Kilmichael, MS Hail Storm – May 2026

A severe hail storm tracked through Kilmichael, Mississippi on May 10, 2026, producing 2.61-inch stones and multiple radar-detected hail signatures during the late afternoon and early evening.

What Happened

The event began under an NWS warning issued at 4:03 PM CDT for 1.00-inch hail reported in the warning area. Dual-polarization radar detected a stronger core by 5:07 PM CDT, indicating 2.36-inch hail signatures near Kilmichael. Two spotter reports relayed through social media at 5:09 PM CDT and 5:17 PM CDT recorded 1.75-inch hail and were marked spotter-verified. Radar continued to detect hailers through the evening with signatures at 7:07 PM CDT (1.25-inch), 7:46 PM CDT (1.75-inch), 9:36 PM CDT (1.50-inch), and a late 10:19 PM CDT echo showing 1.00-inch hail.

The sequence shows an initial NWS warning followed by a brief period of larger radar-detected returns in the early evening and multiple later pulses. Spotter-verified reports coincided with the larger radar signature near 5:10 PM CDT, providing ground-truth for the early evening hail track.

Damage Assessment

Field reports from May 10 focused on hail size rather than structural losses. Both spotter submissions relayed via social media recorded 1.75-inch stones and did not include descriptions of broken windows, roof failures, or other structural damage. No additional local storm reports documenting specific property damage were included with the spotter entries supplied for this event.

Radar-detected signatures indicate localized zones of larger stones passed over Kilmichael at discrete times, most notably around the early evening 5:00–5:20 PM CDT window. Where radar and spotter reports align, expect concentrated impact on exposed horizontal surfaces and vehicles located outdoors at that time. Any photographic or third-party reports showing denting, cracked skylights, or shingle loss should be cataloged to the nearest street address and timestamped immediately to support later claims or repairs.

What Contractors Should Know

Prioritize inspections for properties in central Kilmichael and along the radar-and-spotter-aligned hail track between roughly 5:00 PM CDT and 5:20 PM CDT. Start with exterior components that take the first impact: roofing shingles and ridge caps, skylights and solar panels, siding panels and external HVAC units, and parked vehicles. Use high-resolution, time-stamped photographs from ground and drone angles where safe and permitted.

Perform a granular loss assessment on shingles and gutters. Check attic spaces for new wet spots before beginning roof replacement decisions. For vehicle and equipment claims, document dents and paint cracking with scale references and capture both close-up and context images showing vehicle location relative to the hail track. Log all observations with the exact local time of inspection and the corresponding spotter or radar timestamp when available.