Six Mile, SC Hail Storm – July 2026

What Happened

A hail-producing storm tracked through Six Mile, South Carolina on July 2, 2026, producing stones up to 1.98 inches and generating multiple NWS alerts across the metro area. The event ran from mid-afternoon into late evening and produced repeated warning polygons for hail.

NWS issued 22 alerts linked to the same convective cell cluster. Most alerts were labeled NWS warning only. Dual-polarization NEXRAD returned a radar-detected hail core at 6:04 PM showing a 1.1-inch radar signature along the storm axis. Spotter-verified field observations included a social-media report of golf-ball hail in Fair Play around 7:00 PM and a separate social-media spotter post of nickel-size hail near White Horse Road and Highway 253 at about 4:35 PM. Those ground reports align with the storm’s surge of warnings from late afternoon into early evening.

Damage Assessment

Field reports and radar-detected cores indicate concentrated surface impacts centered on the Fair Play community and along the U.S. 253 corridor near White Horse Road. Social-media spotters reported large stones in Fair Play in the early evening and smaller stones near White Horse Road in the mid-afternoon. The two spotter-verified Local Storm Reports are the primary ground-truth for observed surface impact in this event.

Observed patterns suggest the heaviest surface impact skirted residential clusters and county roads rather than open rural fields. In Fair Play, witness accounts of large, round stones point to a high potential for localized vehicle denting and pitting on exposed siding and yard fixtures. Near White Horse Road, the smaller reported stones are consistent with superficial damage to landscaping, screens, and soft trim rather than widespread roofing failures.

Public records from the NWS for this storm show no additional official local storm reports beyond the two spotter posts cited above. Damage claims should be evaluated with location-specific evidence tied to those reports and to radar-derived hail cores that passed over the named corridors.

What Contractors Should Know

Prioritize inspections in Fair Play and along the Highway 253 corridor first. Start with exterior vehicle surveys and drive-by roof observations from the ground. In Fair Play, expect concentrated dent clusters on vehicles, potential pitting of aluminum gutters and HVAC housings, and localized siding impacts. Near White Horse Road, focus initial checks on screens, soft trim, and landscape elements before committing to full roof access.

Document everything. Photograph hail impressions on vehicles, siding, and exterior fixtures with a visible address or landmark. Note the spotter locations referenced in the Local Storm Reports when logging each inspection. If ladder work is required, verify safe access and prioritize sections downwind of the storm’s radar-detected core.