Baseball-sized hail detected near Tulsa, OK on August 21, 2026
Hail was detected at a radar-indicated point within the Tulsa 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 centered approximately 6 miles southwest of downtown Tulsa, with one hail report logged in Tulsa County that day. At 2.75 inches — baseball size — architectural asphalt shingles take functional damage, not just cosmetic bruising. Granule loss is severe at this size, and shingles over 10 years old are likely to show cracking, mat fractures, or full punctures. Older 3-tab shingles and wood shake, more common in established neighborhoods near the city core, typically fare worse and may require full replacement rather than repair.
On a $189,600 home with a 2% wind and hail deductible, the out-of-pocket threshold runs about $3,792. Typical repair cost for a 2,000 square foot roof after this size event runs $7,327, with a replacement estimate around $12,212. 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 Tulsa inspection
Tulsa repair cost reference
Historical context
At 2.75 inches, this is the largest hail event recorded in the Tulsa County 10-year dataset, surpassing the previous high of 2.5 inches set on May 22, 2019 — across 200 events at or above 1 inch, this one ranks first by magnitude. August is historically quiet for hail in this county, with only 9 events logged over the past decade; May dominates with 133. A storm of this magnitude in late summer is well outside the norm for the area.
Storm system
The same-day record shows related activity across the region — 2-inch golf ball-sized hail in Sebastian County, Arkansas, and separate events reaching quarter to half-dollar size in Reno and Sedgwick counties in Kansas — pointing to a broader organized severe weather system rather than an isolated cell.
Contractor guidance
Local contractor data shows current backlogs running 4 to 8 weeks, which is typical after a storm of this magnitude. The intake assessment rates storm chaser risk as high — Tulsa draws out-of-state roofing crews after major events, and door-to-door solicitation often begins within 24 to 48 hours. Oklahoma's Roofing Contractor Registration Act (SB 2180, 2010) requires all roofing contractors to register with the state before performing work; verify registration status before any conversation goes further. Ask for proof of general liability, workers' compensation, and references — then check them.
Permits & building code
At 2.75 inches, full roof replacement is the more likely outcome than patch repair, particularly on older or already-stressed shingles. Tulsa County requires a permit for replacement work — the contractor pulls it, inspections are required, and permit costs typically run $150 to $400. Class 4 impact-resistant shingles qualify for a 10–20% discount with most Oklahoma insurers.
- 1Photograph all visible roof damage from ground level and document any interior water intrusion — date and timestamp every photo.
- 2Schedule a professional roof inspection with a licensed, registered Oklahoma contractor before agreeing to any repair scope.
- 3Contact your insurance carrier to report the storm event and initiate the claims process.
- 4Verify any contractor's Oklahoma state registration status and current general liability and workers' compensation coverage before signing anything.
- 5Keep copies of all estimates, inspection reports, and communications with your insurer and contractors in one file.
This storm may have damaged your roof — get a free Tulsa inspection
Hail size and location are based on NOAA NEXRAD radar data via SWDI; a full NWS ground-truth write-up is pending.