Warsaw, VA Hail Storm – May 2026

What Happened

A hail-producing storm tracked through Warsaw, Virginia on May 27, 2026, producing stones up to 1.78 inches and prompting a sustained series of NWS alerts. The event unfolded from mid-afternoon into the evening and produced multiple radar hits and spotter observations across local corridors.

NWS issued 24 separate alerts tied to the same storm cluster between 1:57 PM EDT and 9:26 PM EDT. Most warning messages reported 0.75-inch hail in real time. A dual-polarization radar detection at 6:38 PM EDT recorded a 1.14-inch radar-derived hail signature along the storm’s path. Additional NWS warnings issued between 6:16 PM and 9:26 PM included larger reported sizes reaching 1.00 inch in some warning polygons.

Spotters provided surface observations that corroborate the radar picture. At 7:41 PM EDT a spotter reported one-inch hail along Izaak Walton Road. At 7:52 PM EDT a spotter reported quarter-size hail in Gainesville. At 8:56 PM EDT spotters reported quarter-size hail at the intersection of US 360 and Cheatham Rd in Prince Edward County (two separate observer submissions at the same location and time). The sequence of warnings, the radar-derived 1.14-inch detection, and the spotter reports define a concentrated late-afternoon to early-evening hail corridor through the Warsaw metro area.

Damage Assessment

Field reports show localized surface impacts concentrated along Izaak Walton Road, corridors between Warsaw and Gainesville, and the US 360/Cheatham Rd intersection in Prince Edward County. Observers documented intact hail accumulations at observation points and described stone sizes directly at those roadway locations. NWS local storm reports did not include widespread structural damage in the submitted observations for this storm.

Radar reflectivity and the sequence of NWS warnings indicate repeated strong updrafts over roughly a two- to three-hour window. The radar-derived signature at 6:38 PM EDT overlapped with the later spotter observations along Izaak Walton Road and the Gainesville-Prince Edward County corridor. Reported surface hail sizes in spotter notes varied between quarter-size and one-inch stones at the listed locations. No NWS local storm report in the dataset documented vehicle or building collapse; submitted ground observations focused on hail size and location rather than damage extent.

Field crews working in the area should plan inspections beginning in the precise neighborhoods noted by spotters. Prioritize assessments on properties that lie directly along the observed corridor from Izaak Walton Road toward US 360 and Cheatham Rd.

What Contractors Should Know

Inspect properties along Izaak Walton Road first. The spotter-verified observation at 7:41 PM EDT places measurable hail along that roadway. Check asphalt shingle roofs for bruising, granule loss, and torn tabs in sunlight and with close-up photography. Record photographic baseline shots of roof fields, edges, and penetrations. Capture at least one ruler or coin in each image to scale hail impressions or impact marks.