A climatology of hail in Europe (2014–2024) based on GPM-DPR sensor data

This study presents a continental-scale hail climatology for Europe (2014–2024) using the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) Dual-frequency Precipitation Radar (DPR). To address the limitations of inhomogeneous surface observations, four hail detection algorithms were applied at radar-pixel level. Normalized detection frequency maps (0–1) were generated for the April–September period, individual months, and subregions, to identify and analyze European hail hotspots. The results identify the main hail epicenter near the Alpine range, with secondary axes extending over the Balkan peninsula and Apennines, confirming orography as the dominant influence. The analysis revealed a clear seasonal evolution. That is, activity began in April with scattered foci, shifted toward southeastern Europe in May, reached its maximum spatial extent and heterogeneity in June, consolidated over the Alpine system during the summer peak (July–August), and finally moved to the Mediterranean Sea in September. This derived climatology robustly validates documented patterns, provides new continental details, and addresses the observational gaps in terrestrial networks, thereby confirming the value of satellite radar for studying extreme events. • A new European hail climatology (2014–2024) is derived from GPM-DPR sensor data. • The Alps are the main hail epicenter and orography is a dominant control. • Secondary high-frequency axes are identified over the Balkans and Apennines. • Hail activity shifts from southeast Europe in May to the Mediterranean in September.