Merino, CO Hail Storm – August 2025

Merino, CO saw a concluded hail storm on 2025-08-28 with a confirmed peak hail size of 2 inches. The event produced five radar-backed alerts through late afternoon and early evening.

What Happened

The storm moved through the Merino area on 2025-08-28, with the first alert issued at 5:05 PM MDT for 1-inch hail. A second 1-inch hail alert followed at 5:28 PM MDT. Radar confidence increased through the evening, and the largest alert came at 6:10 PM MDT with 2-inch hail. Two additional alerts followed at 6:56 PM MDT for 1.25-inch hail and at 7:43 PM MDT for 1-inch hail.

All five alerts carried dual-polarization radar confidence. The sequence shows repeated hail potential over the same storm corridor rather than a single brief pulse. The final alert came in the early evening, and the storm is now concluded.

Damage Assessment

Two-inch hail is large enough to break skylights, dent metal roofing, and damage vents, trim, and soft metals. It can also leave visible impacts on vehicles, especially on hoods, roofs, and mirrors. In farm and rural settings around Merino, hail at this size can injure exposed crops, mark siding, and leave scattered losses across outbuildings and equipment.

The 1-inch and 1.25-inch alerts indicate a broader hail range across the event. That pattern can produce mixed damage across nearby structures, with more severe impact concentrated along the core path and lighter damage near the edges. Contractors should expect uneven field conditions from one property to the next.

What Contractors Should Know

Roof inspections should focus first on slopes facing the storm track, then on impact-sensitive components. Check asphalt shingles for bruising, granule loss, and cracked tabs. Inspect metal panels, ridge caps, flashings, gutters, downspouts, and roof penetrations. On attached structures, look at window screens, garage doors, siding, and exterior trim. In rural assignments, include barns, sheds, shop roofs, livestock buildings, and irrigation equipment.

Vehicle claims may be present even where roof damage is limited. Hail at 2 inches can produce widespread dents on horizontal surfaces. Photographs should capture the car from multiple angles, along with any broken glass, cracked lenses, or damaged mirrors. For agricultural work, note crop stage, field location, and any concentrated impact marks on exposed equipment. A complete inventory helps separate direct hail loss from older wear or unrelated defects.

Merino contractors should also expect scattered access issues from wind-driven debris, wet surfaces, and partially damaged exteriors. Start with the most exposed assets first, then work inward through the property. Record date-stamped photos, roof slope, material type, and visible impact points. The StormSnipe Strike Map shows the precise hail track data for this event.