Cheyenne, WY Hail Storm – August 2026

A severe hail storm tracked through Cheyenne, WY on August 12, 2026, producing 2.62" stones and a multi-hour sequence of radar-detected hail signatures through the late afternoon and early evening.

What Happened

Dual-polarization radar first detected hail returns over the metro in the mid-afternoon, with an initial NWS alert issued at 2:00 PM MDT indicating 1.37" radar-derived hail. The event intensified later in the day with additional NWS hail alerts at 4:22 PM and 4:47 PM MDT registering stronger radar signatures. A radar- and spotter-verified alert was issued at 5:03 PM MDT. A local spotter livestreamed quarter-sized hail just north of the Colorado/Nebraska border on Highway 71 at 5:06 PM MDT. Radar detections continued into early evening, with the final NWS alert recorded at 6:06 PM MDT. The sequence produced a concentrated hail swath through southern and eastern portions of the Cheyenne metro, with multiple radar hits overlapping the Highway 71 corridor.

Damage Assessment

Field observation and radar overlays show the most persistent surface impacts clustered along Highway 71 near the CO/NE border and adjacent southern Cheyenne neighborhoods. The spotter livestream at 5:06 PM MDT captured quarter-sized hail falling on the highway, indicating active surface accumulation in that corridor at that time. Radar signatures colocated with that report show pockets of stronger reflectivity moving through the same area during the late afternoon surge.

Publicly available ground reports for this storm are limited to the Highway 71 spotter observation. Where radar flagged larger hail signatures in the same corridor, isolated instances of larger stones are plausible; however, surface confirmation beyond the livestreamed quarter-sized hail remains limited in the open LSR feed. Contractors and adjusters working on site should expect localized impact patterns concentrated on the highway corridor and downwind residential pockets where the radar-derived swath intersects populated areas.

What Contractors Should Know

Prioritize inspections along the Highway 71 corridor north of the CO/NE border and the immediately adjacent southern Cheyenne neighborhoods. Start with exterior roofing scans for granular loss and impact marks on shingles in locations directly under the radar-derived hail swath. Note the 5:00–6:30 PM MDT window as the primary exposure period when documenting time-stamped, geo-tagged photos.

Check vehicles, exposed HVAC units, skylights, and soft-metal trim on homes located within the radar overlap zones. Use short, systematic photo runs along property rows to capture before/after conditions. For claims triage, separate work into two tracks: immediate visible-later inspections for vehicles and HVAC, and scheduled close-up roof assessments with ladder access and nail-gun testing when safe.

Maintain clear notes tying each inspection to a map coordinate and the local observation at 5:06 PM MDT. Include the spotter-sourced livestream reference in your documentation where relevant. For precise, radar-aligned hail track mapping and the paid damage zone overlay, consult the Strike Map for the Aug 12, 2026 Cheyenne event.