Weather Warnings : Europe needs ‘Twisters’ campaign to compete

Researchers from 14 European countries are set to collaborate on a significant project to study severe thunderstorms, aiming to enhance future weather warnings. This initiative, known as the European “TIM” measurement campaign, will be the largest of its kind in Europe and is scheduled to begin in 2026.

Alois Holzer, the campaign’s initiator, explained that the team plans to use cutting-edge technologies, including weather drones, and that mobile measurement teams will need to get very close to the storms to collect data.

“In contrast to some scenes in the entertainment film Twisters, our research campaign will adhere to the highest safety standards and we are committed to responsible behavior towards the environment and local communities,” Holzer emphasized.

The project is currently seeking major donors to support the mobile measurement teams. Holzer expressed hope that Europe can achieve the same level of donor support seen in North America and mentioned ongoing discussions with various public authorities.

The European Severe Storms Laboratory (ESSL) is seeking major donors to support individual mobile measurement teams for their upcoming project on severe weather, although the basic scientific structure will be funded through traditional research grants. Alois Holzer, with a twinkle in his eye, expressed hope that Europe can attract the same level of donor support seen in North America. He also mentioned ongoing discussions with various public authorities.

The project aims to improve the understanding and prediction of severe weather to strengthen civil defense, focusing on hailstorms, flash floods, dangerous squalls, and tornadoes. The urgency of this research is underscored by recent severe weather events, which caused 524 fatalities in Europe last year, according to the ESSL.

Based in Wiener Neustadt, Lower Austria, the ESSL is an independent, non-profit research institute. It operates the European Severe Weather Database (ESWD) and is a European leader in training meteorologists in severe weather warnings. Last year, the ESSL introduced the International Fujita Scale (IF-Scale) as a new standard for categorizing tornado damage.

ESSL aims to enhance Europe’s preparedness for severe storms. Their goals are to advance scientific understanding, build skilled teams, and promote cooperation across Europe in this field.