Moreland Hills, OH Hail Storm – April 2026

What Happened

Moreland Hills, OH was hit by a severe hail storm on April 15, 2026. Spotter reports and radar detections showed hail reaching 2 inches during the late afternoon and early evening, with the most significant reports centered around 5 PM to 6:50 PM EDT.

The first warning-area alerts came in early, with 1-inch hail noted by NWS warning language at 2:50 PM and 3:15 PM EDT. By 3:45 PM EDT, the warning size had increased to 1.5 inches. The storm then cycled through a series of hail estimates through the afternoon, including 0.75-inch, 1-inch, 1.75-inch, and 2.5-inch values. A dual-polarization radar detection at 4:51 PM EDT showed 1-inch hail, then another radar-derived hit came at 6:24 PM EDT. Spotter-verified reports around 5:02 PM and 5:03 PM EDT described hail slightly over 2 inches in diameter and hail lasting 10 to 15 minutes, with stones ranging from 1.00 to 2.00 inches. Additional spotter reports at 5:48 PM and 6:48 PM EDT noted social media images of large hail and damaged vehicles.

The report set includes a later mPING observation of golf ball size hail at 5:20 PM EDT and another at 5:48 PM EDT. Bedford was named in one of the spotter descriptions, and nearby reports also referenced Bristolville and Solon in corrected or related entries. The warning area stayed active with repeated hail calls through the evening, including 2-inch and 2.5-inch estimates at 5:22 PM, 5:37 PM, and 6:56 PM EDT.

Damage Assessment

The field reports point to scattered but real surface impact, not just radar signatures aloft. Spotters described hail falling for 10 to 15 minutes, and one report referenced images of large hail and damaged vehicles. Another report tied the hail to social media images from the field, which is consistent with vehicle exposure across the storm path.

The report mix shows a range of hail sizes from 1 inch to slightly over 2 inches. That spread appeared in both warning-area estimates and spotter-verified ground observations. The radar detections at 4:51 PM EDT and 6:24 PM EDT matched the period when reports began to show larger stones on the ground. The repeated 2-inch spotter entries at 5:02 PM, 5:03 PM, 5:21 PM, 5:46 PM, and 6:48 PM EDT add weight to the damage picture across the broader metro report set.

For Moreland Hills and nearby communities, the main concern is vehicle exposure, roof surface impact, and isolated soft-surface damage where larger stones fell longest. The report set does not show a single continuous line of the same hail size all evening. It shows pulses of larger hail embedded in a longer storm period, with smaller hail sizes filling the gaps.

What Contractors Should Know

This event produced multiple hail pulses across the Moreland Hills metro area, with the strongest ground reports concentrated in the late afternoon and early evening. Contractors should expect a mixed inspection pattern. Some properties will show obvious hail marks. Others will show subtle impacts that require close roof, siding, and vehicle checks. The field reports mention damaged vehicles, so exterior metal surfaces should be part of every inspection route.