Hungary's JÉGER hail‑suppression system activates 283 generators amid severe storms

Severe thunderstorms with large hail struck several Hungarian counties on Sunday, including Zala, Somogy, Tolna, Baranya, Bács‑Kiskun, Csongrád‑Csanád and southern Békés. The National Agricultural Chamber (NAK) reported that the Országos Jégkármérséklő Rendszer (JÉGER) operated continuously, turning on a total of 283 ground generators under red‑alert conditions.

The system, which has run under a revised operating regime since 3 June, can be activated only when a red weather alert is issued because of limited frost‑agent supplies. Some areas, such as Bács‑Kiskun, did not receive a red alert and therefore saw no generator activation, while Tolna and Baranya received the highest‑risk warning late. Reports came from 24 settlements across the affected counties. The limited agent stock means the risk of hail damage remains elevated despite the system’s deployment.