Winifred, MT Hail Storm – July 2026

A severe hail storm tracked through Winifred, MT on July 14, 2026, producing 3.78-inch stones and multiple radar-detected hail swaths across central Garfield County in the evening.

What Happened

The event began in late afternoon and persisted into the evening with a sequence of 21 NWS alerts and radar detections between 5:15 PM and 11:31 PM MDT. Early radar-derived alerts at 5:15 PM indicated 1.5-inch hail cores moving northeast. A signature at 6:25 PM showed the strongest radar-derived return within the Winifred metro area. Subsequent dual-polarization radar reports continued through the evening, with intermittent NWS warning-only alerts extending the warning area east and northeast of Winifred.

Field observers provided surface confirmation near Hobson. A social media photo posted at 6:08 PM described golf-ball sized hail and was logged as a spotter-verified 1.75-inch report. At 6:18 PM two spotter-verified social media reports described tennis-ball sized hail near Hobson, each recorded at 2.5 inches with estimated time and location. Those ground reports coincided with radar-indicated hail cores passing over central Garfield County and the Winifred notification zone.

Damage Assessment

Surface impacts concentrated west and southwest of Winifred with spotter activity focused near Hobson. Two spotters reported 2.5-inch hail at 6:18 PM, and an earlier spotter photo at 6:08 PM showed hail estimated at 1.75 inches. Local radar-derived hail swaths tracked through the same corridor where those reports originated.

Public reports and radar echoes indicate concentrated damage potential along rural roads and agricultural infrastructure between Hobson and Winifred. Shower and storm timing placed peak impacts during the early evening travel window for local farm operations. No widespread municipal damage reports were filed to date in Winifred proper, but farm vehicles, center-pivot systems, and exposed equipment near reported impact points should be prioritized for inspection.

What Contractors Should Know

Inspect roofs and rooftop-mounted equipment first in the Hobson–Winifred corridor. Focus on the west-facing roof planes and any shallow-slope sections. Field reports of tennis-ball hail near Hobson make severe shingle and panel punctures likely on exposed metal roofs and older asphalt shingles. Document all hail scoring with close-up photos and GPS-tagged images.

Check agricultural assets along County Road alignments between Hobson and Winifred. Center pivots, irrigation piping, and grain dryer housings reported in the radar swath are at elevated risk. Record pre-repair measurements for dented metal, perforated sheeting, and pitted glass. For solar arrays, prioritize microinverter and module-level inspections where hail accumulation was reported or where radar cores passed directly overhead.