Hail growth and recirculation in a multicellular hailstorm observed during VORTEX-95

The first recorded evaluations of hailstone growth trajectories postulated hailstones were formed through a process of recycling of the hailstone through the updraft several times. This concept was refined using Doppler radar data to identify three stages of hailstone growth. These three stages are described. This paper re-examines the hail growth process using new high resolution airborne Doppler radar data, and relates the formation of giant hail to hailstorm structure. The analysis is based on data collected during VORTEX in 1995. VORTEX used highly mobile airborne Doppler radars and ground chase teams, to provide unique, high-resolution observations of severe tornadic storms and hailstorms. The severe hailstorm discussed in this paper occurred on 12-13 May 1995, and produced baseball-sized hail in northeastern Kansas. The data discussed herein were collected by the NCARELDORA airborne Doppler radar which produced high spatial resolution observations of the hailstorm over a three hour period while the aircraft flew back and forth across the storm inflow region in a racetrack pattern. The radar is a side-scanning Doppler radar with dual beams 18° fore and aft of normal to the flight track