Bay Minette, AL Hail Storm – January 2026

What Happened

A severe hail storm crossed the Bay Minette, AL metro on January 3, 2026, with peak stones measured at 1.75 inches. The storm produced four NWS hail alerts between 12:05 PM CST and 2:42 PM CST, with radar and spotter verification across the event.

The first alert came at 12:05 PM CST with 1.25-inch hail. A local storm report followed at 12:16 PM CST near Crossroads, where a spotter reported quarter-sized hail and estimated stones at 1 inch. By 1:01 PM CST, the warning area was still producing hail near 1 inch, again with radar and spotter support.

The strongest alert arrived at 1:28 PM CST, when dual-polarization radar detected 1.75-inch hail. A fourth alert at 2:42 PM CST held the storm near 1 inch as it continued through the afternoon. Another field report came at 2:45 PM CST in eastern Conecuh County, where public reports again placed quarter-sized hail around 1 inch, with the location estimated by radar.

Damage Assessment

Field reports point to brief, localized hail impact rather than a broad damage field. The Crossroads report near 12:16 PM CST and the eastern Conecuh County report near 2:45 PM CST both landed at roughly 1 inch, which matches the smaller verified hail estimates in the warning area. The radar-derived peak of 1.75 inches came between those reports, indicating a tighter core of larger hail that may not have been captured by every ground observer.

The report pattern fits a storm with uneven surface impact across the Bay Minette metro and nearby rural areas. One part of the line produced quarter-sized hail near Crossroads. Another later report in eastern Conecuh County placed similar hail in a different part of the storm track. The stronger 1.75-inch hail signal was short-lived and limited to the 1:28 PM CST alert window.

For roofs, gutters, and vehicle surfaces, the likely impact varies by path. Properties closer to the confirmed hail core had the higher risk of denting on vehicles, bruising on soft roofing materials, and granular loss on aging shingles. Locations farther from the radar peak likely saw smaller hail and lighter surface impact.

What Contractors Should Know

This storm is a good fit for targeted canvassing, not a broad countywide pass. The field reports cluster around Crossroads and eastern Conecuh County, while the larger hail signal appears to have been confined to a narrower corridor during the early afternoon. Start with roofs and vehicles in the verified report areas, then expand along the warning area where the radar showed the stronger core.

Focus on properties with exposed metal, soft-surface roofs, and vehicles parked outside during the 12:05 PM to 2:42 PM CST window. The storm produced multiple hail alerts in a short span, so impact likely varied block by block. That kind of setup can leave one street with visible dents and the next with only minor scuffing or no obvious exterior damage.