Walsenburg, CO Hail Storm – August 2025

Walsenburg, CO saw a concluded hail event on August 10, 2025, with confirmed hail up to 2.5 inches. The storm produced multiple warning areas through the afternoon and into early evening.

What Happened

The first warning area came in at 1:59 PM MDT with 1-inch hail indicated by dual-polarization radar. A second alert at 2:03 PM MDT carried 1-inch hail with radar and spotter verification. Hail reports then increased to 1.25 inches at 2:30 PM MDT and again at 2:51 PM MDT, both tied to radar and spotter confidence.

Around mid-afternoon, another 1-inch alert came in at 3:24 PM MDT. The storm then intensified. At 3:48 PM MDT and again at 3:54 PM MDT, dual-polarization radar detected 2.5-inch hail. A 1.5-inch alert followed at 4:00 PM MDT with radar and spotter confidence. At 4:13 PM MDT, radar detected 2-inch hail. Additional alerts held in the 1.25-inch to 1.75-inch range through late afternoon and early evening, including detections at 4:27 PM MDT, 4:42 PM MDT, 5:07 PM MDT, 5:10 PM MDT, and 8:40 PM MDT.

The event included 14 total alerts. The peak size remained 2.5 inches.

Damage Assessment

Hail in the 1-inch to 1.25-inch range commonly breaks windows, dents soft metal, and leaves impact marks on roofs, siding, and vehicle panels. In Walsenburg, that level appeared early, then repeated through several warning areas.

The 1.5-inch to 1.75-inch reports add a higher repair burden. Asphalt shingles can lose granules, gutters can dent, and skylights can crack. Vehicles parked outdoors are often the first clear indicator of impact, especially in open lots and along exposed streets.

The 2-inch and 2.5-inch reports point to a more severe hail swath. Roof slope, age, and previous wear all matter, but hail of that size can bruise roofing mats, split shingles, and damage vents, condensers, and exterior trim. In a multi-zone storm like this one, damage is rarely uniform across the warning area. Two properties a short distance apart can show different impact levels.

For contractors, the range from 1 inch to 2.5 inches means inspection work should not stop at the first visible dent. Roofs, window screens, gutters, downspouts, HVAC units, fence caps, and north- and west-facing elevations deserve separate checks. Ground-level vehicle damage can also help establish where the stronger hail core passed.

What Contractors Should Know

Field crews should treat this as a layered hail event. The early 1-inch and 1.25-inch alerts came first, then stronger detections built through the afternoon. That sequence suggests multiple rounds of hail within the same warning area, not a single short burst.

Inspect roofs by elevation and exposure. Check ridge caps, flashing, soft metal, pipe boots, and any slope facing the storm path. On multi-structure sites, compare damage across houses, garages, sheds, and detached outbuildings. Document the time, address, and hail size estimate for each inspection point. Keep photo sets tied to the section of roof or exterior surface being reviewed.

Walsenburg, CO Hail Storm – August 2025

NWS WARNING AREAS · 51

What Happened

Damage Assessment

What Contractors Should Know

Storm Details

More from Walsenburg