Kansas, OK Hail Storm – April 2025

What Happened

A severe hail storm moved through Kansas, OK, on April 19, 2025, with verified hail up to 1.75 inches and a long run of NWS alerts through the night. The storm produced a mix of radar-derived and spotter-verified hail estimates from 8:20 PM CDT to 2:40 AM CDT.

The first alerts came in around 8:20 PM CDT and 8:39 PM CDT with 1.25-inch hail, both tied to radar and spotter verification. Hail estimates stayed in the 1-inch to 1.5-inch range through the evening, including 1-inch hail at 9:21 PM CDT and 1.5-inch hail at 9:42 PM CDT and 10:04 PM CDT. By late night, dual-polarization radar began returning stronger hail signals, with 1.5-inch hail at 11:09 PM CDT and 1.25-inch hail at 11:34 PM CDT.

The peak radar estimate reached 1.75 inches at 12:15 AM CDT. Additional alerts followed at 12:40 AM CDT with 1.25-inch hail, then again at 2:01 AM CDT and 2:40 AM CDT with 1.25-inch and 1-inch hail. Field reports lined up with that overnight window. A spotter report at 9:55 PM CDT described 1.5-inch hail, and another at 10:06 PM CDT estimated ping pong ball hail from photos. Earlier reports at 9:58 PM CDT noted a tree down, and a 1:09 AM CDT report documented downed and snapped power lines in a subdivision.

Damage Assessment

The field reports show more than isolated hail. Spotters documented 1.5-inch hail in multiple reports during the 9:55 PM to 10:06 PM CDT window, along with tree damage and later utility damage in a subdivision. The hail reports were concentrated early enough in the event to show a broad surface impact before the overnight radar peaks.

The tree damage report at 9:58 PM CDT came in at 0.75 inch hail, which points to stronger wind or repeated impacts in the same part of the storm path. The 1:09 AM CDT report of downed and snapped power lines adds another layer to the event, along with a note of a possible tornado. That report was also tied to radar timing, which places the damage within the same overnight storm sequence.

The radar and spotter record does not read like a short-lived hail burst. It shows multiple waves of hail signals across several hours, with verified reports spread from early evening into the early morning. The repeated 1.5-inch field estimates and the later powerline report make this a multi-impact storm, not a single isolated cell.

What Contractors Should Know

This event covered a long overnight window in Kansas, OK, with the heaviest verified hail and the damage reports arriving after dark. Crews should expect a mixed claim picture. Some properties may show clear roof and siding impact from the 1.25-inch to 1.5-inch hail reports, while others may have limited visible loss even within the same storm path.

The subdivision powerline report at 1:09 AM CDT is a separate field flag. Utility damage can create access issues, blocked streets, and delayed inspections. Contractors working this storm should check for line-related hazards first, then move to roof slopes, soft metal, vents, and south- or west-facing elevations where impact often stands out after a nighttime hail event.