Ely, NV Hail Storm – August 2026

A hail-producing storm tracked through Ely, Nevada, on August 29, 2026, producing radar-detected stones up to 3.67 inches and triggering a series of NWS hail alerts across the metro area. The event featured a morning spotter report and a separate set of stronger radar signatures in the late afternoon.

What Happened

NWS issued 12 hail alerts for the Ely area between early morning and early evening on August 29. Early activity began before mid-morning and included warnings issued at 7:25 AM and 8:51 AM. A spotter-submitted mPING report at 9:13 AM PDT documented dime-size hail, about 0.75 inch. Radar detections continued through midday and intensified in the late afternoon.

Around 3 PM local time, dual-polarization radar detections showed increasing hail sizes within the storm core. Between about 3:35 PM and 3:55 PM, radar-derived hail signatures produced multiple alerts, including a 2.46-inch detection at 3:44 PM and other detections above 1.5 inches during the same period. The radar-derived signatures reached their peak later in the event with a maximum measured hail size of 3.67 inches. Several of the 12 alerts were based on NWS warning-only criteria earlier in the day and moved to radar-detected confirmations as the storm evolved.

Ground verification was sparse. The only local ground observation in official reports was the dime-size hail at 9:13 AM PDT. No additional spotter-verified large-stone reports were filed in the immediate Ely metro in the public record for this event.

Damage Assessment

Surface impact reports were limited to scattered small-hail observations. The mPING entry at 9:13 AM PDT from within the Ely area recorded 0.75-inch stones. No local storm reports of structural collapse, widespread vehicle glazing failure, or mass tree damage were filed in the publicly available LSR feed for this event.

Radar signatures indicate the potential for concentrated heavier hail along a late-afternoon track through and near parts of the Ely metro. Where radar-detected larger stones overlapped populated streets and properties, there is elevated risk of localized roof shingle bruising, denting of aluminum trim and gutters, and vehicle panel dents. Reported surface evidence does not show widespread damage across the entire warning area. Inspectors working properties along the late-afternoon radar swath should prioritize properties that report visible roof granule loss, dented metal, or broken skylights.

What Contractors Should Know

Prioritize inspections in neighborhoods along the late-afternoon radar swath through the Ely metro. Begin with visual roof checks from the ground and ladders where safe. Look for clustered signs of impact – concentrated granule loss, punctures in soft roofing substrates, and linear patterns of dents on metal flashing or HVAC covers. For vehicles, check roof, hood, and trunk panels for round dents and fractured paint. Document every finding with geotagged, timestamped photos and a brief location note tied to the street address.