Baseball-sized hail detected near San Antonio, TX on September 11, 2026
Hail was detected at a radar-indicated point within the San Antonio 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 15 miles east of downtown San Antonio, with one hail report logged in Bexar County that day. At 4 inches, architectural asphalt shingles face near-certain functional damage — cracked mats, missing granules deep enough to expose substrate, and possible punctures on older or thinner material. Any roof past the 10-year mark warrants close inspection; shingles already weathered before the storm are far more vulnerable than new ones. Wood shake, if present in older parts of the housing stock, is at similar risk and may require separate handling during the claims process.
On a $350,000 home with a 2% wind/hail deductible, your out-of-pocket threshold is $7,000 before insurance pays a cent. Typical repair cost for a 2,000 square foot roof after this event runs $4,741 to $6,848, with a midpoint of $5,794. Get a professional inspection before making any insurance decisions.
At these numbers, you're better off repairing out of pocket — the typical repair cost falls below your deductible. Filing a claim likely isn't worth it unless a full inspection reveals significantly more damage.
This storm may have damaged your roof — get a free San Antonio inspection
San Antonio repair cost reference
Historical context
This event ranks 6th out of 357 hail events of 1 inch or greater recorded in Bexar County over the past 10 years — a legitimate top-tier storm for this area. The county's largest recorded event reached 5.5 inches on May 4, 2021. September is historically quiet here; only two comparable events have occurred this month in the past decade, making this storm an outlier rather than a seasonal norm.
Storm system
Bexar County was not alone — the same system produced quarter-sized hail in McLennan and Williamson counties and ping-pong-sized hail in Harris County, suggesting a broad storm corridor across central and south Texas rather than an isolated cell.
Contractor guidance
Local contractor data shows current backlogs running 4 to 8 weeks, so scheduling an inspection sooner rather than later is practical. The city intake assessment rates storm chaser risk as high — door-to-door solicitation from out-of-state crews typically begins within 24 to 48 hours of a storm of this magnitude in San Antonio. Texas does not issue a state-level roofing license, so the verification burden falls on you: confirm the contractor holds a local business license, carries general liability and workers' comp, and is registered with the Texas Secretary of State if they operate as an LLC or corporation. Under Texas Insurance Code § 707.002, any contractor who offers to waive or absorb your deductible is committing a Class B misdemeanor — walk away from that offer.
Permits & building code
At 4 inches, full roof replacement is more likely than patch repair on most affected homes, particularly those with older shingle systems. The contractor is responsible for pulling the permit in San Antonio; expect permit costs of $150 to $400, and a post-installation inspection is required. Class 4 impact-resistant shingles qualify for a 10–20% discount with most Texas insurers.
- 1Photograph your roof, gutters, downspouts, and any exterior HVAC or vent covers before anything is moved or repaired — date-stamp the images.
- 2Get a repair estimate from a licensed contractor before contacting your insurer — at these numbers, out-of-pocket repair is likely cheaper than filing a claim.
- 3Verify any contractor's local business license, liability insurance, and workers' comp before allowing them on your property — ask for certificates, not verbal assurances.
- 4Document all contractor interactions in writing, including quotes, scope of work, and any promises made — do not sign a contract that lacks the bold deductible-disclosure notice required by Texas law for jobs over $1,000.
- 5Keep a file with photos, inspection reports, contractor quotes, and any correspondence — organized records matter if a dispute arises later.
This storm may have damaged your roof — get a free San Antonio inspection
Hail size and location are based on NOAA NEXRAD radar data via the Severe Weather Data Inventory (SWDI); a full NWS written confirmation is pending.