Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Get our free Climate email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy noticeClimate experts have predicted that hailstorms could be less frequent but more intense in Europe in the future. They have modelled the outcome for how hailstorms will develop under global warming and found that severe hail was less likely, except for the potential for very large hailstones. Severe hail has a diameter of 2cm, while very large hailstones measure 5cm. “They imply we need to be prepared for tropical-type hailstorms impacting Europe in the future, associated with very large hailstones that can cause severe impacts.