Baseball-sized hail detected near Aberdeen, SD on July 24, 2026

Damage assessment

The radar-confirmed strike landed approximately 18 miles north of downtown Aberdeen, with one hail report logged in Brown County that day. At 4 inches — baseball size — architectural asphalt shingles face near-certain functional damage: granule loss, bruising, cracked tabs, and likely full structural failure of the mat layer. This is not a cosmetic question. Any shingle over 10 years old is at high risk for compromised waterproofing regardless of what it looks like from the ground. This event surpasses the previous Brown County record of 3.5 inches recorded on 2025-07-28, which itself was flagged as likely causing functional loss across all shingle types.

Aberdeen repair cost reference

Historical context

This event ranks first among 123 hail events of 1 inch or greater recorded in Brown County over the past 10 years — the largest on record for the county. The previous high was 3.5 inches on July 28, 2025. July is historically active in this county, with 41 documented events over the past decade, though August holds the peak at 49.

Storm system

The same day produced golf ball-sized hail (2 inches) in Burleigh County, ND, and half-dollar-sized hail (1.25 inches) in Grand Forks County, ND, pointing to a regional system rather than an isolated cell.

Contractor guidance

Local contractor data shows current backlogs of 1 to 2 weeks in Aberdeen, and storm chaser risk is assessed as low — most outside contractors working the area come from South Dakota's larger metros rather than out-of-state storm chasers. That said, Aberdeen's roofing market is thin, and post-storm capacity can tighten fast at this magnitude. South Dakota law under SDCL Chapter 36-18A requires residential roofing contractors to hold a state license through the Contractors Board — verify license status before signing anything, and confirm current general liability and workers' comp coverage. Any contractor offering to cover or rebate your deductible is violating state law, and any contract signed under those terms is void.

Permits & building code

At 4 inches, replacement is the more likely outcome than repair — inspectors and adjusters rarely find patchwork sufficient after baseball-sized hail. In South Dakota, the contractor pulls the permit, inspections are required, and permit costs typically run $100 to $250. Class 4 impact-resistant shingles qualify for a 10–20% discount with most South Dakota insurers.