Winifred, MT Hail Storm – July 2026

Winifred, MT is experiencing a hail-producing storm on July 14, 2026, with a maximum confirmed hail size of 3.78 inches. The system is tracking through the Winifred area and is active – conditions may still be developing.

What Happened

The event began in the late afternoon and continued into the evening. The first alert issued for the Winifred area arrived at 5:15 PM MDT, reporting radar-detected 1.5-inch hail. Over the next five hours the event produced 20 NWS alerts in total. Thirteen of those alerts were based on dual-polarization radar detections; seven were NWS warning only alerts.

Notable radar-detected measurements include a 3.16-inch radar detection at 6:25 PM MDT and a 1.92-inch radar detection at 6:55 PM MDT. Additional radar-detected peaks occurred during the early evening, including 1.76 inches at 8:37 PM MDT and 1.68 inches at 10:26 PM MDT. NWS warning-only alerts were interspersed throughout the sequence, with the final NWS-only alert at 10:57 PM MDT reporting smaller hail.

The storm is producing discrete intense cells that are moving through the Winifred warning area. Radar returns and repeated detections indicate the potential for additional pulses of large hail while the storm remains active.

Damage Assessment

Alerted hail sizes during the event ranged from three-quarters of an inch up to more than three inches. Hail in the 0.75–1.5 inch range commonly produces cosmetic damage to vehicles and denting to metal fixtures. Hail above 1.5 inches frequently fractures asphalt shingle granular surfacing and can crack fiberglass or plastic components on rooftop equipment.

Hail sizes exceeding 3 inches raise the risk of shattered glass, punctured metal panels, and severe localized roof penetration. Radar-detected 3-inch-plus signatures within the Winifred warning area indicate a meaningful probability of those outcomes where the cells passed directly overhead. Field verification will be required to map specific impact points.

What Contractors Should Know

Safety is the immediate priority. Work crews should remain off exposed roofs and away from damaged glass until hail has ceased and conditions are stable. Conduct a visual perimeter check from ground level first. Prioritize tarping locations with visible breaches, securing loose materials, and protecting interior exposures to prevent water ingress during any later rain. Where shingles are heavily fractured or roof substrate is exposed, schedule a controlled access inspection rather than ad hoc rooftop work.

Document conditions thoroughly for scope and claims. Photograph representative damage with scale, note times and locations, and log vehicle and equipment exposures. Cluster inspections are efficient when radar detections show concentrated hail swaths. For precise hail-track coordinates and to plan targeted field deployment, consult the paid Strike Map for this event.