Exploring thunderstorms

European Field Measurment campaign on severe storms

The science behind the storms

TIM* is a MULTI-YEAR and HIGH-DENSITY meteorological field campaign on severe thunderstorms. The Intense Observation Periods (IOPs) will take place from 2026 to 2028, gathering critcal data to understand extreme thunderstorms and the interaction with mountain ranges.

*TIM = Thunderstorm Intensification from Mountains to Plains 

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Severe Thunderstorms

Severe thunderstorms cause massive damages, loss of life and injuries every year.
The main goal of TIM is to better understand these extreme storms and to improve for future generations:

  • weather models
  • weather warnings, and
  • new sensor technologies & remote sensing capabilities.

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How to join 
TIM?

Research institutes, weather services, but as well interested industry partners and governmental authorities have the opportuntiy to join TIM.

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Why is TIM important?

TIM will be the first large multi-year field project in Europe targeted on severe convective storms in a rapidly changing climate. 
 

With TIM, ​the data from the latest generation of satellites will be compared with other meteorological observations collected during the campaign.

Severe convective storms often initiate over and intensify near mountains and affect heavily populated flatlands. 

Provide proximity data for scientists to understand under which conditions back-building and flash-flood producing convection occurs.

The field experiment will gather the necessary data needed to feed into cutting edge science such as numerical modeling as the basis for warnings. 

TIM will serve a whole generation of scientists by its comprehensive data collection of severe convective storm cases - including high resolution surface & upper air in situ measurements and remote sensing data.

Responsible Field Campaign 

The TIM partners agree on a responsible conduct strategy for the entire field campaign. This includes minimising the environmental footprint by maximising green mobility and thorough CO2-sensitive planning, giving preference to local suppliers and small businesses. Support and active offers for less privileged groups to get involved.

For generations to come we want to gather important data from the "eye of the storm".


Benefits of a European Severe Storms Field Campaign

People

Severe thunderstorms pose a great risk to local communities.

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Civil Protection

Better storm forecasts and warning lead-times are critical for disaster ​preparedness.

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Industry

New technologies and remote sensing methods will be tested under the harshest conditions.

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Environment

Understanding storms is critical for future projections and mitigation measures.

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TIM countries

Institutions and research institutes of the following countries have agreed to join TIM 

Austria

Croatia

Czech Republic

France

Greece

Germany

Hungary

Italy

Poland

Slovakia

Slovenia

Switzerland

TIM* - EXPLORING THUNDERSTORMS

TIM, the European Field Measurement Campaign on Severe Storms, will take place from 2026 to 2028, a three year period of intense observations and measurements.

Mobile teams and fixed observation sites will be equipped with the newest sensor generations and technologies, to gather important data of extreme thunderstorms.

This data will be provided to the scientific world and be available for future generations of researchers.

*TIM = Thunderstorm Intensification from Mountains to Plains 

People

With this mayor field campaign on severe storms scientists from all over Europe want to understand the mechanisms of extreme thunderstorms, leading to dangerous flash floods, strong and sudden wind gust or severe hail.
The results of the project will be integrated into forecasting models and warning systems with the goal to better protect communities.

Civil Protection

Preparedness is crucial to minimize impacts, injuries and fatalities. Short lead times for severe thunderstorms make it difficult for emergency services to prepare. One of the main goals of TIM is to improve thunderstorm forecast models and warning systems.

Industry

Industry is a key factor in developing new strategies and products to mitigate negative effects of climate change. Their involvement sends a strong signal and ensures an efficient user uptake of knowledge generated by TIM.

Environment

This field measurement campaign is critical to understand the processes behind extreme thunderstorms. With TIM, we can learn to better understand convective processes in the atmosphere and improve meteorological and hydrological models as well as climate projections.