Claypool, AZ Hail Storm – August 2026

A hail-producing storm crossed Claypool, AZ on August 9, 2026, producing large stones and triggering a string of NWS alerts across the late afternoon and evening. The event generated multiple radar-detected signatures and spotter submissions between 4:35 PM MST and 11:43 PM MST.

What Happened

The National Weather Service issued 14 separate alerts for the system between 4:35 PM MST and 11:43 PM MST. Early radar-derived hail estimates appeared at 4:35 PM MST (radar-detected 1.2 inches). Additional radar-detected signals were reported at 6:00 PM MST (1.29 inches) and again at 10:40 PM MST (1.62 inches). The remainder of the alerts were NWS-warning-only messages issued through the evening.

Local observers provided ground-truth during the peak window. At 9:21 PM MST two spotters submitted identical local storm reports describing hail slightly smaller than a golf ball; the reports note the size was rounded to half-dollar for the record (1.25 inches). A spotter report at 9:41 PM MST also recorded one-inch stones. The sequence of radar-detected estimates and spotter-verified reports indicates intermittent hail production as the line moved through Claypool.

Damage Assessment

Field reports submitted to the NWS focused on stone size rather than structural impacts. The two 9:21 PM MST spotter submissions and the 9:41 PM MST observation document surface impacts within Claypool but do not include submitted roof or vehicle damage claims in the LSR text. Radar-detected stronger signatures late in the evening, including the 10:40 PM MST estimate, are consistent with isolated larger stones aloft and therefore increase the possibility of scattered dents or broken glazing where exposure was direct.

No NWS local storm report in the submitted set documented specific structural failures or widespread roof loss. Inspectors responding in town should therefore expect a damage pattern dominated by vehicle dents, localized skylight or screen damage, and isolated shingle bruising or granule loss rather than total roof failures. Photographs and measured stone impressions in submitted claims will be the primary evidence tied to these Claypool observations.

What Contractors Should Know

Start triage within Claypool near the reported 9:21 PM MST observation points. Prioritize vehicle fleets, outdoor HVAC units, and exposed solar arrays first. For roofs, inspect for shingle bruising, torn edges, and granule loss; document any isolated broken tiles or displaced flashing. Use straight-on photos with a dated reference and a size object in frame when capturing hail impressions.

Log inspection coordinates and the observed time of damage in relation to the reported alert window (4:35 PM MST–11:43 PM MST). Where radar-derived estimates showed stronger signatures late in the evening, expand inspections to adjacent properties that may have received larger stones carried by local updrafts. For claims handling, include the 9:21 PM MST spotter reports and the 10:40 PM MST radar-detected signature in your notes to bracket the likely impact intervals.