Hector the Convector
@hector-convector.bsky.social
Thunderstorm and volcano enthusiast, and amateaur researcher. I write in Volcanocafé: https://www.volcanocafe.org/
My non-peer reviewed article, which I hope TO turn into a book one day: https://eartharxiv.org/repository/dashboard/7656/
My non-peer reviewed article, which I hope TO turn into a book one day: https://eartharxiv.org/repository/dashboard/7656/
This is my first really successful public transport storm chase. Location is Letux, Spain. I nearly got hit by a supercell that produced very large hail earlier on. Instead I was hit by the flanking line gust front, grazed by the RFD and gifted with some stunning clouds.
August 27, 2025 at 5:57 PM
This is my first really successful public transport storm chase. Location is Letux, Spain. I nearly got hit by a supercell that produced very large hail earlier on. Instead I was hit by the flanking line gust front, grazed by the RFD and gifted with some stunning clouds.
It was also interesting to look at the seasonality of large hail. No big surprises, they happen mostly from May to September. Interestingly, the peak hail occurrence shifts gradually from June to September as hail size rises, which likely has to do with the more elevated Mediterranean temperature.
July 23, 2025 at 12:38 PM
It was also interesting to look at the seasonality of large hail. No big surprises, they happen mostly from May to September. Interestingly, the peak hail occurrence shifts gradually from June to September as hail size rises, which likely has to do with the more elevated Mediterranean temperature.
The damage scale was meant for this. For a long time I wanted to distill my extensive Spain large hail data into something more usable, using a record more continuous over the decades, province capitals only. Two years ago I would have never guessed how ghastly the 1890s, and how variable it's been.
July 23, 2025 at 12:35 PM
The damage scale was meant for this. For a long time I wanted to distill my extensive Spain large hail data into something more usable, using a record more continuous over the decades, province capitals only. Two years ago I would have never guessed how ghastly the 1890s, and how variable it's been.
Some stuff I've been working on. The first is a hail weight scale, based on hailstone weight reports in historic newspapers (the lowest weight for which certain types of damage is reported). It uses some 800 Spanish and 400 French hailstorms, and is best applied to Europe for pre-1980 times.
July 23, 2025 at 12:12 PM
Some stuff I've been working on. The first is a hail weight scale, based on hailstone weight reports in historic newspapers (the lowest weight for which certain types of damage is reported). It uses some 800 Spanish and 400 French hailstorms, and is best applied to Europe for pre-1980 times.
I've made this map with the age of Harrat Rahat volcanic cones based on their erosion degree. Purple (south) is older, red (north) is youngest. The volcanic range has the length of the Netherlands! And shows amazing age progression. #volcano
May 30, 2025 at 10:40 PM
I've made this map with the age of Harrat Rahat volcanic cones based on their erosion degree. Purple (south) is older, red (north) is youngest. The volcanic range has the length of the Netherlands! And shows amazing age progression. #volcano
So to put it into a map, here is Spain's tornado distribution. Three tornado domains born out of two different seas and a complex topography of mountain ranges over the interior.
January 29, 2025 at 1:35 PM
So to put it into a map, here is Spain's tornado distribution. Three tornado domains born out of two different seas and a complex topography of mountain ranges over the interior.
The summer "tornado alley" occurs over the mountain ranges in NE Spain, being possibly absent in valleys. Tornadoes are often associated to giant hail. Low population density, resilient stone houses, and topographic obstacles give these tornadoes little impact historically. Alcañiz july 2003 tor:
January 29, 2025 at 12:52 PM
The summer "tornado alley" occurs over the mountain ranges in NE Spain, being possibly absent in valleys. Tornadoes are often associated to giant hail. Low population density, resilient stone houses, and topographic obstacles give these tornadoes little impact historically. Alcañiz july 2003 tor:
As someone in the autistic spectrum I've been lazy to start posting stuff after moving from nutjob country. Here it's something I did yesterday. It's a map of tornado activity in Spain, divided by month. Green is mar, apr, may; red is jun, jul, aug; purple is sept, oct, nov; and blue dec, jan, feb
January 29, 2025 at 12:52 PM
As someone in the autistic spectrum I've been lazy to start posting stuff after moving from nutjob country. Here it's something I did yesterday. It's a map of tornado activity in Spain, divided by month. Green is mar, apr, may; red is jun, jul, aug; purple is sept, oct, nov; and blue dec, jan, feb