St. Francis, KS Hail Storm – May 2026

A hail-producing storm tracked through St. Francis, Kansas on May 9, 2026, producing 1-inch stones and prompting multiple NWS alerts during the early evening. The event was captured by repeated dual-polarization radar detections and a spotter report inside town.

What Happened

Alerts for hail began late in the afternoon and continued into the late evening. The first NWS alert issued at 5:56 PM CDT included a radar-detected hail signature from dual-polarization NEXRAD. Subsequent radar-detected alerts followed at 6:42 PM CDT, 8:21 PM CDT, and 9:52 PM CDT. Two additional alerts at 9:07 PM CDT and 10:11 PM CDT were issued as NWS warning-only messages without a matching radar hail signature.

A trained observer in St. Francis reported hail in town at 8:34 PM CDT, noting stones at 1 inch in diameter. That spotter-verified observation coincides with the radar detections around 8:21 PM CDT and the later 9:52 PM CDT detection, indicating repeated hail-producing cells passed through the area during the evening. The sequence shows an initial radar-detected threat in the late afternoon, renewed activity in the early evening, and intermittent warning-only segments as the storm evolved.

Damage Assessment

Surface impact reports in the dataset are limited to the spotter-verified town observation at 8:34 PM CDT. No additional local storm reports of structural or agricultural damage were included with the field data for St. Francis. Radar-derived hail detections align with the spotter report location, indicating the town experienced measurable hail loading during the event.

Given the size and pattern of detections, impacts recorded in the field were primarily localized to the municipal area where the observer reported hail. No clustered reports of roof, vehicle, or crop loss were provided in the available records for properties outside the town limits. Inspectors should plan assessments based on the town-centered observation and the radar-derived detections that bracketed the 8:34 PM CDT report.

What Contractors Should Know

Inspect roofs and exposed equipment within St. Francis first. The spotter-verified report originated in town, and multiple radar detections bracket that time. Start with a visual roof survey from the ground to identify torn or missing shingle granules, split shingle edges, or surface bruising on metal panels. Document locations with photographs and GPS coordinates tied to property addresses.

Check vehicles and outdoor assets next. Focus on parked cars, agricultural irrigation heads, and trailer tops that were likely exposed during the 8:00–9:30 PM CDT window. Small, evenly distributed dents and chipped paint on vehicle panels are consistent with this size of hail and can be repaired with paintless dent methods where metal integrity is intact.

Plan follow-up for marginal roofing elements. Flashing, gutters, and rooftop HVAC units can sustain concentrated impacts even when large-area roof damage is not apparent. Record serial numbers and model information for serviceable equipment. Prepare written estimates that separate cosmetic repairs from elements requiring structural replacement to support homeowner and insurance discussions.