Fredonia, AZ Hail Storm – August 2026

Fredonia, AZ — Aug 29, 2026. A late-afternoon thunderstorm concluded with a radar-validated peak hail diameter of 2.06 inches and produced a focused hail track across the Fredonia metro area.

What Happened

The storm moved through Fredonia in the late afternoon, generating a sequence of five NWS alerts between 2:28 PM and 4:23 PM MST. The sequence and sources were:

• Aug 29 · 2:28 PM MST – 1.00-inch hail – dual-polarization radar (NEXRAD hail detection).
• Aug 29 · 2:49 PM MST – 1.22-inch hail – dual-polarization radar (NEXRAD hail detection).
• Aug 29 · 3:23 PM MST – 1.25-inch hail – dual-polarization radar (NEXRAD hail detection).
• Aug 29 · 3:56 PM MST – 1.00-inch hail – NWS warning only.
• Aug 29 · 4:23 PM MST – 1.33-inch hail – dual-polarization radar (NEXRAD hail detection).

Most alerts were radar-detected using dual-polarization NEXRAD analysis. One alert was issued as an NWS warning only without a matching dual-polarization detection timestamp. The event is concluded.

Damage Assessment

Observed radar detections and NWS alerts indicate hail diameters across Fredonia ranged from roughly 1.0 inch up to a radar-validated peak of 2.06 inches. For scale, a golf ball measures 1.75 inches and a baseball measures 2.75 inches. Hail exceeding the golf-ball threshold commonly causes denting to unprotected vehicles, pitting of asphalt shingles, cracked skylights, and damage to rooftop-mounted equipment including solar arrays when impacts are concentrated within the hail swath.

Damage is most likely in the direct hail track where radar returns were strongest. Reports of localized, severe impacts are consistent with concentrated hail cores rather than broad, uniform coverage across the entire metro. Ground inspections should prioritize areas that lie within the highest-reflectivity portion of the storm track.

What Contractors Should Know

Begin with safety and documentation. Schedule inspections during daylight and calm winds. Photograph roof surfaces, gutters, siding, vehicles, and any rooftop equipment before any repairs. Measure representative hail stones where available and record roof types and ages. Tarping is appropriate for open roof penetrations; avoid temporary repairs that may obscure pre-loss evidence needed for claims.

Prioritize roofing system triage by material and condition. Inspect asphalt shingles for granule loss, bruising, and broken tabs. Check metal roofs for dents and seal failures. Evaluate solar installations for cracked modules or mounting hardware damage. Advise property owners to contact their insurer promptly and to avoid contractor-performed emergency roof work until initial documentation is complete and the scope is agreed with claim representatives.