Wichita, KS Hail Storm – April 2026

What Happened

Wichita, KS was hit by a multi-zone hail storm on 2026-04-03. The largest verified hail reached 2.5 inches, with the event unfolding from mid-afternoon into early evening across the metro.

The first alerts came at 3:10 PM CDT, when hail reports of 1 inch and 2.25 inches were issued at the same time. The 2.25-inch alert was supported by both radar and spotter verification. A second round followed at 3:23 PM CDT with another 2.25-inch dual-polarization radar detection.

Additional alerts were issued at 4:17 PM CDT, 4:44 PM CDT, and 5:00 PM CDT, again with 1-inch spotter reports and 2.25-inch radar detections. By 5:31 PM CDT, the hail signal had increased to 2 inches. At 5:35 PM CDT, radar detected 2.5-inch hail. Spotter-verified 2.5-inch reports followed at 5:42 PM CDT, 6:09 PM CDT, 6:22 PM CDT, and 6:56 PM CDT. The final alert at 7:42 PM CDT showed 1.75-inch hail with radar and spotter verification.

The event was concluded by the end of the evening.

Damage Assessment

Hail in the 1-inch to 2.25-inch range can strike roofs, siding, vents, window trim, and outdoor equipment. The 2.5-inch peak raises the likelihood of broken siding, punctured soft metal surfaces, cracked skylights, and impact damage to vehicles parked in exposed areas.

In Wichita, the spread from 1 inch to 2.5 inches points to uneven impact across the metro. Some properties saw smaller hail early in the storm. Others were hit later as the hail core intensified. Contractors should expect mixed loss patterns within the same warning area.

Roof inspections should focus on shingle bruising, granule loss, ridge cap damage, and impacts around penetrations. On metal roofs, check seams, fasteners, flashing, and gutters for denting and deformation. Around windows and exteriors, look for screen damage, chipped trim, and broken accessory parts near the hail path.

Vehicle damage may be scattered rather than uniform. Heavily exposed lots, apartment parking areas, and commercial fleets can show sharper patterns than sheltered driveways or garages.

What Contractors Should Know

Field teams should treat this as a broad metro event with multiple hail peaks. Do not rely on a single hail size when writing up exterior damage. The report history shows repeated 2.25-inch and 2.5-inch detections, with spotter support on several of the larger alerts. That mix often means one subdivision or corridor can look materially different from the next.

Start with roof surfaces, then move to edges, slopes, and exposed accessories. Photograph each face separately. Note soft-metal impacts, granule loss, cracked vents, lifted flashing, and dented gutters. On commercial work, check HVAC housings, curb caps, and skylight assemblies. On residential claims, pay close attention to north and west exposures where hail often leaves the clearest marks after a late-afternoon storm cycle.