Baseball-sized hail detected near Pueblo, CO on September 20, 2026
Hail was detected at a radar-indicated point within the Pueblo 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 was located approximately 19 miles north of downtown Pueblo, with one hail report logged in the county that day. At 3 inches, this is baseball-sized hail — well past the threshold for functional roof damage on standard architectural asphalt shingles, which dominate Pueblo's housing stock. Expect granule loss, cracked or missing shingles, and potential substrate exposure on any roof more than a few years old; even newer shingles will show impact bruising. The county's largest recorded event in the NOAA dataset is also 3 inches, recorded on July 13, 2023, so this event ties that benchmark.
On a home at Pueblo's median value of $230,900, a 2% wind/hail deductible works out to roughly $4,618. Typical repair cost for a 2,000 sqft home runs $6,497, ranging from $5,316 to $7,679; full replacement averages $10,829. 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 Pueblo inspection
Pueblo repair cost reference
Historical context
Over the past 10 years, Pueblo County has recorded 86 hail events at or above 1 inch, and this event ranks second by magnitude among all of them. The largest on record is a 3-inch event from July 13, 2023. September is historically quiet — zero events of this size have occurred in this month over the same 10-year window — which makes this storm an outlier for the county calendar.
Storm system
This was not an isolated cell. The same day, El Paso County recorded 3.75-inch hail, and Douglas, Weld, and Fremont counties each logged events between 1.25 and 1.5 inches, pointing to a broad regional system moving through the Front Range corridor.
Contractor guidance
Local contractor data shows current backlog at 2 to 4 weeks, which is manageable but will tighten if neighboring El Paso County damage claims create regional demand. The intake assessment rates storm chaser risk as moderate; Pueblo sees increased out-of-area contractor activity after major regional events, so vet anyone who shows up unsolicited. Colorado does not license roofers at the state level, but Colorado Senate Bill 38 (C.R.S. §§ 6-22-101 to 6-22-105) requires a written contract on all residential jobs over $1,000 with specific consumer protections built in. Before signing anything, confirm the contractor carries current general liability and workers' comp insurance and can provide a verifiable local business address.
Permits & building code
At 3 inches, full roof replacement is the more likely outcome than a patch repair — most insurers and inspectors will call functional total loss on standard asphalt shingles at this hail size. Permits are required; the contractor pulls the permit in Pueblo, cost runs $150 to $350, and an inspection is required upon completion. Class 4 impact-resistant shingles qualify for a 10–20% discount with most Colorado insurers.
- 1Photograph your roof, gutters, downspouts, skylights, and any HVAC equipment from the ground before anyone walks the roof.
- 2Schedule a professional roof inspection with a contractor who can document damage in writing — do not rely on a verbal assessment.
- 3Contact your insurance company to report potential damage and ask about your policy's claim process and any applicable deadlines.
- 4Ask every contractor for proof of general liability insurance, workers' comp coverage, and a written contract as required under C.R.S. § 6-22-101 — any offer to waive your deductible is illegal under Colorado law and a red flag.
- 5Keep records of all contractor visits, estimates, and communications with your insurer in a single folder for the life of the claim.
This storm may have damaged your roof — get a free Pueblo inspection
Hail magnitude and location are based on NOAA NEXRAD radar data via the Severe Weather Data Inventory (SWDI); a full NWS storm survey write-up is pending.