Cotton, MN Hail Storm – August 2026

A severe hail storm tracked through Cotton, MN on August 25, 2026, producing 2.07-inch stones and a sequence of radar and NWS warning area alerts across the late afternoon and early evening.

What Happened

The event began with an NWS warning area at 3:35 PM CDT, which cited 1-inch hail. Dual-polarization NEXRAD hail detection then registered repeated returns in the Cotton metro between about 4:22 PM CDT and 5:52 PM CDT. Radar-derived alerts included 1.0-inch detections at 4:22 PM CDT and 4:45 PM CDT, a 1.53-inch radar detection at 5:23 PM CDT, and a 1.5-inch radar detection at 5:52 PM CDT. Two later NWS warning-area alerts were issued at 6:38 PM CDT and 7:48 PM CDT reporting 1.25-inch hail in associated sectors.

Spotters provided on-the-ground observations during the late-afternoon pulse. Around 5:21 PM CDT, a spotter at Big Lake Golf Course reported nickel- to quarter-size hail. Those spotter-verified observations were submitted as local storm reports from the field while radar continued to show stronger returns along the system's north-northeast track. The storm concluded in the Cotton metro after the 7:48 PM CDT warning-area notice.

Damage Assessment

Surface impact reports are limited and localized. Field reports specifically cite nickel- to quarter-size hail at Big Lake Golf Course at 5:21 PM CDT. No additional local storm reports for broken glass, roof failure, or large-tree damage were filed within the Cotton city limits in the immediate aftermath.

NEXRAD hail detection indicated larger hail signatures along portions of the track east and northeast of Cotton between 5:23 PM CDT and 5:52 PM CDT. Those radar-detected larger values did not generate corresponding spotter reports inside Cotton at the time of observation. Observed damage, therefore, is concentrated where spotters recorded small hail at the golf course, with radar suggesting pockets of heavier hail slightly displaced from those surface reports.

Field teams and adjusters should note the spatial separation between the spotter-verified impacts at Big Lake Golf Course and radar-indicated maxima. Inspection efforts that rely solely on local reports will capture the documented surface impacts. Inspections driven by radar detections will need to include properties along the east–northeast projection of the storm track where radar returns were strongest.

What Contractors Should Know

Start inspections at Big Lake Golf Course and immediately adjacent properties in Cotton. Document turf surface condition, divots, and any damage to irrigation heads and maintenance equipment. Inspect clubhouse roofing, exposed HVAC units, and parked maintenance vehicles for hail pitting and dents. Photograph each item with a timestamped image and note the spotter-verified time of 5:21 PM CDT for context.

For residential and commercial roofs east and northeast of Cotton, prioritize addresses that lie inside the NEXRAD-detected 1.5-inch return corridor around 5:23 PM CDT to 5:52 PM CDT. On asphalt shingle roofs, look for granule loss concentrated in circular or clustered impact patterns. On metal panels and vehicle panels, check for dings and paint cracking concentrated on windward elevations. Record dimensions of representative impacts and flag any penetrations or seam failures for immediate repair or temporary covering.