Clarkesville, GA Hail Storm – September 2026

Clarkesville, GA is being impacted by a severe hail-producing storm on September 21, 2026, with radar-detected hail reaching 1.66 inches in diameter. The storm is tracking through north Georgia in the late afternoon and remains active.

What Happened

A severe thunderstorm moved into Clarkesville on September 21 during the late afternoon and is continuing to produce hail and strong winds. The National Weather Service issued a warning at 4:27 PM EDT noting the potential for 1.00-inch hail inside the warning area. Radar hail detection algorithms later identified a maximum radar-derived hail size of 1.66 inches within the storm core as it moved northeast across Habersham County. Storm motion is generally northeast at observable storm-scale velocities. Conditions are still developing over the local area and additional hail-producing cores are possible while the storm remains active.

Damage Assessment

Hail up to 1.66 inches in diameter is large enough to dent vehicle body panels and break or bruise common roofing materials when exposure is direct. Asphalt shingles can show granule loss and shingle edge or tab fractures under repeated impacts from hail of this size. Vinyl siding and unprotected skylights are at risk for visible dents and cracks. Exterior mechanical equipment, such as HVAC units and exposed metal air ducts, can sustain cosmetic and operational damage where hail concentrations are highest.

Observed and radar-detected hail cores in Clarkesville are concentrated along the NWS warning area issued at 4:27 PM EDT. Vehicles parked outdoors in the warning area during the late afternoon are most likely to show impact damage. Roof inspections should prioritize south- and west-facing exposures and areas where tree cover was sparse during the hail event, as those surfaces would have received direct impacts.

What Contractors Should Know

Field teams should prioritize rapid exterior assessments for denting, cracked skylights, and shingle loss. Photograph representative roof sections at high resolution and record GPS coordinates for each inspection point. For vehicles, document panel-level dents and broken glass with timestamped photos. Start with visual, walk-on assessments only where safety and roof conditions permit; defer invasive inspections until structural stability and wet conditions are evaluated.

Estimate replacement versus repair costs by sampling multiple structures across the warning area rather than relying on single-point observations. For asphalt roofs, look for loss of protective granules, exposed mat, and fractured tabs as indicators for accelerated service life loss. For metal and vinyl surfaces, map dent density per square foot to prioritize claims and repairs. Coordinate with property owners to note outdoor equipment exposure and recent parking location details.

See the Strike Map for the radar-confirmed hail swath and the precise damage zone mapping available with the paid product.