Des Moines, IA Hail Storm – March 2025

Des Moines, IA saw a concluded hail event on March 30, 2025 with a maximum verified hail size of 1 inch. Two NWS alerts covered the metro storm sequence during the late night and early morning hours.

What Happened

The first alert came at 11:50 PM CDT on March 30 with 1 inch hail indicated by radar and spotter verification confidence. A second alert followed at 12:30 AM CDT on March 31, also for 1 inch hail with radar and spotter verified confidence.

The storm moved through the Des Moines metro in two closely timed alert periods. Both alerts carried the same hail size, which kept the event in the 1 inch range across the reported storm track. The storm has concluded.

Radar and spotter inputs aligned on both alerts. That combination supports a consistent hail signal through the warning period and reduces uncertainty around the reported size. The event remained a hail-focused severe weather report rather than a wind-dominant or flooding-driven system.

Damage Assessment

One-inch hail can affect roofs, vents, soft metals, window screens, gutters, and exterior trim. On metal surfaces, dents are common. On composition shingles, impact marks can appear without obvious leaks at first. On vehicles, the damage pattern often shows on horizontal panels, mirrors, and glass edges.

For contractors, the key issue is spread. A metro-wide hail report can produce scattered claims across neighborhoods while leaving nearby blocks untouched. Roof slopes, age of materials, and exposure all shape the visible damage pattern. Siding and accessory structures can show lighter impact than roof planes even when the same storm passed overhead.

Field checks should focus on ridge caps, pipe boots, flashing, skylight frames, HVAC fins, window screens, and south- and west-facing elevations where wind-driven hail can concentrate impact marks. Photograph impact surfaces before cleanup begins. Note roof pitch, material type, and any soft-metal strikes that support a repair scope.

Inspection teams should expect mixed outcomes. Some properties will show clear hail bruising or granule loss. Others will show only light cosmetic dents or no measurable exterior loss. The absence of immediate leaks does not remove the need for a close roof and facade review after a 1 inch hail report.

What Contractors Should Know

The Des Moines event fits a late-night claim pattern. Calls may come in after the first round of hail or after daylight reveals roof and siding marks that were not visible in the dark. Crews should plan for roof access, ladder work, and exterior documentation early in the day once conditions allow.

For estimating, separate direct hail hits from pre-existing wear. Use close-up photos of bruised shingles, fractured tabs, dented flashing, and cracked vent caps. On newer roofs, impact marks may be subtle and require a careful inspection of collateral components. On older roofs, hail damage often shows faster on exposed metals and fragile accessories than on the field shingles themselves.