Scientists estimate the largest hailstone on record in Texas (over 6 in. across in diameter) occurred near Hondo, Texas last Wednesday night. Three hail storms struck that night in Norman, OK, Dallas, TX and San Antonio, TX. Widespread damaging hail was reported…2-3 in. diameter hail was common. $1B damage is projected across the Dallas Metroplex due to this event. A single massive hail storm in this region is not unusual in this region at this time of the year. However, three massive hail storms are unprecedented.

The 50-year climatology for tropical cyclone activity in the North Atlantic Basin is 12.4 tropical storms, 6.4 hurricanes and 2.5 intense hurricanes. The accumulated cyclone energy index is 99.2. During the past 25 years the climatology is somewhat stronger numbers...15.3 tropical storms, 7.6 hurricanes and 3.4 intense hurricanes. ACE index is 125.8. Why are the numbers higher?

According to NASA, solar cycle 25 began last September as solar minima ending the solar cycle 24 was completed. We’re currently on the uptick in sunspot activity as solar cycle 25 begins to strengthen. The latest NASA forecast indicates solar cycle 25 will peak around 2025 at sunspot number 120.

A strong Madden Julian oscillation shifts east into the equatorial Atlantic/Africa sector and weakens. The heat release pole ward warms the northern latitude mid-atmosphere and the declining latitudinal thermal gradient should slow the jet stream making trough/ridge patterns more likely to occur.