Salome, AZ Hail Storm – August 2026

Salome, AZ experienced a short-lived severe hail event on August 23, 2026, producing a radar-detected maximum hail size of 1.54 inches. The storm moved through the area in the early evening and prompted a single NWS severe thunderstorm warning.

What Happened

The storm developed over the Salome area during late afternoon and intensified into the early evening. The National Weather Service issued one severe thunderstorm warning at 7:29 PM MST for 0.75-inch hail; that alert described the NWS warning area and covered the storm's expected path. Radar analysis detected hail up to 1.54 inches in diameter within the storm core. No additional NWS alerts were issued for this cell after the 7:29 PM warning. The event concluded before nightfall and is listed as concluded in the StormSnipe record.

Damage Assessment

Hail reaching 1.54 inches is large enough to dent vehicle body panels and damage unprotected outdoor equipment such as HVAC condensers and metal awnings. Asphalt shingle roofs can show bruising and granule loss from impacts of this size, especially where shingles are aged or already marginal. Skylights, exposed glass, and unsecured solar panels are at elevated risk of cracking or impact damage when struck by hail of this diameter. Landscaping losses such as stripped foliage or broken plant stems are also common with hail in the 1.5-inch range.

No field damage reports are included in the public summary for this event. Use photographic documentation and measured references to match any local damage to the observed hail sizes and the NWS warning area.

What Contractors Should Know

Inspect roofs first for concentrated granule loss, shingle bruising, and broken flashings. Start exterior inspections on the windward side of buildings where hail impact density may be higher. Photograph damage with a scale reference and log the location and time. Note HVAC units, solar panels, skylights, and vehicles in the assessment. Where roofing material shows multiple impacted shingles within short spans, consider a full roof checklist rather than isolated repairs.

Prioritize safety and access procedures. Use fall protection when working on low- and steep-slope roofs and confirm power to rooftop equipment is isolated before servicing. Coordinate with property owners and insurers to confirm claim reporting steps and to capture roof and exterior system elevations for estimating. Cross-reference your field observations with the NWS warning area and the radar-detected hail report to support scope decisions and scheduling.

Precise hail-track locations and the radar-derived hail swath are available through the paid Strike Map product for contractors requiring exact strike coordinates and damage zone mapping.