Storm Center · Live National Weather Service data
Hail came through? Here is what it hit.
Live warnings, the rain outlook and hail reports within 75 miles of downtown, refreshed every few minutes. Then the part nobody at your door will tell you: what to do before you call your insurer.
Live · National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center
The live storm tracker.
Warnings for the San Antonio area, the rain outlook, and hail, wind and tornado reports within 75 miles over the past week. It refreshes itself every few minutes.
Checking the National Weather Service…
… storm reports within 75 miles in the last seven days.
Live from the National Weather Service and NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center. Reports are preliminary.
Reports come from spotters and the public via the National Weather Service. Hail falls where nobody reports it, so no dot nearby is not proof your roof was missed.
Hail, by the coin
How big was it, and does it matter?
Size is half the story. Wind, the age of the roof and which way the slope faces are the other half. A general guide:
Pea
0.25 in
Rarely damages a roof in good shape. Check the screens and the car.
Penny
0.75 in
Can knock granules loose on an older shingle roof. Worth a look from the ground.
Quarter
1.00 in
Where asphalt shingles commonly start to bruise. Worth an inspection.
Golf ball
1.75 in
Bruised and cracked shingles are likely, and metal can dent. Inspect before you file.
Baseball
2.75 in
Expect damage to most roof types, gutters and vents. Check inside for leaks first.
The first 48 hours after hail
- Check inside first. Look at ceilings under the attic and around skylights. Water now is a tarp problem, not a claim problem. Call us for the tarp.
- Photograph from the ground. Dented gutters, dinged AC fins, shredded screens, granules at the downspouts. Date the photos. Do not climb the roof; the ladder is more dangerous than the hail was.
- Get the roof inspected before you file. A claim filed on a roof that does not qualify can still sit on your record. The inspection tells you whether there is anything to claim.
- If there is, file it. It is your policy and your claim. Attach our photo report, and we will meet the adjuster on the roof if you want us there.
A field guide to the people at your door
They arrive within a day or two of a big storm, often with out-of-state plates and a clipboard. Some do fine work. Many are gone before the first warranty call. The tells are consistent: a free roof, an offer to handle your deductible, a price that is only good today, and a contract that makes them your representative with the insurer.
Texas law forbids a contractor from waiving or rebating your deductible, and only licensed public adjusters or attorneys may negotiate a claim on your behalf. A roofer who offers either is telling you how the rest of the job will go.
Ask for a local office, a certificate of insurance and three references in your ZIP code. Then wait a day. Real roofers can wait a day.
Free inspection
Not ready to pick a time?
Two taps and a phone number. A person calls you within one business day to set it up.
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Questions
Questions, answered plainly.
Still wondering?
Rooster, our assistant, answers roof and storm questions at any hour and can book the inspection.
How complete is the hail map?
It shows what trained spotters and the public reported to the National Weather Service. Hail falls in places nobody reports, so a roof can be hit without a dot nearby. Treat the map as a reason to look, not proof either way.
What size hail damages a roof?
Around one inch, quarter-sized, is where asphalt shingles commonly start to bruise, sooner on an older roof. Larger hail can dent metal and crack tile. Wind direction and roof age matter as much as size.
How long do I have to file a claim?
Your policy says. Many Texas homeowner policies set a deadline measured from the storm date, so check yours or ask your agent now rather than after the roof starts leaking.
Does an inspection count as a claim?
No. An inspection is between you and the roofer. Nothing reaches your insurer unless you file.
Will filing raise my premium?
It can. That is your insurer's decision, and it is one reason to inspect first and file only when the damage justifies it.
Can you tarp my roof tonight?
If the weather allows a crew on the roof, often yes; otherwise first thing in the morning. Call rather than booking online, and tell us where the water is coming in.
Storm came through? Inspect before you call the insurer.
The storm inspection is free. You get chalked hail hits, photos of every slope and a written answer: worth a claim, or not worth the risk.