Hawk Springs, WY Hail Storm – May 2026

A hail storm tracked through Hawk Springs, Wyoming, late afternoon on May 29, 2026, producing stones up to 1.39 inches and generating radar-detected hail signatures alongside spotter-verified quarter-size observations.

What Happened

The storm initiated southwest of Hawk Springs and moved northeast across the town in the late afternoon and early evening. Dual-polarization NEXRAD first detected a radar hail signature at 5:05 PM MDT (23:05 UTC) with an estimated 1.11-inch detection. An NWS warning covering the area followed at 6:09 PM MDT (00:09 UTC), and two subsequent alerts were issued in the 6:40–6:55 PM MDT window. The final alert before the storm concluded was a radar-detected hail signature at 6:55 PM MDT (00:55 UTC).

Field observations were limited but specific. A storm chaser reported a few quarter-sized hail stones around 6:03 PM MDT (00:03 UTC), which was logged as a spotter-verified local storm report. Radar and the NWS warning polygon align over the town corridor where the spotter observation occurred.

The event concluded by early evening as cells weakened northeast of the town. Radar returns diminished after the 6:55 PM MDT alert, and no additional spotter observations were submitted in the following hours.

Damage Assessment

Surface impact reports for this event are limited to the spotter-verified quarter-size hail observation near Hawk Springs. No Local Storm Reports indicated structural loss or widespread utility outages tied to the May 29 cells. Radar-derived hail detections show a confined swath through the town, with the strongest signatures concentrated in the same corridor as the spotter observation.

Local businesses and residences within that corridor should expect isolated cosmetic and short-term impacts consistent with small- to moderate-size stones. Observers in the immediate path reported stones around quarter-size at about 6:03 PM MDT; no follow-up damage reports were filed through the NWS feed in the hours after the event. Vehicle denting and surface bruising to soft roofing materials are possible at the addresses nearest the spotter location, but there are no verified reports of shingle loss or structural penetration tied to this storm in the available field data.

What Contractors Should Know

Inspect properties along the radar-detected hail swath and within the NWS warning area issued between 6:09 and 6:55 PM MDT. Prioritize vehicles, HVAC units, and exposed trim on the south and west-facing sides of structures in the storm corridor. The spotter-verified quarter-size observation narrows likely impact to localized panels and soft metal trim rather than widespread roof replacement needs.

Document existing conditions with time-stamped photos before any repair work. Note the spotter report time of 6:03 PM MDT when logging observations. For roofing, focus first on hail bruising and granule loss on asphalt shingles, and on dents to soft metals on gutters and downspouts. For vehicle claims, catalogue dent locations and check for paint cracking consistent with quarter-size impacts.