La Follette, TN Hail Storm – September 2026

La Follette, TN recorded a late-afternoon hail event on September 20, 2026, producing up to 1.5-inch hail in a short-lived storm. This is a single-zone report covering the La Follette warning area.

What Happened

A severe thunderstorm moved through La Follette in the late afternoon on September 20, 2026. The National Weather Service issued one warning at 4:37 PM CDT (21:37 UTC) that cited expected hail up to 0.75 inch and identified the broad NWS warning area. Radar processing and spotter inputs later indicated larger hail within the warning area, with a maximum measured size of 1.5 inches. The NWS warning was recorded as NWS warning only in the original alert text. The event concluded the same evening and is no longer active.

Radar-derived hail detections tracked a concentrated swath through the municipal area and adjacent neighborhoods. No additional NWS alerts were issued for this cell after the 4:37 PM CDT warning. The timeline of the storm was short – the strongest hail core passed through La Follette during the late afternoon peak of the convective pulse.

Damage Assessment

Maximum hail size reached 1.5 inches. Hail at this size can dent exposed metal surfaces and gouge vulnerable roofing materials. In La Follette, exposures at highest risk include parked vehicles, mobile homes without impact-rated roofing, and older asphalt shingle roofs with pre-existing wear. Vegetation and soft crops may show defoliation and bruising where hail cores were most intense.

The NWS warning text did not list ground-verified damage at the time of issuance. If you observed roof shingle granule loss, broken windows, denting to vehicle panels, or visible siding impact in La Follette after the late-afternoon storm, document date, time, and photos for each item. Use dates and location details that match the late-afternoon timeframe for claims or post-storm assessment.

What Contractors Should Know

Inspect roofs for impact signatures consistent with 1.5-inch hail. Look for crushed granules, split tabs, and localized shingle perforations. Begin with visual perimeter checks from ground level using binoculars, followed by controlled walking inspections where safety allows. Record GPS locations and take close-up photos of damage on a neutral background. Prioritize older roofs and unprotected flat roofs for early replacement evaluations.

For vehicles and exterior building elements, document dent patterns and glass damage. Provide clients with a clear scope: immediate tarp and board-up as needed, followed by a formal estimate for shingle replacement or metal panel repair. Verify policy-effective dates and include time-stamped photos tied to La Follette locations in all reports. Coordinate with property owners about temporary fixes versus full replacement based on observed impact severity.

Purchase the Strike Map to view the radar-confirmed hail swath and the paid product damage zone for La Follette, TN.