Evaluation of Hail History Reports

With spring comes warmer weather, but it also brings an increased risk of severe storms, many of which can produce hail. 

Assessing hail damage is an important step in evaluating insurance claims, repair decisions, and property conditions. Given the high costs associated with roof replacements and exterior repairs, homeowners, insurers, and contractors often turn to hail history reports to help establish whether a storm could have caused damage.

Most of us within the engineering consulting community that commonly evaluate roof coverings for hail damage inevitably come across a historical hail report. There are several websites dedicated to quickly providing an address-specific hail report at a relatively inexpensive cost – somewhere between $15.00 and $40.00.  The reports state that they are based upon algorithms, NEXRAD weather radar, numerical weather models, polarimetric variables, etc., and are accompanied by detailed disclaimers.  

However, these reports often don’t correspond to actual field observations made in the course of work. So, a few years ago, I thought it would be interesting to order some hail reports for a property that I’m intimately familiar with – my residence. 

The reports will hereafter be referred to as Report A through Report D.

• Report A listed fourteen hail events within the last eight years – eleven estimated at 0.50 inches in diameter and three estimated at one inch.  
• Report B and Report C were strikingly similar to each other, listing five hail events with estimated sizes between 0.70 inches and 1.20 inches.  
• Report D listed ten hail events with estimated sizes between 0.75 inches and 1.25 inches.  The preceding is summarized in the spreadsheet below.  For comparison, information from the NOAA Severe Weather Data Inventory website is also provided.

Comparing the Data to Real-World Observations

So how does the preceding compare with my actual experience and observations at my residence?
Not very favorably, to say the least.  

Since moving into the residence in September 2013, I have never witnessed anything over pea-sized hail.  Spatter marks on wood surfaces have been rare and indicative of pea-sized hail.  Soft metal appurtenances have not been dented.  Family cars are commonly parked unprotected on the driveway and have not been dented.  

What This Means for Claims Assessment

These findings reinforce a critical point: historical hail reports should be used as a general guideline, not a definitive record of damage. While these reports may indicate the presence of hail in a given area, they do not provide conclusive evidence of property damage.

For insurance professionals, claims adjusters, and attorneys involved in property disputes, an on-site forensic engineering evaluation remains the most reliable method for determining the extent of hail-related damage. By conducting direct inspections, forensic engineers can assess material deformation, impact patterns, and other critical indicators that a data model simply cannot capture.

Need an Expert Evaluation?

When it comes to assessing hail or storm damage, there’s no substitute for a thorough, on-site evaluation. If you need an expert assessment backed by experience and unbiased analysis, EDT’s forensic engineers are ready to help. Contact us to schedule an inspection and get the clarity you need to move forward with confidence.

About the Author

Kevin L. Kirchmer, P.E. is a consulting engineer with our Kansas City Office. Mr. Kirchmer provides structural evaluations of residential and commercial properties subjected to hailstorms, fire, explosions, tornadoes, moisture intrusions, vehicle impacts, and construction defects.