How big was the hail on July 4, 2026?

The maximum estimated stone size anywhere in the country that day was 2.00 inches, over New Britain, CT. Sizes vary street to street inside a single swath, so a city's figure is the largest radar estimated anywhere within about 5 miles of it.

Where does this hail data come from?

NOAA MRMS radar, specifically the Maximum Estimated Size of Hail product, ingested directly from the public NOAA archive. It runs about a quarter of an inch against ground truth, which makes it good for deciding where to look and not a substitute for an inspection.

Does this mean roofs were damaged?

Radar measures stone size, not damage. Whether a particular roof was damaged depends on stone size, wind direction, roof age and material — only an inspection settles it. These figures tell you where it is worth looking.

How do I see the actual swath on a map?

A HailMate plan puts a whole state on a real interactive map, with this swath and three years of others already on it. From $79/mo, and the canvassing tools come with it.

United States · July 4, 2026

Hail map — July 4, 2026

Name: US hail map — July 4, 2026
Creator: HailMate

NOAA radar detected hail of an inch or more over 48 cities across 14 states on July 4, 2026. The largest stones — 2.00″, hen egg size — fell over New Britain, CT.

Hail swath map for New Britain, CT on July 4, 2026 showing 2.00 inch hail. — Largest rendered swath of the day: New Britain, CT — 2.00″ hail. Each city below has its own map for this storm.

States hit: 14
Cities hit: 48
Largest stone: 2.00″; hen egg size
Impact rating: 7/10; from stone size

Sizes come from NOAA MRMS radar (MESH), which runs about ±0.25″ against ground truth. It is canvass-targeting quality, not claim evidence.

Roofing contractors

Work your area on the live hail map

HailMate's canvassing map: hail swaths colour-banded by stone size, from yellow through red to purple, laid over a satellite view of a Texas territory, with hail swath and territory controls.

Your whole state at street level, with this storm already on it
Three years of hail swaths, filterable by stone size
GPS door-knocking, pins, jobs and estimates — the full loop, not a preview
Month-to-month, cancel anytime

Get started

One state, one user, everything included. $79/mo, cancel anytime.

Homeowners

Did hail hit your address?

This page covers your area as a whole. Check your own address to see every storm on record for your roof — the date and the stone size for each one — and we'll email you the full report to keep.

Check my address

Free, and no account needed to look it up. If hail did hit, you can ask for a free inspection from a vetted local roofer.

States hit on July 4, 2026

Every state where NOAA radar put an inch or more of hail over a city that day, biggest stone first.

Oklahoma8 cities · 2.00″Connecticut8 cities · 2.00″Maryland16 cities · 1.50″Virginia2 cities · 1.50″New York1 city · 1.50″Illinois1 city · 1.50″Iowa1 city · 1.00″South Dakota1 city · 1.00″Tennessee2 cities · 1.00″Minnesota1 city · 1.00″Pennsylvania1 city · 1.00″Arkansas3 cities · 1.00″Ohio1 city · 1.00″Kansas2 cities · 1.00″

Hardest hit on July 4, 2026

Showing the 24 largest of 48 cities hit. The rest are under their state above.

What people on the ground measured in the US on July 4, 2026

15 reports filed with the National Weather Service — 2 from trained spotters or officials. These are measured stones, not radar estimates, so they are the closest thing to proof that hail actually reached the ground.

3.00″ baseball size Broadcast Media
Bristol, CT7:50 PM EDTHartford County
In Bristol, 3 inch hail was reported.
2.50″ hen egg size Storm Chaser
1 WSW Paxton, NE3:55 PM CDTKeith County
mPing report.
2.25″ hen egg size Public
5 NNW Pringle, SD2:37 PM CDTCuster County
*** 1 Inj *** Hail lasted 30 minutes. Ground covered. Numerous stones larger than golf ball size. Largest stones estimated at over 2 inches in diameter per photos. 1 person injured with cuts to her head. Numerous vehicles damaged with dents. Holes punched through 11 plastic picnic tables. Roof damage reported. Time estimated based on radar.
2.25″ hen egg size Public
10 N Dimmitt, TX3:33 PM CDTCastro County
Report from mPING: Hen Egg+ (2.25 in.).
2.25″ hen egg size Public
2 ENE Argonia, KS4:30 PM CDTSumner County
Time is estimated from radar. Picture sent comparing to golf ball.
2.00″ hen egg size Public
5 SSW Custer, SD2:44 PM CDTCuster County
mPING report
1.75″ golf ball size Public
5 SSW Custer, SD2:32 PM CDTCuster County
mPING report
1.75″ golf ball size Public
3 ESE Aitkin, MN3:46 PM CDTAitkin County
Report of golf ball size hail 3 miles from Aitkin on Highway 47. Location is approximate. Time estimated by radar.
1.75″ golf ball size Trained Spotter
2 W Paxton, NE3:48 PM CDTKeith County
1.75″ golf ball size Public
8 S Dimmitt, TX4:00 PM CDTCastro County
1.75″ golf ball size Public
4 WSW Mcgrath, MN4:20 PM CDTAitkin County
1.75″ golf ball size Public
5 E Mullen, NE4:41 PM CDTHooker County
Mostly dime to nickels but a couple golf balls. Time estimated from radar.
1.75″ golf ball size Emergency Mngr
2 N Borger, TX5:43 PM CDTHutchinson County
1.75″ golf ball size Public
15 WNW Polo, SD6:27 PM CDTHyde County
Facebook picture of several hail stones the size of a golfball. Time estimated based on radar.
1.75″ golf ball size Amateur Radio
Terryville, CT7:49 PM EDTLitchfield County
Golf ball size hail reported.

Showing the 15 largest of 104 hail reports filed that day.

Reports come from the National Weather Service Local Storm Report feed, ingested every 15 minutes. A report records where the observer was, not the full extent of the swath — treat it as evidence about the storm, not about any one roof.

Other hail days

August 19, 202620 cities · 2.00″August 18, 20266 cities · 1.50″August 17, 20266 cities · 1.00″August 16, 202610 cities · 1.50″August 15, 20268 cities · 1.50″August 14, 202611 cities · 2.00″August 13, 202616 cities · 2.00″August 12, 202610 cities · 1.50″August 11, 202633 cities · 2.00″August 10, 202623 cities · 1.50″August 9, 202649 cities · 1.50″August 8, 20265 cities · 1.50″

Every state with hail on record →

FAQ

US hail on July 4, 2026

NOAA radar put hail of an inch or more over 48 cities across 14 states on July 4, 2026. The largest stones — 2.00 inches, hen egg size — were over New Britain, CT. Every state hit is listed on this page, and every city under it.

Knock the streets this storm hit

Your whole state at street level, with this swath already on the map — $79/mo, cancel anytime.

One state, everything included · from $79/mo · month-to-month, cancel anytime