New hailstorm research program launches in Boulder
DENVER (KDVR) — As Colorado approaches hail season, a new study is aiming to better detect these storms that can cause serious damage both physically and financially.
It's a collaboration between 19 institutions both here in the US and around the world, including CU Boulder and CSU. They're calling it the In-Situ Collaborative Experiment for the Collection of Hail in the Plains, a mouthful that can be shortened to ICECHIP.
Denver weather: Afternoon showers and storms, some severe
Hailstorms like the many we get in Colorado can be costly.
'I think it was something, like, $16 billion last year due to hail damage and so we started to realize, yeah, you might not necessarily cost lives, but is a giant chunk of our economy here,' says Becky Adams-Selin, a senior scientist with Atmospheric and Environmental Research.
That's why the National Science Foundation is funding ICECHIP, a chance to make a dent in that cost like hail on a car.
'It's going to pay big dividends in the long run,' says Adams-Selin.
The program, which launched in Boulder on Saturday will last for the next six weeks around the country and the teams won't wait for the storms to come to them.
Severe weather leaves at least 27 dead, including 18 in Kentucky
'We're heading out to Kansas tomorrow,' says Adams-Selin. 'There's supposed to be a chance of hail.'
They'll be bringing with them cutting edge technology.
'Mobile radars like those you see behind me, including mobile everything now, mobile temperature sensors, mobile hail systems,' says Adams-Selin.
All of this to learn more about these storms than ever before and use that to try and be proactive before the damage happens.
'How does that translate to damage that matters to me? Like, is my roof going to get destroyed? Is my car, is my Weather Beast going to get destroyed?' says Adams-Selin.
Hopefully to eventually put some money back in your pocket in the long run.
'Let's try and reduce these homeowners' insurance premiums,' says Adams-Selin. 'Let's try and get faster warnings out and reduce our ag damage.'
The study is also looking to the future of hailstorm science, training more than 50 students from universities around the country in field research that is critical to the program.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
Denver weather: Pinpoint Weather Alert Day for strong to severe thunderstorms Thursday evening
DENVER (KDVR) — A Pinpoint Weather Alert Day has been issued for Thursday evening as more thunderstorms are in Denver's weather forecast Thursday evening and again on Friday. FOX31 Newsletters: Sign up for weather alerts from the Pinpoint Weather team Thunderstorms could be strong to severe, producing damaging wind gusts, large hail and isolated areas of rotation that could lead to a tornado. Because of the risk for storms, a severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for areas along and east of the I-25 corridor until 8 p.m., and a tornado watch has been issued until 8 p.m. for far southeastern Colorado. Denver weather: After days of rain, how do totals compare to last year? Strong to severe storms will continue Thursday evening, before drying up Thursday night. Low temperatures will fall toward 50 degrees, which is seasonal for this time of year. Friday will start off dry, followed by increasing clouds and the threat of thunderstorms as high temperatures climb to the upper 60s. Thunderstorms could become strong to severe, producing large hail and damaging wind gusts, especially southeast of Denver. Saturday will be the driest day of the week with sunshine aiding in helping high temperatures climb toward seasonal levels in the lower 80s. The chances for showers will be very limited, so make sure to stay weather aware for any outdoor plans in the late afternoon. View the latest Weather Alerts in Denver and across Colorado on FOX31 The pattern of morning sunshine followed by a few afternoon thunderstorms continues Sunday into the start of the workweek. Temperatures each day will range from the upper 70s to the lower 80s. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Yahoo
Windsor sets mosquito traps around town as part of summer management program
DENVER (KDVR) — The Town of Windsor says it set up 14 mosquito traps in 'various locations' around town as part of its 'high-performing' comprehensive mosquito control program this summer. The town is partnering with Vector Disease Control International for the program, which includes adult mosquito surveillance, field inspections and control applications, Windsor said Wednesday. Did you know? Dogs can be an official witness at weddings in Colorado The mosquito control program begins in June and typically runs through August, the town said. 'The Town of Windsor and VDCI are committed to continue approaching mosquito management from a data-driven perspective, spraying as necessary throughout the season to reduce the chances of humans contracting West Nile Virus,' Windsor said in a news release. The mosquito traps are monitored on a weekly basis, while treatment is determined by mosquito population data, according to the town, which said mosquitoes caught by the traps are counted and identified by species. Denver weather: After days of rain, how do totals compare to last year? Control applications are also performed in areas where traps catch 100 adult mosquitoes or more, while field technicians also 'regularly' inspect standing water sources, the town said. Mosquitos identified as Culex mosquitoes, which carry the West Nile Virus, are tested by the Weld County and Larimer County health departments for the presence of the disease. Windsor is advising residents to help control the mosquito population this summer by regularly checking their properties for standing water — including clogged drains, puddles, vehicle tires, flowerpots and kiddie pools, among other things. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Miami Herald
5 days ago
- Miami Herald
How NASA plans to mine the Moon
By Dean Murray The United States has shown off how it plans to mine the Moon. Incredible scenes show NASA testing a vehicle designed to extract vital resources that could help humans live in the lunar environment or even on Mars. Engineers at Kennedy Space Center in Florida are experimenting with the RASSOR (Regolith Advanced Surface Systems Operations Robot) on a simulated lunar surface. RASSOR's counter-rotating drums dig up simulated moon dust to extract regolith, the loose, fragmental material found on the Moon's surface. The opposing motion of the drums helps RASSOR grip the surface in low-gravity environments like the Moon or Mars. On Tuesday (June 3), NASA said: "With this unique capability, RASSOR can traverse the rough surface to dig, load, haul, and dump regolith that could later be broken down into hydrogen, oxygen, or water-resources critical for sustaining human presence." The space agency is using the foundation of RASSOR's development to inform IPEx (In-Situ Resource Utilisation Pilot Excavator), a newer vehicle being prepared for a potential technology demonstration mission on the Moon. IPEx is still in the advanced development and testing phase and will improve on RASSOR with refinements in scale, modularity, and mission capability to support future lunar resource extraction missions. The post How NASA plans to mine the Moon appeared first on Talker. Copyright Talker News. All Rights Reserved.
