Sanderson, TX Hail Storm – April 2026

A severe hail storm tracked through Sanderson, Texas on April 16, 2026, producing 2-inch stones and spotter-verified impacts in town during early evening.

What Happened

The storm sequence unfolded in the early evening hours. The National Weather Service issued three severe thunderstorm warnings for the area: 6:12 PM CDT, 6:45 PM CDT, and 7:13 PM CDT. Each warning carried a hail threat and was listed as NWS warning only. Dual-polarization radar detected strong cores moving across Terrell County during that interval and showed radar-derived hail signatures aligned with the warning corridor.

Local observations narrowed the surface impact window. At 6:52 PM CDT, Sanderson Fire Rescue reported hail on the ground by phone; that same phone call was recorded in multiple Local Storm Reports and logged by SPC observers. The Fire Rescue call was the primary ground-truth input for the event record and was logged by several spotters and observers at the same timestamp.

Damage Assessment

Field reports indicate hail reached the surface in central Sanderson, with the Fire Rescue phone call forming the core of the ground-truth record. Multiple LSR entries and SPC observer logs reference the single 6:52 PM CDT call as the on-the-ground observation point in town. Radar-derived hail signatures coincide with that timestamp and the NWS warning corridor through Sanderson.

The available storm reports are observation-focused. The Local Storm Reports document the Fire Rescue call but do not include detailed on-scene structural damage descriptions. Where field crews were present, reports emphasize hail occurrence rather than damage narratives. Inspections driven by these reports should start at the locations associated with the Fire Rescue call and expand along the radar-indicated core that passed through town during the 6:45–7:15 PM CDT window.

What Contractors Should Know

Inspect north–south and east–west routes through Sanderson first. The ground reports and radar track point to a concentrated pass through central Sanderson near 6:52 PM CDT. Begin rooftop and exterior assessments at addresses inside the NWS warning area tied to that pass. Document each inspection with geotagged photos, time stamps, and a visible scale reference for hail and damage features.

Prioritize roofing materials known to show impact evidence quickly. Check asphalt shingles for bruising or granule loss along roof planes that faced the storm’s approach. Examine metal roof panels, HVAC condenser fins, skylights, solar arrays, and siding for dents or punctures. Record vehicle and outbuilding conditions encountered along the inspection route; include the location and time for each observation to match the event timeline.

For claims and repairs, preserve original photos and the chain of custody for materials removed during inspection. Coordinate measured observations with the NWS warning area and the radar-detected hail path when preparing estimates. For precise, address-level hail path data and strike points, consult the StormSnipe Strike Map for this event.