Appleton City, MO Hail Storm – May 2025

What Happened

A severe thunderstorm moved through the Appleton City, Missouri area on May 19, 2025, producing 1-inch hail in the morning hours. The storm was tracked in one NWS alert area at 8:23 AM CDT, with radar and spotter verification supporting the hail report.

The first official alert pointed to a hail threat as the storm crossed the Appleton City metro area. A spotter report followed five minutes later at 8:28 AM CDT, when an emergency manager in Rich Hill reported quarter hail. The report matched the same 1-inch hail severity attached to the warning, with local ground truth arriving while the storm was still nearby.

Radar confidence remained tied to the hail signal as the storm moved through the region. The sequence was short. The warning, the spotter report, and the verified hail size all fell within a narrow morning window over western Missouri.

Damage Assessment

Field reports indicate a narrow but real hail impact across the Appleton City and Rich Hill area. The emergency manager report from Rich Hill placed quarter hail in the storm path at 8:28 AM CDT, giving the event a spotter-verified surface report that aligned with the warning intensity.

There is no indication in the available reports of a broad, long-lived hail swath across the metro. The documented impact came from a single storm cell and a single verified hail report. That keeps the damage picture focused on isolated exposure rather than a widespread hail footprint.

For contractors, the relevant detail is the timing and the corridor. A morning hail event in western Missouri often means the first damage calls arrive before crews are fully staged. Vehicles, roofs, gutters, and outbuildings in the Appleton City to Rich Hill corridor should be checked first, especially where the storm crossed open lots and exposed parking.

The report set does not show multiple hail sizes or a chain of escalating impacts. It shows one verified hail observation tied to one warning area. That usually points to concentrated inspection work, not broad regional canvassing.

What Contractors Should Know

Start with the morning travel window. The storm was already producing verified hail by 8:28 AM CDT, so early inspection calls in Appleton City, Rich Hill, and nearby rural routes would have taken priority while the event was still fresh. Crews should review service logs, dealership lots, agricultural sheds, and residential roofs along the storm path first.

Use the verified timing to narrow the search area. When a spotter report lands within minutes of the warning, the most useful checks are usually on the leading side of the storm track and in the first communities reached by the cell. Look for impacts on soft metals, roof vents, skylights, HVAC tops, and exposed vehicles. In small-town Missouri events, those are often the first places to show hail marks even when widespread structural damage does not appear.

Appleton City, MO Hail Storm – May 2025

NWS WARNING AREAS · 139

What Happened

Damage Assessment

What Contractors Should Know

Storm Details

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