Baseball-sized hail detected near Centennial, CO on August 13, 2026

Damage assessment

The radar-confirmed strike center was approximately 3 miles northeast of downtown Centennial — the only hail report logged in Arapahoe County that day. At 3 inches, this is not a cosmetic event. Architectural asphalt shingles — the dominant material here — face bruising, granule loss, and likely full functional failure at this size; 3-tab shingles and wood shake, which appear in older parts of the housing stock, are even more vulnerable. Roof age matters: anything beyond 15 years with prior wear should be treated as a probable replacement candidate, not a repair.

Centennial repair cost reference

Historical context

With 42 hail events of 1 inch or larger recorded in the area over the past 10 years, the dataset is sufficient to rank this storm — and at 3 inches, it is the largest on record, surpassing the previous high of 2.75 inches set on June 19, 2018. August is historically quiet for this county: only one prior August event appears in the 10-year record, making this storm an outlier by both magnitude and timing. June is by far the most active month, accounting for 23 of those 42 events.

Storm system

Hail reports on August 13 extended across multiple Front Range counties — Fremont logged 1 inch, Jefferson and Douglas each reached 1.25 inches, and Denver recorded 0.75 inches — indicating a widespread convective system rather than an isolated cell over Centennial.

Contractor guidance

Local contractor data shows current backlogs running 4 to 8 weeks; scheduling an inspection now rather than waiting reduces that exposure. Storm chaser risk for Centennial is rated high — door-to-door solicitation typically begins within 24 to 48 hours of a storm of this profile, so expect it. Colorado does not issue a state roofing license, but Colorado 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, confirm the contractor carries general liability and workers' compensation insurance and has a verifiable local business address.

Permits & building code

At 3 inches, full roof replacement is the more likely outcome than spot repair — plan for the permit process accordingly. In Centennial, the contractor pulls the permit (cost runs $150 to $400) and an inspection is required before the work is considered complete. Class 4 impact-resistant shingles qualify for a 10–20% discount with most Colorado insurers.