Notably, the largest hailstone ever recorded in the U.S. fell in Vivian, South Dakota, measuring an astonishing 8 inches in diameter on June 23, 2010.

Launching in May and June 2025, the ICECHIP project, which stands for 'In-situ Collaborative Experiment for Collection of Hail In the Plains,' represents the largest field study ever dedicated to understanding hail.

Approximately 100 researchers will participate in this comprehensive study, focusing on hail processes in thunderstorms across the Great Plains and the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains.

The study will specifically investigate 'gorilla hail,' which refers to large hailstones measuring 2 inches or more in diameter, while also aiming to enhance prediction methods for hailstorms.

Victor Gensini, a co-leader of the study and professor at Northern Illinois University, highlights the critical need for better understanding of hail to mitigate these substantial monetary losses.

The study will take place in the U.S. Central Plains and the Front Range of Colorado and Wyoming, regions commonly referred to as 'hail alleys' due to their frequent production of damaging hailstones.

Funded by an $11 million grant from the National Science Foundation, ICECHIP researchers will also explore how climate change affects the frequency and size of hailstorms.

Hailstorms have significant economic implications, having caused $46 billion in damages in the U.S. in 2023 alone, which accounted for 60% to 80% of losses from severe weather events, according to the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety.

The project is co-led by experts from various institutions, including Becky Adams-Selin and John Allen, and aims to provide valuable insights for a range of stakeholders, including insurance companies and farmers.