Jackson, MS Hail Storm – April 2026

What Happened

Jackson, Mississippi saw a hail storm on April 1, 2026. The event produced a maximum confirmed hail size of 1 inch in the metro area.

The National Weather Service issued one severe thunderstorm alert for the storm at 2:41 PM CDT. The alert called for 1 inch hail and included a spotter-reported confidence note. No additional alerts were listed for this single-zone event.

The storm moved through during the afternoon period. The warning area covered the general path of the storm through the Jackson metro. The verified hail report tied the event to the city and placed the peak hail size at 1 inch.

For public reporting, this is a concluded hail event. The alert has expired and the storm is no longer active.

Damage Assessment

One-inch hail is large enough to mark up soft roofing materials, dent exposed metal, and crack weaker exterior components. On vehicles, hail of this size can leave visible dents on hoods, roofs, and trunk lids. Windshields may survive, but glass damage remains possible if the stones were concentrated or if the same surface took repeated hits.

Siding, vents, window trim, and patio covers often show the first visible signs on a storm of this size. Fresh impacts can be subtle from the ground. Aluminum trim and painted surfaces may show small, round dents that line up with the hail core path. Roof damage can be uneven across a neighborhood, with one block showing clean shingles and the next showing bruising, granule loss, or edge damage.

On residential roofs, the strongest indicators usually appear on slopes that faced the incoming storm. Impact marks may be limited to a narrow band rather than the full roof. That pattern is common in short hail events with one reported maximum size, especially when the storm moved quickly through a metro area.

Commercial properties can show similar spot damage on skylights, membrane edges, rooftop units, and metal flashings. Flat roofs may collect hail marks on seams, drains, and rooftop accessories before any larger field of damage becomes obvious. Contractors should expect mixed conditions from building to building, even inside the same warning area.

What Contractors Should Know

Treat this as a targeted inspection event, not a broad-loss assumption. The confirmed hail size was 1 inch, so field crews should focus on roof surfaces, gutters, downspouts, vents, soft metals, and vehicle exposure first. Pay attention to south- and west-facing slopes if the storm approached from the west or southwest. Look for clustered marks, not just isolated dents.

Document every impact with location, slope, material type, and photo angle. Small hail can produce scattered cosmetic damage that is easy to miss during a quick drive-by. Use ladder access where needed. Check test squares on asphalt shingles, metal roof panels, ridge caps, and exposed HVAC components. If the property has screen enclosures or skylights, inspect those before interior conditions are checked.