Paragould, AR Hail Storm – July 2026

A severe hail storm tracked through Paragould, AR on July 11, 2026, producing 2.07-inch stones and a string of radar-detected alerts and spotter reports. The event moved from early afternoon into early evening and prompted 24 NWS alerts across the metro.

What Happened

The storm initiated in the early afternoon and produced the first radar-detected hail signature at 1:18 PM CDT. Dual-polarization radar picked up multiple hail cores through mid-afternoon. NWS warnings accompanied several of the radar detections, and a series of NWS-warning-only hail alerts ran through the afternoon and evening.

Spotter observations arrived throughout the event. At 1:22 PM CDT observers reported dime-size hail in two separate submissions. Around 2:50 PM CDT two mPING submissions reported quarter-size hail. Late in the event, at 6:01 PM CDT a spotter reported nickel-size hail near Haley Road and Bugscuffle Road south of Wartrace. Those ground reports matched intermittent radar returns flagged as hail by dual-polarization analysis and several NWS warning polygons issued during the same time window.

Radar-detected intensity varied over time. Early alerts showed sub-inch to near-inch radar estimates. Mid-afternoon detections increased in size on radar before easing, then a late-afternoon to early-evening cluster produced larger radar estimates. The sequence concluded with lower-intensity echoes after sunset.

Damage Assessment

Field reports indicate mainly small- to medium-size impacts at the surface rather than widespread structural failure. Two mPING reports at 2:50 PM CDT noted quarter-size hail. Two spotters at 1:22 PM CDT reported dime-size hail. A 6:01 PM CDT local observer located nickel-size hail near Haley Road and Bugscuffle Road south of Wartrace. The submitted local storm reports contain no LSR notes of roof collapses or major building failures tied to this event.

Vehicle and soft-surface impacts are most likely in the reported zones. The combination of repeated sub-inch and inch-class strikes over the same corridors increases the probability of paint chips, denting on thin metal, and removal of shingle granules on exposed roofs. Observers did not attach damage photos to the LSRs, so documented surface damage within the Paragould metro relies on follow-up field inspection.

Infrastructure assessments should begin in areas that intersect both the radar-derived hail path and the spotter positions. Haley Road and Bugscuffle Road south of Wartrace are priority locations for on-the-ground verification given the nickel-size report at 6:01 PM CDT. Properties and vehicles along the central Paragould warning corridors that received repeated NWS-warning-only alerts warrant targeted checks for cosmetic and functional damage.

What Contractors Should Know

Schedule inspections for the first 72 hours in the highest-report areas. Prioritize visible roofing granule loss, dented metal on HVAC units and gutters, cracked skylights, and vehicle bodies. Use GPS-referenced photos and timestamps for each finding. Focus initial crews on neighborhoods that fall inside both the radar hail swath and the spotter coordinates; flag Haley Road and Bugscuffle Road south of Wartrace for immediate review.