Complete description of a heavy hailstorm over the Basque Country providing a 3D representation of lightning detections and weather radar data

This paper presents a complete study of a heavy hailstorm episode over the Basque Country using total lightning detection, rain gauge data and weather radar data. This hailstorm left 115 mm of precipitation in one hour in a reduced area. The reflectivity data provided by the dual polarization Doppler weather radar operated by the Basque Meteorology Agency (Euskalmet) showed maximums over 60 dBz and total lightning detection performed by two independent lightning detection networks provided accurate data. In this paper, a description of the meteorological conditions leading to the formation of the hailstorm is provided. Data integration schemes and 3D representations of 10-minute ECHOTOP radar products and the associated lightning activity over Google Earth are presented for an accurate description of the episode.