Golf ball-sized hail detected near Salina, KS on August 13, 2026
Hail was detected at a radar-indicated point within the Salina 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 4 miles northeast of downtown Salina, with one hail report logged in Saline County that day. At 1.75 inches, this size is large enough to cause functional damage to standard architectural asphalt shingles — not just surface scuffing, but bruising and granule loss that shortens roof lifespan. Shingles older than 10–15 years are most vulnerable; newer roofs may show cosmetic hits that still compromise the material over time. Saline County's record includes 11 events at or above 1.5 inches, so local roofs have faced this threshold before.
On a $164,500 home with a 2% hail deductible, the out-of-pocket threshold is $3,290. Typical repair cost for a 2,000 square foot roof runs $6,773, with a range of $5,542 to $8,005 depending on damage extent 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 Salina inspection
Salina repair cost reference
Historical context
This event ranks 86th out of 293 recorded hail events of 1 inch or greater in Saline County over the past 10 years — solidly mid-tier by local standards. The county's largest recorded event reached 4 inches on April 29, 2022, well above today's magnitude. August is historically quiet here; only 6 events of this size have occurred in August over the past decade, making this storm an outlier for the month.
Storm system
The same-day pattern shows hail across a broad area — quarter-sized in Douglas and Dodge counties in Nebraska, half-dollar in Reno County to the south — suggesting this was part of a regional system rather than an isolated cell over Salina.
Contractor guidance
Local contractor data shows current backlogs of 2 to 4 weeks in Salina's moderate-density market. The storm chaser risk is assessed as moderate, consistent with the pattern Salina sees after significant regional events when out-of-area crews move in to fill local capacity gaps. Kansas requires roofing contractors to hold a valid registration certificate under the Kansas Residential Roofing Act (KSA § 50-6,123 et seq.), backed by general liability insurance, workers' comp, and an annual tax clearance from the Kansas Department of Revenue. Verify any contractor's registration through the Kansas Attorney General's office before signing anything.
Permits & building code
At 1.75 inches, outcomes vary — some roofs will need full replacement, others targeted repair, depending on age and existing condition. Whoever you hire must pull the required permit (typically $150–$350 in Salina), and the work is subject to inspection. Class 4 impact-resistant shingles qualify for a 10–20% discount with most Kansas insurers.
- 1Photograph your roof, gutters, downspouts, and any exterior surfaces showing impact marks — do this before anything is disturbed.
- 2Schedule a professional roof inspection with a Kansas-registered contractor to assess functional versus cosmetic damage.
- 3Contact your insurance carrier to report potential damage and understand your policy's claim process.
- 4Verify any contractor's registration status through the Kansas Attorney General's office and ask for proof of general liability and workers' comp before signing a contract.
- 5Keep all inspection reports, estimates, and communications in one place — you may need them if a claim dispute arises.
This storm may have damaged your roof — get a free Salina inspection
Hail detection for this event is based on NOAA NEXRAD radar data via SWDI; a full NWS written confirmation is pending.