Golf ball-sized hail detected near Rapid City, SD on June 22, 2026
Hail was detected at a radar-indicated point within the Rapid City 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 strike was logged approximately 3 miles southwest of downtown Rapid City, with one report recorded across Pennington County that day. At 1.75 inches, golf ball-sized hail is large enough to cause functional damage to standard architectural asphalt shingles — the material that dominates Rapid City's housing stock. Functional damage means compromised granule coverage and underlying mat integrity, not just surface scuffing; roofs older than 10–12 years are most vulnerable. A separate Pennington County event on 2025-06-28 reached 2.5 inches, so this area has seen larger events, but 1.75 inches clears the threshold where serious shingle degradation becomes common.
On a $270,000 home with a 2% deductible, the out-of-pocket threshold is $5,400. Typical repair cost for a 2,000 square-foot roof in this market runs $5,632, with a range of $4,608 to $6,656 depending on slope, access, and extent of damage. 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 Rapid City inspection
Rapid City repair cost reference
Historical context
This event ranks 248th out of 827 hail events of 1 inch or greater recorded in the area over the past 10 years, placing it in the middle of the magnitude distribution. The largest event on record reached 4.5 inches on August 26, 2021. June is historically active for this county — 266 events of 1 inch or more in the past decade — though July typically sees the highest concentration at 381 events.
Storm system
Campbell County, Wyoming recorded a 2-inch hail report on the same day, suggesting this event was part of a broader regional system rather than an isolated cell.
Contractor guidance
Local contractor data shows current backlogs running 2–4 weeks in the Rapid City market. The intake assessment rates storm chaser risk as moderate, consistent with the city's history of out-of-area contractors moving in after notable regional events. South Dakota requires residential roofing contractors to be licensed through the South Dakota Contractors Board under SDCL Chapter 36-18A — verify any contractor's license before signing anything. Also confirm current general liability and workers' compensation coverage, and know that under South Dakota SB 145 any contractor who offers to waive or rebate your deductible is breaking the law, and any contract you sign with them is void.
Permits & building code
At 1.75 inches, whether work qualifies as repair or full replacement depends on the roof's age and the inspector's findings — either outcome triggers the permit requirement, which the contractor pulls in Rapid City at a cost of $150–$350, followed by a required inspection. Class 4 impact-resistant shingles qualify for a 10–20% discount with most South Dakota insurers.
- 1Photograph the roof, gutters, downspouts, and any damaged exterior surfaces before anything is moved or cleaned up.
- 2Schedule a professional roof inspection with a licensed South Dakota roofing contractor — verify license status with the South Dakota Contractors Board before the appointment.
- 3Contact your insurer to report potential damage and ask about your policy's claim filing requirements.
- 4Before signing any contract, confirm the contractor carries general liability and workers' compensation insurance and that no deductible waiver is being offered.
- 5Keep all inspection reports, written estimates, photos, and correspondence in one file in case the claim or repair process extends over several months.
This storm may have damaged your roof — get a free Rapid City inspection
This event is based on a National Weather Service Local Storm Report from a trained spotter; radar confirmation was pending at the time of publication.