Coffee Creek, MT Hail Storm – August 2025

Coffee Creek, MT saw a concluded hail storm on 2025-08-05 with a peak confirmed hail size of 1.75 inches. The event produced five NWS alerts between 6:19 PM MDT and 7:24 PM MDT.

What Happened

The storm moved across the Coffee Creek area during the early evening. NWS alerts began at 6:19 PM MDT with 1-inch hail detected by dual-polarization radar. A second 1-inch alert followed at 6:41 PM MDT.

Radar confidence increased at 6:50 PM MDT, when the hail estimate reached 1.75 inches. Two later alerts kept the storm in the hail range, with a 1.25-inch estimate at 7:14 PM MDT and another 1-inch alert at 7:24 PM MDT. All five alerts used dual-polarization radar confidence from NEXRAD hail detection.

The hail threat was concentrated into a short evening window. The alert sequence shows repeated hail signatures rather than a single isolated report.

Damage Assessment

Hail in the 1 to 1.75 inch range is enough to produce visible impact across roofs, siding, gutters, vents, window screens, and vehicle surfaces. In Coffee Creek, the peak 1.75-inch estimate places the event above the size where soft metals and asphalt shingles often show immediate marks or loss of surface granules.

Field crews should expect mixed impacts across the event footprint. Lighter hail around 1 inch can leave denting on exposed metal and cosmetic vehicle damage. Larger stones in the 1.25 to 1.75 inch range raise the likelihood of broken seals, chipped trim, cracked skylight covers, and bruised roof components. Check properties with north-facing slopes, open lots, and weak roof planes first when working storm calls after an evening hail event.

Document the date, local time window, and the peak hail size on every inspection lead. In aggregate storm work, multiple alerts can produce overlapping review areas, so crews should separate visible surface damage from suspected hidden roof impact during the first pass.

What Contractors Should Know

This event gives contractors a compact hail window with a clear peak size and repeated radar support. Use the 6:19 PM MDT to 7:24 PM MDT time span when building inspection routes, bid lists, and callback coverage. Prioritize properties with recent roof installs, older soft-metal trim, and vehicles parked outdoors during the evening period.

Crews should also prepare for uneven damage within the same storm corridor. The alert sequence moved from 1 inch to 1.75 inches, then eased back to 1.25 inches and 1 inch. That pattern often produces pockets of heavier cosmetic loss next to lighter-hit blocks. Inspect roof planes, flashing, vents, gutter runs, and skylights before moving to exterior wall components and vehicle damage documentation.

For multi-zone scheduling, use the confirmed peak size and the full alert range to set inspection priority. Contractors working Coffee Creek should treat the storm as a short-duration hail event with enough intensity to support roof and exterior claim review.