Is there any way to predict if a storm is going to produce hail with radar imagry?

Question

I just wanted to know if it is possible without relying on the websites below warning.

The satellite imagery that i have access to is linked below:

http://mirror.bom.gov.au/products/IDR033.loop.shtml

Answer 1

If you have access to VIL (Vertical Integrated Liquid) radar, then you can have a good idea of the potential for hail.  The larger or higher the dBz, the greater chance for larger hail.

Answer 2

Remember too,   that an area may indicate the presence of possible hail but that area is always changing....  moving into areas that are more or less favorable for development.

Answer 3

I am wondering what you meant by the word predict. Usually, when a person uses that word, it means to tell in advance.

Radar is a invaluable tool but shows only what is occurring at that time. It can and does indicate that hail is being produced (I don't disagree with the other answers.), but it often is not a good predictor of what will happen in the future (Beyond a few minutes to a few hours.) or forecast (predict well into the future (such as hours to days).

The better predictor of the possibility of hail lies in the study of the temperature and moisture profile of the immediate area. If there is a balloon sounding available close to your area, the information that the radiosonde provides (in the form of an adiabatic diagram of some sort, there are many and I prefer the Skew-T) and a little study on instability, lapse rates, and vertical velocities are a better predictor than radar.

In morning discussions on weather, forecasters will often discuss the potential for hail on any given day after viewing atmospheric profiles either from balloon soundings or taken from short term modeling of the atmosphere.

Radar is a very indispensable tool but is more of a "now" or very short term tool in comparison to a forecasting tool.

I may have over analyzed your question, I guess I am asking whether you asking to "forecast" or indicate that hail is happening "now".

If you mean now, then indeed current radar and satellite data is your best tool. If you mean later in the day or the next day, then old forecasting methods developed well before radar still work the best.

Answer 4

Those images show rainfall rate.

You need reflectivity - greater than about 50dbZ generally means hail. If you have cloud top temperature as well you can have a pretty good stab at the hail size.