Charlotte, IA Hail Storm – July 2026

A severe hail storm tracked through Charlotte, IA on July 3, 2026, producing 1.91-inch stones and a long sequence of NWS alerts and radar-detected hail cores. Spotter reports recorded quarter-size hail in the early afternoon while dual-polarization radar later showed larger hail signatures into the evening.

What Happened

The event began in mid-morning with a stream of NWS alerts over Charlotte and nearby areas and continued into the evening. A total of 84 NWS alerts were issued on July 3, many labeled as NWS warning only. Early afternoon spotter activity occurred around 2:20 PM CDT when a trained weather spotter reported quarter-size hail and recorded a 1.00-inch observation at 2:22 PM CDT. A public mPING submission at 3:29 PM CDT also recorded quarter-size stones.

Dual-polarization radar returned multiple hail cores later in the day. Around 3:12 PM CDT radar detected a 1.1-inch echo. Late afternoon returns included 1.25-inch signatures near 4:24 PM CDT and again near 5:42 PM CDT. The most intense radar return in this sequence occurred in the early evening at 6:29 PM CDT with a 1.53-inch hail signature. Additional radar-detected hail echoes persisted intermittently into the night, including a 0.9-inch return near 9:53 PM CDT. Field reports and radar data together show a multi-stage event that produced measurable hail from early afternoon into the early evening.

Damage Assessment

Field reports from trained spotters and public observers were limited to quarter-size and 1.00-inch stones. No local storm report in the ground-truth set specified structural failures or widespread property loss. Dual-polarization radar indicated several concentrated hail cores passing near Charlotte in the late afternoon and early evening; those cores reached up to 1.53 inches on radar scans and produced repeated radar hail alerts in the town’s warning area.

Observed impacts in the available reports were primarily localized and observational rather than damage claims. Contractors responding in Charlotte should prioritize inspections in neighborhoods and commercial corridors that correspond to the late afternoon to early evening radar cores. Vehicle fleets and exposed rooftop equipment reported near the times of the larger radar returns merit first attention based on the timing and location of those cores.

What Contractors Should Know

Start with time-stamped documentation. Collect clear photos of roof fields, gutters, skylights, HVAC units, and vehicle panels with timestamps and location tags. Focus initial inspections on properties that were in Charlotte during the late afternoon into early evening, particularly those near the 4:00–7:00 PM CDT window when radar cores produced larger echoes.

Roofing checks should target shingle granule loss, split tabs, and denting on metal flashings and penetrations. Inspect south- and west-facing exposures first when sunlight allows, and prioritize homes with age-appropriate vulnerability. For commercial properties, assess rooftop mechanicals, metal coping, and skylight glazing. Record all findings against the inspection time and the nearest radar-detected core time to align field evidence with the storm timeline.

Charlotte, IA Hail Storm – July 2026

NWS WARNING AREAS · 85

What Happened

Damage Assessment

What Contractors Should Know

Storm Details

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