Des Moines, NM Hail Storm – July 2026

Des Moines, NM experienced a multi-cell severe storm on July 31, 2026, producing peak 1.86-inch hail and intermittent radar-detected hail pulses across the metro. The event moved from mid-afternoon into early evening and has concluded.

What Happened

Sixteen NWS alerts were issued between 2:57 PM MDT and 8:51 PM MDT. The sequence began in mid-afternoon and continued into early evening as discrete cells redeveloped over the metro. Six alerts included dual-polarization radar (NEXRAD) hail detections. Ten alerts were issued as NWS warning only, reporting hail potential without a corresponding radar hail signature.

Initial radar-detected hail was identified in the mid-afternoon alert issued at 2:57 PM MDT. Additional radar-detected pulses occurred intermittently through the late afternoon and early evening, with notable radar returns near 5:32 PM MDT and 6:27 PM MDT. Most NWS warning-only alerts clustered after 5:59 PM MDT as the storm complex weakened and cells produced smaller hail cores.

Storm motion carried the cells across the Des Moines metro in a generally eastward direction. The event produced multiple brief hail cores rather than one continuous long-lived supercell. Storm status is concluded.

Damage Assessment

The alert sequence shows a concentration of hail reports in the three-quarter-inch to roughly 1.25-inch range on most alerts, with isolated larger stones detected by radar during mid-afternoon. Hail of three-quarter-inch size commonly dents vehicle paint, damages outdoor equipment, and can cause bruising to soft-skinned crops. Hail near or above one inch increases the risk of shingle bruising, cracked skylights, and significant damage to vinyl siding.

The largest radar-detected signature occurred during the mid-afternoon pulse and indicates localized potential for broken windows, sunroof damage, and concentrated vehicle loss in affected neighborhoods. Observed storm behavior suggests damage will be patchy rather than uniform across the metro. Field verification is required to map exact impact locations and to separate roof-age or installation issues from storm-caused damage.

What Contractors Should Know

Inspect roofs and vehicles in the areas under the NWS alert corridor first, focusing on neighborhoods east of the storm track. Prioritize residential roofs with older or granular-worn shingles and vehicles parked outdoors under known hail tracks. Document hail size evidence with scaled photos, note exact locations, and record whether damage aligns with a concentrated impact pattern versus widespread granule loss.

Avoid assumptions about full-roof loss from isolated bruising. Perform a systematic walk-down: check ridge caps, flashings, vents, gutters, and exposed HVAC equipment. For insurance work, deliver clear site coordinates and time-stamped imagery tied to the event window. For precise hail-track mapping and to identify exact damage zones within the Des Moines metro, refer to the paid Strike Map product for radar-derived hail locations.