Inside the Hail Camera: 4K Slow Motion Reveals Storm Science Like Never Before

How do you study a weather hazard that smashes everything it touches? Meet the Hail Camera — a custom-built 4K, high-speed imaging system developed to capture hailstones in freefall for the first time ever. In this behind-the-scenes look, scientists explain how and why they designed a truck-mounted camera rig that films hail at 330 frames per second, using a lighting array 30% brighter than the sun 🌞. From collaborations with OU baseball and softball to real-world deployments during spring storms, this system is unlocking groundbreaking insights about how hail forms, falls, and causes billions in damage annually. 🎥 Watch as hailstones nearly 3 inches wide rotate, shed water, and shatter — all in super slow motion. The goal? Better data. Smarter forecasts. More accurate warnings. 🔔 Subscribe for more severe weather science, storm chasing tech, and cutting-edge field research. Read the full story: https://inside.nssl.noaa.gov/nsslnews... 0:00 Built For Purpose 1:31 Trial By Velocity 2:37 Deployed for Discovery ———————————— Follow Us On ———————————— Facebook:   / noaa.nssl   Twitter:   / noaanssl   Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/noaanssl/ Instagram:   / noaanssl   More videos from NOAA Weather Partners:    / noaawp