Murdo, SD Hail Storm – June 2026

Murdo, SD experienced a concluded hail-producing storm on June 3, 2026, in the early evening. The event produced multiple radar-detected large cores and one spotter-verified hail report.

What Happened

The storm moved across the Murdo metro beginning in the late afternoon and continuing into the late evening. Eighteen separate NWS alerts were issued for the system, starting at 5:00 PM CDT and continuing through a final advisory at 9:45 PM CDT. Many of the alerts were based on dual-polarization NEXRAD hail detection. One alert at 7:26 PM CDT was spotter-verified, aligning with radar-detected cores earlier in the evening.

Radar-detected hail cores appeared in multiple rounds. Early advisories around 5:00–6:30 PM CDT reported 1.0–1.8 inch hail class signatures from NEXRAD. A series of stronger radar cores crossed the area in the early evening; the most intense radar core passed near Murdo shortly after 7:00 PM CDT. Later returns included additional large cores near 7:40 PM CDT and a renewed radar-detected core around 9:20 PM CDT. Several NWS warning-only alerts supplemented the radar-derived sequence, indicating observed threat guidance from local forecasts during the event.

Damage Assessment

Observed and radar-detected hail sizes during the Murdo event spanned a range that includes both cosmetic and structural risk categories. Multiple radar cores exceeded one inch in diameter and produced repeated impacts over portions of the metro. Hail in the 1.0–1.75 inch range commonly causes vehicle denting and accelerated shingle wear when repeated. Hail above roughly 1.5 inches has a higher likelihood of shingle fracture and broken skylights on exposed surfaces.

Field reports in the alert stream include a spotter-verified hail report near Murdo at 7:26 PM CDT coincident with a strong radar return. The alert sequence does not include widespread, geocoded damage reports tied to individual addresses. Inspectors should anticipate localized strike clusters where radar cores crossed developed areas, rather than uniform coverage across the entire warning area.

What Contractors Should Know

Prioritize inspections on properties along the late-evening radar cores and the spotter-verified location. Start with vehicle fleets, exposed HVAC units, and south- and west-facing roof slopes that received multiple radar cores. Document all findings with date- and time-stamped photos that include a size reference and the GPS coordinates when possible. Note accumulated granular loss, split or missing shingles, denting patterns on metal components, and any cracked glazing.

For estimating repair scope, treat repeated 1.0–1.75 inch impacts as likely candidates for shingle replacement or partial overlay depending on roof age and warranty. For properties that align with larger radar cores or the spotter-verified location, escalate to full roof surveys and consider temporary tarps for actively leaking roofs. Consolidate inspection notes by street or by the NWS warning area polygon to match claims distribution during contractor invoicing and scheduling.