Screven, GA Hail Storm – May 2026

A hail-producing thunderstorm tracked through Screven, Georgia on May 17, 2026, producing 1.95-inch stones and prompting multiple NWS alerts across the late afternoon and early evening. The event produced a spotter-verified report of one-inch hail near a local intersection and repeated radar hail signatures over Screven County.

What Happened

NWS issued 13 alerts for the Screven area between 2:36 PM EDT and 6:05 PM EDT. Dual-polarization radar detected recurring hail signatures through the late afternoon. Radar-derived hail estimates varied across alerts, with several detections near 1.2–1.4 inches and two radar returns around 4:19–4:20 PM that registered larger hail signatures. Several alerts during the sequence were flagged as NWS warning only and showed smaller radar estimates near three-quarter inch.

An NWS local storm report at 5:40 PM EDT documented one-inch hail at the intersection of GA 29 and Union Camp Road. That spotter-verified observation coincided with a period of multiple radar detections and an NWS alert cycle from about 5:17 PM to 5:44 PM. The storm track progressed across rural and low-density residential areas of Screven County in a northeast-southwest orientation during late afternoon into early evening.

Damage Assessment

Field reports and radar returns indicate surface impacts concentrated along the GA 29 corridor near Union Camp Road. The local storm report noted one-inch hail at that intersection shortly before 5:45 PM EDT. Radar signatures show that hail-producing cores passed repeatedly over a narrow corridor through Screven County, increasing the chance of scattered surface impacts along that path.

At the time of the report, observers did not file multiple separate local storm reports from downtown Screven. Documented impacts in the immediate vicinity are limited to the spotter observation and radar-detected passes. Inspections of properties along GA 29 and adjacent rural roads should prioritize visible indicators: denting or pitting on vehicle panels, isolated shingle granule loss or dings on asphalt roofs, and punctures or abrasion on plastic trim and guttering where hail accumulated or rolled off pitched surfaces.

What Contractors Should Know

Focus initial canvasses on the GA 29 and Union Camp Road corridor. Prioritize exterior surfaces that are exposed to the sky and not sheltered by mature tree canopy. For roofing, check high-wind exposure points and the windward-facing slopes of low-pitch asphalt shingle roofs for round indentations, granule loss, and dark circular marks. Photograph each suspected impact with a dated reference object and a wide shot showing location relative to the road or driveway.

For vehicles and light equipment, inspect hood, roof, and trunk panels for dings concentrated near driveways and roadside parking. For agricultural equipment and outdoor mechanical systems along Union Camp Road, check painted metal surfaces and exposed hydraulic lines for surface scuffs and dents. Record measurements of individual indentations when possible and log the inspection time within 72 hours to preserve contemporaneous documentation.