Hail does not follow state lines. The Storm Prediction Center’s September 4 reporting day recorded hail in parts of Iowa, Virginia, North Carolina and South Dakota. This report covers 12:00 UTC September 4 through 11:59 UTC September 5, 2026—not a current weather warning.
What the preliminary reports show
- Iowa: a 1.75-inch hail report northwest of Parkersburg, with additional reports near Aplington, Monona and Giard.
- Virginia: reports included Luray, Oakpark, Barboursville and the Ashland area, with reported sizes from 1 to 1.5 inches.
- North Carolina: a 1-inch hail report south of Linwood in Johnston County.
- South Dakota: reports west of Wessington Springs and at Ethan, including 1.5-inch hail at Ethan.
These are preliminary observations, not a complete map of damage. Individual entries may be corrected or duplicated. A report near your location can provide context, but it cannot establish the condition of a particular vehicle.
Turn the storm date into a useful record
When conditions are safe, note where your vehicle was parked and the approximate time of the storm. Keep that note with your original photos and any estimate. If the vehicle moved during the storm, record each location as accurately as you can rather than choosing the nearest report on a map.
Photograph the whole vehicle first, then the hood, roof, trunk and other affected panels. Add close views of visible damage and glass. Keep your original image files; a compressed screenshot of a photo is less useful when you later need to see small details.
The next step is your vehicle—not the map
Two cars parked on the same street can have different damage. Vehicle shape, parking direction, shelter and panel condition all affect what an inspection finds. A hail report is a starting point for the conversation, while the repair plan comes from examining the car itself.
