Pettibone, ND Hail Storm – August 2026

A severe hail storm tracked through Pettibone, ND on August 24, 2026, producing 3.25-inch stones and a prolonged radar-detected hail swath across multiple zones. The event began in the late afternoon and concluded in the early morning hours of August 25 after 33 NWS alerts and numerous spotter reports.

What Happened

The episode opened with a radar-detected hail alert at 5:39 PM CDT and continued through a final radar detection at 3:23 AM CDT. The NWS issued a mix of dual-polarization radar detections and NWS warning-only alerts over that period. Dual-polarization radar flagged multiple significant returns, including notable radar-estimated peaks near 6:49 PM CDT and 8:26 PM CDT, and a strong radar-derived return near 11:36 PM CDT. NWS warning-only alerts were interspersed through the evening and overnight watches.

Multiple ground observers supplied time-stamped photos and field notes during the evening. Around 8:05–8:07 PM CDT, spotters sent images showing stones measured with a ruler and positioned next to a coin for scale. Other spotters reported a short burst of pea-to-golf-ball hail that lasted roughly ten minutes and produced about one-half inch of rain. A social-media photo and additional spotter submissions placed hail within the broader multi-zone corridor north of nearby Woodworth and near 8 S Lakota as the line moved through.

Damage Assessment

Field reports and radar detections show variable surface impacts along the storm corridor. Multiple spotters submitted photographic evidence with scale, indicating large, well-formed stones in localized pockets. Other on-the-ground observers reported primarily small-to-medium hail and measured rainfall amounts ranging from about 0.22 inch to roughly 0.5 inch in discrete locations.

One observer noted a brief, strong gust of wind immediately before the hail, followed by a rapid lull as the storm passed. Crop observations were mixed; at least one report explicitly stated no known crop damage at the observer's location. Reports near Woodworth and 8 S Lakota provide photographic context for impact sizing and help locate where the larger stones fell within the multi-zone swath. Radar-detected segments exceeding two inches in estimated diameter correspond with the timing and placement of several of these spotter submissions, indicating concentrated pockets of heavier hail within the broader track.

Documented impacts include photographic evidence of large stones in residential areas and short-duration accumulations of small-to-medium hail in adjacent zones. Vehicle panels, roofing shingles, and unshielded outdoor equipment in the immediate strike corridors should be considered at higher risk where radar and spotter reports overlap.

What Contractors Should Know

Inspect roofs first in areas where spotters provided photographic measurements and where radar returns exceeded two inches. Prioritize asphalt shingle edges, ridge caps, gutters, and flashing for impact fractures and granule loss. Check skylights, metal roofing seams, and exposed HVAC units for punctures and denting matching both small and large stone signatures.