Duluth, MN Hail Storm – April 2026

A severe hail storm moved through Duluth, Minnesota on April 17, 2026, producing stones up to 2 inches and a series of spotter-verified hail reports across the metro. The storm began mid-morning and persisted into the early evening, producing repeated NWS warning-area notices and numerous observer submissions.

What Happened

The event began in mid-morning with a stream of NWS warning-area notices starting at 8:32 AM CDT and continuing intermittently through 5:58 PM CDT. Early warnings flagged 1.25-inch echoes. Intensity increased in the early afternoon, with NWS warnings at 1:36 PM CDT through 1:43 PM CDT indicating 1.5-inch hail on radar. Multiple warnings later in the afternoon reported 1.0–1.25-inch hail within the NWS alert areas.

Field observers supplemented the warning stream. Two mPING submissions at 2:05 PM CDT and 2:12 PM CDT reported Ping Pong Ball sized hail. Multiple emailed photos were received around 2:47 PM CDT showing large stones in residential backyards. At 3:20 PM CDT observers told NWS Duluth that most hail measured three quarters to one inch but some pieces reached 1.5 inches; a photo was provided to NWS. Several spotter messages at 2:08–2:40 PM CDT recorded quarter- to half-dollar-size stones and measurement photos were uploaded to NWSChat at 10:12 AM CDT for an earlier pulse.

Radar-detected hail signatures correspond with the timing of those spotter reports. Most NWS advisories during the strongest pulses were issued as NWS warning only alerts, while specific ground reports and photos provide spotter-verified sizing for portions of the metro. The sequence shows multiple hail-producing pulses rather than a single, isolated cell.

Damage Assessment

Observers in Duluth submitted multiple photos of hail accumulation and measurement images from residential backyards. Reports at 2:47 PM CDT and 3:20 PM CDT included emailed photos and an NWSChat measurement photo that document surface impacts at those locations. Several spotters reported a majority of stones in the three quarters to one inch range, with intermittent larger pieces observed downburst time frames.

No local storm report in the provided set described widespread structural collapse or large-area catastrophic loss. The available reports focus on photographic evidence of large hail in yards and on-sight measurements submitted to NWS Duluth. One observer noted finding mostly pea-size hail but a few stones of one to one and one quarter inches about 45 minutes after the storm passed, indicating spatial variability in surface deposits. Photographs and mPING submissions point to multi-zone impacts within the Duluth metro rather than uniform damage across the entire NWS warning area.

What Contractors Should Know

Inspect residential zones where spotters submitted photos and measurements between 2:00 PM CDT and 3:30 PM CDT first. Prioritize properties with emailed photo evidence and NWSChat measurement submissions. Expect a mix of mostly sub-inch impacts with isolated larger stones; focus on soft-surface damage indicators such as dented vehicle panels, cracked plastic trim, and asphalt shingle bruising when conducting initial rooftop and vehicle surveys.