Edgemont, SD Hail Storm – August 2026

Edgemont, South Dakota experienced a hailstorm on August 17, 2026, producing up to 2.79 inches of hail and prompting multiple NWS alerts across the metro. The event ran from late afternoon into the early evening and concluded the same day.

What Happened

The storm generated 21 NWS alerts between 5:05 PM CDT and 9:37 PM CDT on August 17. Dual-polarization radar detected 17 of those alerts; four were NWS warning only. The strongest radar signature occurred at 8:10 PM CDT, showing a 2.48-inch hail return. Other radar-detected returns that night ranged predominantly from about 1.0 to 1.8 inches, with intermittent smaller cells around 0.75 inch.

Alerts clustered into two main periods. The first cluster began in the late afternoon with initial radar-detected returns around 5:05 PM CDT, followed by intermittent warnings through early evening. A second, more intense cluster produced the larger radar signatures between roughly 7:30 PM CDT and 9:40 PM CDT. NWS warning-only alerts occurred at 5:18 PM CDT, 7:10 PM CDT, 7:57 PM CDT and 8:33 PM CDT, indicating the warning polygon covered broader risk beyond direct radar hail signatures.

Damage Assessment

Radar and warning activity indicate a broad spread of hail sizes across the metro, with concentrated impacts in the mid-size to large range. Many returns fell between roughly 1.0 and 1.8 inches, a size class that commonly causes visible shingles bruising, granule loss, and denting to vinyl siding and soft metals. The presence of multi-inch radar signatures above 2.0 inches raises the risk of broken vehicle glass, substantial denting, and torn rooftop composites in the most heavily struck corridors.

Localized breaks of windows or more severe structural damage are possible where multi-inch stones were concentrated. Expect the highest severity in the narrow swaths indicated by repeated radar alerts during the 8:00 PM hour. Field inspections should prioritize properties along those repeated-return corridors.

What Contractors Should Know

Prioritize roof and vehicle inspections in areas showing repeated radar returns between 7:30 PM CDT and 9:40 PM CDT. Document every inspection with date, time and scaled photos of hail, impact points and material defects. Start with triage: identify actively leaking roofs and tarped structures first, then move to non-leaking but visibly compromised roofs, siding and HVAC units. Note the reported hail sizes on each record and capture GPS or address-level location data.

Prepare teams for concentrated work in narrow swaths rather than uniform damage across the entire metro. Bring tarping materials, replacement shingles in common profiles, ladder fall protection, and material samples for insurance estimates. Coordinate with property owners to preserve evidence for claims and to schedule repairs by severity. Anticipate increased call volume in the 72 hours following the event and allocate crews accordingly.