Baseball-sized hail detected near Minot, ND on August 10, 2026
Hail was detected at a radar-indicated point within the Minot 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 center was approximately 20 miles south of downtown Minot, with one storm report logged in Ward County that day. At 3.5 inches, this is not a cosmetic event — hail this size drives granule loss, cracking, and full mat fractures on architectural asphalt shingles, the material covering most Minot homes. Functional damage is expected on any shingle roof, regardless of age, though older shingles with existing brittleness will show it faster. This event's 3.5-inch magnitude exceeds the previous Ward County record of 2.75 inches recorded on September 20, 2019.
On a $350,000 home with a 2% deductible, the out-of-pocket threshold is $7,000. Typical repair cost for a 2,000 square foot roof runs $7,248, with a range of $5,930 to $8,566. 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 Minot inspection
Minot repair cost reference
Historical context
Across 77 tracked hail events of one inch or larger in Ward County over the past ten years, this event ranks first by magnitude — the largest on record in that dataset. The previous county record was 2.75 inches on September 20, 2019. August historically sees elevated hail activity here, with 24 events logged in the month over the past decade.
Storm system
No other counties in the region logged tracked hail events the same day. This appears to be an isolated, single-county event rather than part of a broader storm system.
Contractor guidance
Local contractor data shows current backlogs of one to two weeks, which is relatively manageable — but that can change fast after a storm this size. Storm chaser risk is assessed as low for Minot, though the city's thin local roofing market means out-of-area contractors are common after significant events. North Dakota does not require a state roofing license; verify that any contractor holds a valid general contractor or construction license as required by the municipality, and ask for proof of liability and workers' compensation insurance before signing anything. Confirm the contractor has a physical North Dakota business address and references you can actually call.
Permits & building code
At 3.5 inches, full roof replacement is the more likely outcome than repair on most shingle roofs — expect your contractor to pull permits, as North Dakota requires the contractor to pull the permit, with typical costs running $100 to $250, and an inspection is required at completion. Class 4 impact-resistant shingles qualify for a 10–20% discount with most North Dakota insurers.
- 1Document all visible damage now — photograph the roof, gutters, siding, and any skylights before debris is cleared or weather changes anything.
- 2Schedule a professional roof inspection with a licensed, locally verifiable contractor — do not rely on a quick visual from the ground at this hail size.
- 3Contact your insurance carrier to report potential damage and ask about your policy's claim filing window.
- 4Vet any contractor before signing: confirm licensing, liability insurance, workers' comp, and a physical North Dakota address.
- 5Keep a written record of every contractor visit, estimate, and insurer communication — dates, names, and what was said.
This storm may have damaged your roof — get a free Minot inspection
Hail detection is based on NOAA NEXRAD radar data via SWDI and is radar-confirmed; a full NWS storm survey write-up is pending.