Ely, NV Hail Storm – June 2026

Ely, NV recorded hail on June 24, 2026, with a peak verified hail size of 0.81 inch. The event produced multiple NWS warnings and radar-detected hail during the late afternoon and has concluded.

What Happened

A cluster of thunderstorms produced intermittent hail across the Ely metro area in the late afternoon. The first alert arrived around 3:00 PM PDT with dual-polarization radar detecting hail at approximately 1.0 inch in the warning area. Four follow-up NWS warning-only alerts issued between 3:08 PM and 4:58 PM PDT documented additional hail reports. Specifically, NWS warning-only notices at 3:08 PM, 3:58 PM, and 4:13 PM reported 1.0-inch hail in the warning area, and a final 4:58 PM warning-only notice reported 0.75-inch hail in the warning area. The sequence totaled five alerts covering the metro Ely corridor and adjacent rural roadways. Radar returns showed several intense cores crossing north-south through the county roads and into the urban fringe. The storm is no longer active.

Damage Assessment

Hail of this magnitude commonly causes measurable cosmetic and minor structural damage. Vehicle panels and exposed metal trim in central Ely are at risk for dents and paint chipping. Asphalt shingle roofs can exhibit granule loss and localized bruising on the exposed surfaces, particularly on older roofs and roof slopes that faced the storm cores. Vinyl siding can incur surface scuffs and small punctures where hail struck at high velocity. Skylights and unsecured rooftop equipment are vulnerable to cracking and surface abrasion. Based on the alert sequence and radar-detected cores, damage is most likely along the north-south corridor tracked by the warnings and radar returns rather than uniformly across the entire NWS warning area.

What Contractors Should Know

Inspect vehicles, roofing, and exterior cladding in the areas where radar returns and warnings overlapped. Start with photographic documentation: capture wide-angle shots for context, close-ups with a ruler or coin for scale, and GPS-tagged images where possible. Note the local time of each photograph and the inspection location. For roofs, prioritize identifying crushed or missing granules, split or delaminated shingles, and dented metal flashings. For HVAC units and solar panels, check for impact fractures or bent fins.

Prepare scope and estimates that separate cosmetic repairs from functional damage. Document pre-existing wear to avoid conflating long-term deterioration with storm damage. Advise clients to retain photos and the NWS warning times for claims. Coordinate with adjusters by providing timestamped inspection records and location-specific notes tied to the observed hail impacts in Ely.

Paid subscribers can access the Strike Map for precise hail track and damage zone mapping for this event.