Kit Carson, CO Hail Storm – August 2026

Kit Carson, CO experienced a severe hailstorm on August 21, 2026. Hail reached 2.67 inches and the event produced repeated radar hail detections and NWS warnings; the storm is concluded.

What Happened

The storm developed across eastern Kit Carson County in the late afternoon and persisted into the early evening. NWS alerts and radar detections span a four-hour window. Observations include both dual-polarization radar detections and NWS-warning-only reports.

• August 21 · 5:00 PM MDT (23:00 UTC) – 1.62 inch hail – radar-detected (dual-polarization radar)
• August 21 · 5:22 PM MDT (23:22 UTC) – 1.71 inch hail – radar-detected (dual-polarization radar)
• August 21 · 5:31 PM MDT (23:31 UTC) – 1.25 inch hail – radar-detected (dual-polarization radar)
• August 21 · 5:44 PM MDT (23:44 UTC) – 1.00 inch hail – NWS warning only
• August 21 · 6:10 PM MDT (00:10 UTC) – 2.29 inch hail – radar-detected (dual-polarization radar)
• August 21 · 7:11 PM MDT (01:11 UTC) – 1.00 inch hail – NWS warning only
• August 21 · 7:35 PM MDT (01:35 UTC) – 1.00 inch hail – radar-detected (dual-polarization radar)
• August 21 · 8:14 PM MDT (02:14 UTC) – 1.85 inch hail – radar-detected (dual-polarization radar)
• August 21 · 9:01 PM MDT (03:01 UTC) – 1.21 inch hail – radar-detected (dual-polarization radar)

Radar detections were the primary source for hail sizing on multiple passes. Two alerts were issued as NWS warning only without an associated radar hail detection flagged in the record.

Damage Assessment

Alerted and radar-detected hail sizes during the event ranged from about 1.00 inch to radar-detected returns near 2.29 inches, with a maximum observed hail size reported in the event record at 2.67 inches. Hail in that size range can produce shingle loss, dented metal, and broken glass on exposed fixtures at ground level. Vehicles parked outdoors in the Kit Carson area are at elevated risk for panel and windshield damage when struck by hail larger than one inch.

No spotter-verified structural damage reports are recorded in the alert log for Kit Carson during this event. Local property owners and businesses should document pre- and post-storm conditions with timestamped, geotagged photos and note any cosmetic or functional impacts to roofing, siding, vehicles, solar panels, and agricultural assets.

What Contractors Should Know

Inspect roofs and exterior assets immediately for impact signatures consistent with 1–3 inch hail. Focus initial triage on missing or granule-loss sections of asphalt shingles, punctures to soft metals, and windshield damage. Use photographic documentation that includes a scale reference and location metadata. Record the date and local time of each photo.