Examination of ERA5 thermodynamic profiles and hodographs in the pre-storm environment of severe thunderstorms producing large hail in Hungary between 2019 and 2023

Validated hail observations are available from the hail suppression system operated by the National Chamber of Agriculture since 2019. Using this dataset, large hail (larger than a walnut) reports were collected from recent years. The environments of hail-producing thunderstorms were reconstructed upon ERA5 reanalysis data, and characteristics were sought between thermodynamic profiles and hodographs that could help recognize the environmental conditions for potentially large hail-producing thunderstorms. During the investigation, 52 cases over a total of 35 days were examined. Although the number of cases did not allow for statistical conclusions, the authors identified similarities among the cases through ensemble sounding and hodograph analysis, which could serve as useful operational tools for forecasters.