McLeod, MT Hail Storm – July 2025

On July 31, 2025, McLeod, MT saw a concluded hail event with a maximum confirmed size of 1.5 inches. Four NWS alerts tracked the storm across the evening, with dual-polarization radar confidence on each detection.

What Happened

The storm first showed hail potential at 3:57 PM MDT, when radar confidence supported a 1-inch hail estimate. A stronger pulse followed at 8:04 PM MDT, when hail output reached 1.5 inches. The event then cycled again with a 1-inch estimate at 8:38 PM MDT, followed by another 1.5-inch detection at 8:42 PM MDT.

The sequence shows a repeating hail core rather than a single isolated burst. The alert set covered multiple zones within the McLeod, MT metro area over a span of several hours. The storm has concluded.

Damage Assessment

Hail in the 1-inch to 1.5-inch range can affect roofs, siding, vehicles, gutters, and soft metals. In the field, the most common findings are dented aluminum trim, impact marks on roof surfaces, broken window screens, and chipped paint on exposed exterior surfaces.

The shift from 1 inch to 1.5 inches matters for inspection priority. Roof slopes, ridge caps, vents, skylights, and older siding often show the clearest impact pattern first. Flat surfaces and vehicles can show dense strike patterns even where visible roof loss is limited. Interior leaks may not appear immediately after the event.

For contractors, the useful approach is zone by zone. Check the strongest reported corridor first, then move outward into the lower-size alerts. Compare roof-plane exposure, slope direction, and any visible collateral damage at ground level. Photos from drive-by inspections should include full elevations, not only close shots of isolated dents.

What Contractors Should Know

Schedule inspections with the hail size range in mind. A 1-inch alert and a 1.5-inch alert can produce different claim volumes, especially when the larger hail was brief and localized. Focus first on the properties nearest the later evening detections, since the 8:04 PM MDT and 8:42 PM MDT alerts carried the largest confirmed size.

Look for paired evidence. Match roof marks with siding hits, soft-metal dents, and screen damage before drawing conclusions from a single surface. In mixed-size storms, a property can sit near the edge of the stronger hail path and still show repairable roof damage even when neighbors report lighter impact. Keep inspection notes tied to time, location, and observed hail size.

For a precise hail track, use the Strike Map for radar-derived hail points across McLeod, MT.