Higbee, MO Hail Storm – July 2025

What Happened

A severe hail storm moved through Higbee, Missouri, on July 16, 2025, producing 1-inch hail in a series of NWS alerts from late afternoon into the evening. The event included five hail alerts, all carrying radar and spotter-verified confidence.

The first alert came at 5:32 PM CDT with 1-inch hail. Additional alerts followed at 6:40 PM CDT, 7:20 PM CDT, 7:38 PM CDT, and 7:47 PM CDT, all holding the same hail size and confidence level. The timing points to a storm that remained organized across the Higbee area for more than two hours.

A ground report at 6:44 PM CDT described a downed tree and wires near Oak Street, with the time estimated from radar. The report listed 0.75-inch hail and was spotter-verified. That field report places measured surface impacts in the core of the event during the early evening.

Damage Assessment

The field report near Oak Street shows this was not just a hail-only pass. Tree and wire damage were documented in town, and the report came from a spotter-verified observation rather than a generic public note.

The 6:44 PM CDT report of a downed tree and wires near Oak Street points to concentrated wind or falling debris in the same window as the hail alerts. The reported 0.75-inch hail at that location came in below the later 1-inch alerts, which suggests variability across the storm path through Higbee.

For a small Missouri town, that mix of hail and line/tree impacts can leave a scattered damage pattern. Roof checks, siding inspection, and gutter review are warranted on the streets closest to the reported Oak Street impact area. Vehicles parked outdoors during the alert window should also be checked for glass and trim damage.

The warning sequence stayed consistent across the evening. Five separate alerts all carried the same hail size and verification level. That pattern supports a sustained hail threat rather than a single short-lived burst.

What Contractors Should Know

Higbee needs a close street-by-street look after this event. Start near the Oak Street report and work outward along the storm path through town. Focus on tree strike points, line contact, and roof edges where wind and hail often leave the first visible marks.

Look for asphalt granule loss, cracked ridge caps, bent flashing, and soft-metal bruising on vents and drip edge. On older homes in town, even a 1-inch hail event can produce uneven losses. Metal roofs, gutters, and downspouts should be checked for dent patterns that line up with the alert window.

Utility-related damage deserves attention here. The report of downed wires means contractors should watch for service drops, bracket failures, and secondary damage around the attachment points. Document each address with time-stamped photos and note whether the impact lines up with the 5:32 PM to 7:47 PM alert sequence.