Analysis of hail clouds in the European territory of Russia in the warm period of 2024 based on various data

The characteristics of hail clouds (hail centers) in the warm period of 2024 in the European territory of Russia were analyzed based on various independent sources of information. Information on the location and time of hail was collected based on the European Severe Weather Database (ESWD) and storm reports received from the network of hydrometeorological stations of Roshydromet. Based on observations from the Roshydromet radar network, characteristic values of radar parameters in hail centers, such as radar reflectivity, differential reflectivity, cloud top height and vertically integrated water content, were estimated at various stages of the center's development, and the lifetime and speed of the center's movement were studied. Based on data from lightning direction-finding systems, the number of lightning discharges near hail centers was estimated, and the change in the number of lightning discharges depending on the size of the fallen hail was analyzed.

The results of the analysis provide an idea of the vertical structure of hail centers observed in the central regions of Russia, as well as the change in the number of lightning discharges immediately before the start of hailfall from a center of powerful convection.