A forecast for another state can feel a long way from your driveway. But hail is a thunderstorm hazard across the United States, and preparation starts with the weather where you actually live, work and travel.
Why hail is a national conversation
NOAA’s National Severe Storms Laboratory explains that hail grows inside thunderstorm updrafts as droplets freeze onto ice. Nebraska, Colorado and Wyoming usually experience the most hailstorms, but damaging hail also occurs well beyond that part of the country. Hail can fall in narrow paths, leaving nearby locations with very different conditions.
Before severe weather arrives
- Check your local National Weather Service forecast and alerts before travel.
- Choose a covered parking option ahead of time, when moving the vehicle is still safe.
- Keep policy information, vehicle details and your insurer’s claim instructions somewhere you can find them.
- Have a household shelter plan. Protecting people takes priority over protecting a car.
Severe thunderstorms can combine large hail with damaging wind, lightning and flooding. Follow local official warnings and shelter instructions. Do not go outside into an active storm to cover a vehicle or photograph hail.
After the storm
Once conditions are safe, take an unhurried look at the vehicle. Begin with wide photos and work toward smaller details. Write down the date and location. If glass is damaged or visibility is affected, have the vehicle assessed before driving it.
An inspection can separate dents suitable for paintless repair from work that needs a different approach. Ask for a written scope and a clear explanation of the proposed repair. You do not need to diagnose the car from an online hail-size chart.
Use current sources for current conditions
This journal is a collection of reports and practical guides. For active conditions, use the National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center. Check the date on any storm report before relying on it; historical reports describe what was observed, not what will happen next.