Ping pong-sized hail detected near Evans, CO on August 16, 2026

Damage assessment

The radar-indicated strike placed the hail core approximately 12 miles east of downtown Evans, with one report logged across Weld County that day. At 1.5 inches, architectural asphalt shingles are at the threshold where functional damage — granule loss exposing the mat, cracked tabs, compromised seals — becomes likely rather than merely cosmetic. Shingles older than 10–12 years are more vulnerable; newer installations may show bruising without immediate leakage but can still have shortened service life. The county's largest recorded event reached 2.75 inches on June 17, 2025, so while this storm was well below that benchmark, 1.5-inch hail is not a minor event for aging roofs.

Evans repair cost reference

Historical context

Among 56 recorded hail events of 1 inch or greater in the past 10 years in this county, this event ranks 19th by magnitude — a mid-tier storm, not a record-setter. The county's largest hail on record hit 2.75 inches on June 17, 2025. August historically sees about 15 hail events per decade in this county, which runs above the monthly average and makes mid-summer storms here routine rather than anomalous.

Storm system

This was not an isolated cell. The same system produced golf ball-sized hail near Fremont and Pueblo, Colorado, and a baseball-sized report near El Paso County, indicating a broad convective outbreak across Colorado and into Wyoming and Nebraska on the same date.

Contractor guidance

Local contractor data shows current backlogs running 1–2 weeks, relatively manageable by post-storm standards. The storm chaser risk for Evans is assessed as low, with the intake noting that most post-storm contractors serve the area out of larger Colorado metros rather than following the storm. Colorado does not license roofing contractors at the state level, but C.R.S. §§ 6-22-101 to 6-22-105 (Senate Bill 38) requires a written contract on residential jobs over $1,000 that spells out specific consumer protections. Before signing anything, verify current general liability and workers' compensation certificates and confirm the contractor has a verifiable local business address.

Permits & building code

At 1.5 inches, the outcome varies — some roofs will need full replacement, others a targeted repair, and only an inspection will tell you which. Either way, the contractor pulls the permit in Evans; expect a permit cost between $100 and $250, and an inspection is required before the work is closed out. Class 4 impact-resistant shingles qualify for a 10–20% discount with most Colorado insurers.