Belfield, ND Hail Storm – August 2026

A severe hail storm tracked through Belfield, ND on August 23, 2026, producing 3.27-inch hail and a series of radar and spotter alerts in the late afternoon and early evening. The event generated 14 separate NWS alerts and multiple spotter reports across the Belfield area.

What Happened

NWS systems issued 14 alerts for the Belfield corridor between 4:57 PM CDT and 10:05 PM CDT on August 23. Early radar detections at 4:57 PM indicated marble- to nickel-size hail. Alerts through the late afternoon showed repeated dual-polarization radar hail signatures, with larger radar-derived detections later in the event. Two alerts carried both radar detection and spotter verification—one at 7:39 PM CDT and another at 8:01 PM CDT—while the sequence tapered to a final alert at 10:05 PM CDT for smaller stones.

Spotters provided the on-the-ground detail. Around 8:27 PM CDT, observers recorded wind-driven hail at least the size of ping-pong balls on video. A report at about 7:33 PM CDT noted hail covering the ground in the Belfield vicinity. Those field reports aligned with radar-detected strong reflectivity cores that moved across the same part of the warning area during the early evening. The combination of radar-detected large-hail signatures and spotter-verified ground observations indicates a concentrated run of damaging hail through and near Belfield between late afternoon and early evening hours.

Damage Assessment

Field reports indicate surface impacts consistent with significant hail accumulation in parts of Belfield. Observers documented hail covering lawns and road shoulders at about 7:33 PM CDT, and two separate spotters captured wind-driven hail on video around 8:27 PM CDT. Those ground observations occurred within the NWS warning area where radar registered repeated large-hail returns, including multiple alerts above 1.5 inches earlier in the event and radar-verified larger signatures later.

Visible effects described by spotters were limited to ground cover and moving hail at the times reported. There are no additional local storm reports in the provided record describing collapsed structures, confirmed roof failures, or injuries. Radar-derived detections indicate the storm core produced larger stones along a narrow track through the warning area; the spotter reports show that at least two locations experienced hail impact sufficient to cover surfaces and be driven by wind. Documented times for those impacts are 7:33 PM CDT and 8:27 PM CDT.

What Contractors Should Know

Inspect roofs and exposed equipment first in the neighborhoods and fields where observers reported hail covering the ground at 7:33 PM CDT and where video-captured wind-driven hail was recorded at 8:27 PM CDT. Start with vehicles, metal roofing, HVAC units, and solar arrays within a one- to two-mile radius of those report locations. Look for superficial pitting on metal, fractured sealants around penetrations, and impact denting on soft metals and siding. Photograph damage with a time-stamped image and a visible landmark or address for verifiable records.