How to Prepare for Peak Hail Season in Your Area 🌩️

What Is Hail Season — and When Does It Happen?

Hail season is the time of year when atmospheric conditions—sealed with strong updrafts, moisture, and cold air—create the ideal environment for hailstorms. In most of the U.S., this occurs during spring through summer (April–September), with peak hail activity in May and June.  Source: wunderground.com

• "Hail Alley" (Colorado, Nebraska, Wyoming): Hail season typically stretches from March through October, peaking in late spring through early summer.
  
  
• Central Plains & Texas: The most frequent hail events occur in May–June, although storms can linger into July .
  

Stay informed—you don't want to be surprised when hail season strikes in your part of the country.

Why Timing Matters: When to Be Prepared

• South & Central Plains (TX, OK, KS): Late spring through early summer makes outdoor assets particularly vulnerable.
  
  
• Rocky Mountain region (CO, NE, WY): Hail events may begin as early as March and last through September, so year-round awareness is key.
  
  
• Upper Midwest and Mid-Atlantic: Primary hail risk occurs mid-spring to mid-summer, with significant storm activity through July.
  
  

Preparation Tips to Protect Your Assets

Use the following checklist well before hail season peaks:

1. Inspect & Maintain Structures
   
   • Secure loose items like signs, tarps, and patio furniture that could become projectiles.
     
     
   • Repair or reinforce vulnerable roofing, skylights, or aged structures.
     
     
2. Schedule Preventive Services
   
   • Trim tree branches to minimize collateral damage from broken limbs.
     
     
   • Clean and inspect gutters, drains, and HVAC units.
     
     
3. Plan for Vehicles & Equipment
   
   • Consider installing hail netting over vulnerable outdoor inventory.
     
     
4. Review Your Insurance Coverage
   
   • Check for hail-specific exclusions, caps, and deductible terms.
     
     
   • Notify your agent if you've installed a hail protection system—they will likely lower your premiums. One automotive group in a hail-prone region saw its annual insurance premiums drop from $1.69M to just over $1M after installing a hail netting system.
     
     
5. Stay Informed During Hail Season
   
   • Sign up for weather alerts from the National Weather Service (NWS).
     
     
   • Keep basic damage documentation tools on hand: camera, notepad, phone.
     
     
6. Establish Emergency Protocols
   
   • Train team members on safe responses during hail storms— seek shelter, secure equipment.
     
     
   • Communicate clear responsibilities and backup plans ahead of storms.
     
     

Real-World Risks: Why Proactive Measures Are Increasingly Important

• A recent severe hail outbreak in Texas resulted in over 1,194 reports of severe (1"+) hail by early June—40% above average. Source: San Antonio Express News
  
  
• Homes and commercial buildings in hail-prone counties have seen $15 billion in annual U.S. hail damage, up from just $1.2 billion in the 1990s Source: wunderground.com.
  
  
• Colorado's 2017 hailstorm caused an estimated $2.3 billion in damage—underscoring the stakes elevated by severe events Source: ypapublicadjusters.com.
  
  

The Value of Hail Netting: Your Best Defense

While preparation helps, installing a durable hail netting system is the most effective way to prevent damage before it happens:

• Creates a physical barrier against hail, preserving the condition of vehicles, equipment, and infrastructure.
  
  
• Reduces insurance claims, in many cases lowering premiums by up to 40%—helping systems pay for themselves within two years.
  
  
• Minimal maintenance is required once installed. Simply inspect and tighten periodically—no daily setup needed.
  
  
• Adaptable and expandable, netting systems are suitable for everything from car lots to outdoor storage facilities.
  
  

Key Takeaways

• Know your local hail season window—timing matters.
  
  
• Act before storms arrive, not during—not too late, not too soon.
  
  
• Prep comprehensively: inspect, prune, clean, train, and insure.
  
  
• Level up with hail netting for reliable, round-the-clock protection.