will alter vertical wind profiles and hinder thunderstorm organization. High-resolution models show complex effects that differ from earlier research. Society may need to prepare for less frequent but more damaging hail events, with tropical-type hailstones possibly extending to the UK despite low overall risk.

Read at Mail Online