Pueblo, CO Hail Storm – September 2026

Pueblo, CO experienced 1.79-inch hail on September 8, 2026, when a severe thunderstorm moved through the metro in the early evening. The event concluded the same night after a multi-alert sequence from the National Weather Service.

What Happened

The storm produced four National Weather Service alerts across the Pueblo metro on September 8. NWS issued an alert at 6:57 PM MDT (00:57 UTC) reporting 0.75-inch hail under NWS warning only. A second NWS warning-only alert followed at 8:24 PM MDT (02:24 UTC) for 0.75-inch hail. At 8:30 PM MDT (02:30 UTC) dual-polarization radar detected larger hail, including a 1.79-inch radar-derived signature. A final NWS warning-only alert arrived at 9:17 PM MDT (03:17 UTC) reporting 1.00-inch hail. The radar-detected 1.79-inch signature represents the peak hail size in the dataset for this event. The storm ended overnight with no further alerts recorded.

Damage Assessment

Observed hail sizes span from 0.75 inch to 1.79 inches during the alert sequence. A 0.75-inch hailstone equals the NWS penny scale and commonly produces cosmetic damage to plants and minor dents to soft materials. A 1.00-inch hailstone matches the NWS quarter scale and increases the risk of denting metal, cracking older asphalt shingles, and damaging exterior equipment. The 1.79-inch peak exceeds the golf-ball reference (1.75 inches) and can cause motor vehicle dents, broken skylight glazing, and accelerated roof shingle loss where strikes were concentrated. No spotter-verified damage reports were included in the alert payloads for this event.

What Contractors Should Know

Begin assessments by documenting the storm timing and alert sequence for claims files. Photograph roof and vehicle surfaces with scale references and time-stamped images. Prioritize inspections for obvious granular loss, bruising on shingle tabs, and cracked flashings. Use multiple viewing angles and note whether damage is uniformly distributed or clustered along production-facing slopes.

For immediate field actions, secure tarps only where interior leaks are present or likely. Avoid invasive removal of roofing materials before an insurance adjuster documents loss. Provide homeowners with clear scope notes that list observed hail sizes, the NWS alert times, and whether radar-detected hail reached golf-ball scale. Coordinate temporary repairs with the property owner and insurer, and schedule full replacement estimates for roofs showing multiple strike patterns or substantial tab loss.

View the paid Strike Map to see the radar-confirmed hail swath and the mapped damage zone for this event.