St. Augustine, FL Hail Storm – September 2026

St. Augustine, FL experienced late-afternoon hail up to 1.75 inches on September 6, 2026, produced by a compact, fast-moving convective corridor. This entry is a multi-zone aggregate storm report for the metro area.

What Happened

The event occurred in the late afternoon and moved through the St. Augustine metro between about 3:58 PM and 5:59 PM EDT on September 6, 2026. The National Weather Service issued eight separate warning-area alerts during that window, each initially indicating 0.75-inch hail potential. The first warning was issued at 3:58 PM EDT and the last at 5:59 PM EDT. Radar-derived hail detection identified stronger cores embedded within the warning corridor. Ground and radar observations verified maximum hail of 1.75 inches (golf-ball size) in the affected metro footprint. All eight NWS alerts for this event were labeled NWS warning only.

The storm presented as a narrow but intense hail swath on dual-polarization radar. Reflectivity cores and hail signatures moved steadily northeast across the city and nearby suburban zones. Surface reports and imagery show the most substantial hail concentrated in a compact corridor rather than uniformly across the entire NWS warning area.

Damage Assessment

Hail observed during this storm ranged from penny-size 0.75 inches up to golf-ball size 1.75 inches. Penny-size hail can dent vehicle body panels, pit soft vinyl, and cause cosmetic damage to exposed outdoor equipment. Golf-ball hail can crack older asphalt shingles, fracture skylight glazing, and produce localized windshield and sunroof breakage under direct strike.

Field evidence from the metro indicates damage was localized along the tighter radar-derived swath. Roof impact patterns on inspections completed after the storm show isolated shingle granule loss and bruising consistent with 1.75-inch impacts. Vehicle reports in the same corridor cited multiple dented panels and at least one windshield replaced following stone-impact fractures. No widespread structural collapse or systemic building failures have been reported in the available data.

What Contractors Should Know

Inspect roofs and siding first in the radar-identified hail corridor. Begin with visual checks for missing granules, perforations, split shingles, and damaged flashings. Prioritize systems vulnerable to blunt impacts: skylights, solar panels, HVAC condenser fins, and polycarbonate coverings. Photograph all findings with location and time metadata. Use a gyro- or smartphone-based clinometer to document slope and orientation when recording roof conditions.

For vehicles and small claims, document hail size via reference objects and measure the largest intact specimens where available. Apply temporary coverings on compromised roofing to prevent water intrusion if repairs will be delayed. Coordinate with local adjusters and provide storm-timestamped inspection logs tied to address coordinates within the metro corridor. Keep records of photo timestamps and on-scene notes to support claim adjudication.