Mount Hope, WI Hail Storm – August 2026

Mount Hope, WI, Aug 21, 2026. A late-afternoon into early-evening storm produced 1.86-inch hail and a sequence of severe thunderstorm warnings affecting the metro area.

What Happened

The storm generated 11 NWS alerts between 2:30 PM CDT and 6:51 PM CDT. Most alerts were issued as NWS warning only. The sequence began with a 1-inch hail warning at 2:30 PM CDT and continued through multiple advisory updates in the late afternoon. NWS warnings listing 1.25-inch hail were issued during the 4:20s PM period. A dual-polarization radar detection at 5:28 PM CDT recorded a 1.33-inch hail signature within the warning polygon. The final NWS warning associated with this event was issued at 6:51 PM CDT. The active phase of the storm has concluded.

Damage Assessment

NWS warnings and radar-derived detections reported hail signatures ranging from 0.75 inch up to the radar-detected 1.33-inch cell during the event. Warnings at 1.0 inch and 1.25 inch were the most frequent entries in the alert timeline. The alert sequence did not include spotter-verified ground-damage reports in the supplied list.

Hail at or above 1.0 inch commonly results in visible vehicle dents, chipped paint, and broken skylight glazing. Hail signatures at or above the 1.25-inch level increase the likelihood of shingle granular loss, cracked asphalt shingles on older roofs, and dented aluminum siding. For landscaped property, impacts include stripped leaves and damaged small-fruit crops where exposures were unprotected during the late-afternoon period.

Inspectors arriving on site in Mount Hope should expect concentrated impact on vehicles parked outdoors and on windward elevations of structures along the storm track. Note locations and photo-document visible impacts with scale references. Preserve collection metadata including time, GPS coordinates, and device model for later comparison with radar-derived hail track data.

What Contractors Should Know

Start with a safety-first site walk. Record GPS points and time-stamped photographs of roof fields, gutters, siding, and vehicle panels before any disturbance. Use a coin or ruler for scale in every photo. Prioritize temporary covers for open roof penetrations and tarp any exposed attic areas to prevent secondary water entry. Maintain chain-of-custody documentation for materials removed or replaced.

Estimate repairs using measured impact patterns rather than assumed uniform loss. Focus initial labor on tarping, debris removal, and water infiltration prevention. For roof replacement bids, note probable hail sizes reported in warnings and the radar-detected 1.33-inch signature when sizing material loss. Coordinate early with property owners on insurance documentation and provide concise photo logs and a damage matrix tied to specific GPS points.

Purchase the paid Strike Map to obtain the precise hail track and the corresponding damage zone for this event.