Walsenburg, CO Hail Storm – August 2025

Walsenburg, CO was hit by a concluded hail storm on 2025-08-29 with a peak confirmed hail size of 1.25 inches. Three NWS alerts tracked the event through early evening.

What Happened

The storm moved across the Walsenburg area in the evening, with hail alerts issued at 6:46 PM MDT, 6:59 PM MDT, and 7:11 PM MDT. The first two alerts carried a 1-inch hail call. The final alert increased to 1.25 inches.

All three alerts were backed by dual-polarization radar confidence. The sequence shows a short-lived hail signal that strengthened as the storm matured. The event later concluded.

Damage Assessment

Hail in the 1-inch to 1.25-inch range can affect soft metals, roofing components, skylights, vents, and exposed trim. In Walsenburg, that size is also consistent with bruised siding, window screen damage, and impact marks on vehicles left outside.

Roofs with older shingles or prior wear deserve closer review. Granule loss can be scattered or concentrated in narrow paths beneath the storm core. Metal roof panels, gutters, downspouts, and AC fins should also be checked. Small dents can be present even where roof leaks are not immediate.

Inspection crews should expect a mixed field. One property may show only cosmetic marks. A nearby structure can carry visible roof hits, soft metal damage, and broken exterior accessories. The difference often comes down to roof age, exposure, and the path of the strongest hail core.

Document findings by elevation, slope, and material type. Note impact on accessories such as ridge vents, turbine vents, pipe boots, and flashing. Collect photos before cleanup. Record direction of travel if dents or bruising appear concentrated on one side of the structure.

What Contractors Should Know

For hail near 1 inch, start with the roof. Look for bruising on asphalt shingles, displaced granules, soft strikes on metal surfaces, and damage around edges, ridges, and penetrations. Use consistent spacing on the inspection grid so light impact areas do not get missed. Check the full envelope, not just the steep slopes. Siding, gutters, window screens, garage doors, and exterior trim can carry the clearer damage pattern when roof markings are subtle.

In multi-zone events like this one, field conditions can shift block by block. A property on the outer edge of the warning area may show little more than minor dings, while a location closer to the main core can show stronger impact and more complete exterior loss. Match inspection notes to the specific address, roof material, and exposure. Keep measurements precise. Use the peak hail size, the alert times, and visible component damage to build a clean claim file or repair estimate.

For precise hail track data, review the paid Strike Map.