Glasgow, MT Hail Storm – July 2026

Glasgow, MT experienced a multistage hail-producing storm on July 3, 2026, with a peak radar-detected hail diameter of 1.25 inches. The event moved through the metro from late afternoon into the late evening and generated a sequence of NWS warning areas and radar detections.

What Happened

The storm sequence began in the late afternoon and continued through the evening, producing twelve NWS alerts across the Glasgow metro and nearby rural areas. Key alerts and their sources are below.

• July 3 · 4:08 PM MDT — 1.09-inch hail detected by dual-polarization radar (NEXRAD).
• July 3 · 4:53 PM MDT — 1.00-inch hail detected by dual-polarization radar (NEXRAD).
• July 3 · 6:00 PM MDT — 1.00-inch hail reported in an NWS warning area.
• July 3 · 6:05 PM MDT — 0.88-inch hail reported in an NWS warning area.
• July 3 · 6:50 PM MDT — 0.88-inch hail detected by dual-polarization radar (NEXRAD).
• July 3 · 7:02 PM MDT — 0.88-inch hail reported in an NWS warning area.
• July 3 · 7:55 PM MDT — 1.00-inch hail reported in an NWS warning area.
• July 3 · 8:54 PM MDT — 1.00-inch hail reported in an NWS warning area.
• July 3 · 9:15 PM MDT — 1.00-inch hail reported in an NWS warning area.
• July 3 · 10:11 PM MDT — 1.00-inch hail detected by dual-polarization radar (NEXRAD).
• July 3 · 10:40 PM MDT — 1.24-inch hail detected by dual-polarization radar (NEXRAD).
• July 3 · 11:25 PM MDT — 1.24-inch hail detected by dual-polarization radar (NEXRAD).

Radar-derived detections were recorded at multiple pulses, with the most intense radar signatures arriving in the late evening. Several alerts were issued solely as NWS warning area reports without accompanying radar size estimates. The storm is concluded.

Damage Assessment

Evidence from late-evening radar pulses indicates the strongest hail pulses crossed the Glasgow metro and adjacent farmland between about 10:00 PM and 11:30 PM MDT. Hail of this scale commonly produces dents in vehicle body panels, chips or bruising to composite asphalt shingles, and damage to exposed farm equipment and seasonal crops in affected fields.

Reported radar detections clustered over the metro and nearby rural addresses. Parked vehicles at homes and businesses in those zones were at the highest risk. Roof coverings older than roughly 10 to 15 years and unprotected skylights are more likely to show impact marks in the wake of 1-inch-plus hail. Concrete, brick, and newer metal roofing are less likely to lose structural integrity from these hail sizes, but cosmetic damage and localized punctures remain possible.

What Contractors Should Know

Prioritize inspections in the late-evening radar-detected track and in the specific NWS warning areas issued on July 3. Document damage with time-stamped photos and reference the reported alert times when logging observations. Start with a quick external survey of roofing, siding, skylights, gutters, and vehicles before moving to close-access inspections. Use common measuring items or a ruler to record representative hail diameters for claims and repairs.