Golf ball-sized hail detected near Canon City, CO on August 20, 2026
Hail was detected at a radar-indicated point within the Canon City monitoring area. Actual impact can vary by neighborhood, so nearby homes should use this as a signal to check roofs, gutters, siding, and vehicles.
Damage assessment
The radar-confirmed strike landed approximately 16 miles northeast of downtown Canon City, with one hail report logged in Fremont County that day. At 1.75 inches, hail this size routinely causes functional damage to standard architectural asphalt shingles — cracked or missing granules, bruised mat, accelerated aging. Cosmetic damage is likely on most surfaces, but functional damage that shortens roof life is the real concern. Shingles older than 10–15 years are particularly vulnerable; newer roofs may show granule loss without immediate leakage.
On a median-valued Canon City home ($275,300), a 2% deductible works out to roughly $5,506. Typical repair cost for a 2,000 sq ft roof runs $7,130, with a range of $5,833–$8,426 depending on damage severity and materials. Get a professional inspection before making any insurance decisions.
At these numbers, the typical repair cost exceeds a standard 2% deductible. Contact your insurer — damage at this level is likely worth filing before you pay out of pocket.
This storm may have damaged your roof — get a free Canon City inspection
Canon City repair cost reference
Historical context
This event ranks second of 12 recorded hail events of 1 inch or greater in Fremont County over the past 10 years — a dataset large enough to support that ranking. The largest recorded event was a 2-inch storm on June 12, 2023. August is historically quiet here: no events of this size have been recorded in this month over the prior decade, making this storm an outlier by timing.
Storm system
This was not an isolated event. The same storm system produced 2-inch hail in both Pueblo and El Paso counties on the same day, pointing to a broader regional hail outbreak across southern Colorado.
Contractor guidance
Local contractor data shows current backlogs running 1–2 weeks, which is manageable — but Canon City's roofing market is thin, and most post-storm capacity comes from contractors based in larger Colorado metros. The storm chaser risk is assessed as low for this area. Colorado does not issue a state-level roofing license, but Senate Bill 38 (C.R.S. §§ 6-22-101 to 6-22-105) requires a written contract on any residential job over $1,000 with specific consumer protections built in. Before signing anything, verify current general liability and workers' comp coverage, and confirm the contractor has a verifiable local business address.
Permits & building code
At 1.75 inches, full replacement is possible but not guaranteed — age and existing condition of the roof will drive that determination. The contractor pulls the permit in Canon City; expect $100–$250 in permit fees, and a required inspection after work is complete. Class 4 impact-resistant shingles qualify for a 10–20% discount with most Colorado insurers.
- 1Document all visible damage now — photograph the roof, gutters, downspouts, and any exterior surfaces before anything is disturbed.
- 2Schedule a professional roof inspection with a licensed, insured contractor to assess whether damage is functional or cosmetic.
- 3Contact your homeowner's insurer to report potential damage and ask about your policy's claim process and any applicable deadlines.
- 4Vet any contractor before signing: request proof of general liability and workers' comp insurance, a verifiable local address, and a written contract per Colorado SB 38 requirements.
- 5Keep all inspection reports, estimates, and correspondence in one file — you'll need the paper trail whether you file a claim or handle repairs out of pocket.
This storm may have damaged your roof — get a free Canon City inspection
Hail data sourced from NOAA NEXRAD radar via SWDI; radar-confirmed as of the event date, with full NWS write-up pending.