Every spring the same thing happens across Dallas–Fort Worth: a line of storms crosses the Metroplex overnight, a few neighborhoods wake up to golf-ball hail on the lawn, and by lunchtime the first out-of-town roofing trucks are knocking on doors. This checklist is what we tell our own families to do before, during and after hail season, and it works whether you ever call us or not.
Last reviewed: October 4, 2026. Sources, methodology, current links and material limitations were checked for this report.
Bar chart of relative frequency, not counts. Hail reports are rare in December and January, climb through February and March, peak in April and May, stay high in June, then fall through July to a small secondary bump in September and October before the quiet late-year months.
When hail hits Dallas–Fort Worth
Typical seasonal pattern of severe hail reports in North Texas (relative frequency). Peak season runs March through June.
PEAK SEASON
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Book a spring inspection before the peak, and a post-storm inspection within a few weeks of any hail at your address.
Before the season: March
- Get a baseline inspection. A free inspection in early spring documents the roof’s condition before any storm. If hail hits in May, the “before” photos make the claim simple.
- Read your policy. Find three things on the declarations page: the wind/hail deductible (usually 1–2% of dwelling coverage in DFW), whether the roof is covered at replacement cost or actual cash value, and any roof payment schedule. Our deductible calculator turns those into dollars.
- Clear gutters and trim limbs. Clogged gutters overflow behind the fascia; low limbs become projectiles.
- Photograph the house. Walk the perimeter and photograph every elevation, the gutters, screens and the AC unit. Timestamped “before” photos are worth a great deal in a dispute.
During the season: what to watch
Storms usually form west of Fort Worth in the late afternoon and move east-northeast through the evening. A storm that drops one-inch hail in Weatherford at 6 p.m. can be over Plano by 8. Sign up for county emergency alerts, and after any storm note the date and time; the NOAA storm lookup tools let you confirm hail size at your address later.
Circles drawn to relative scale for pea, marble, dime, quarter, golf ball, tennis ball, baseball and softball hail with diameters in inches. Damage to asphalt shingles becomes likely at one inch (quarter size) and near-certain at golf-ball size and above; soft metals such as gutters and vents dent at smaller sizes.
Hail size vs. roof damage
Diameter in inches · circles to relative scale · asphalt shingle damage threshold shown in red
1″ and larger: shingle damage likely
Pea¼”
Marble½”
Dime / penny¾”
Quarter1″
Golf ball1¾”
Tennis ball2½”
Baseball2¾”
Softball4″ (not to scale)
Soft metals (gutters, vents, AC fins) dent from about ¾”. Bruised shingles lose granules and fail early even when no leak appears for months.
After a storm: the first 48 hours
Check inside first
Look at ceilings and in the attic for fresh stains or drips. Move belongings and catch water; if water is coming in, call (469) 498-6772 for emergency tarping.
Walk the ground
Photograph dented gutters, downspouts and vents, torn screens, granules at downspout outlets and any shingle pieces in the yard. Stay off the roof.
Run the self-check
Our hail damage self-check scores what you found and tells you whether an inspection is worth scheduling.
Book a documented inspection
Test squares, chalked observations, collateral photos and a written report can help document roof conditions for an insurer or adjuster review.
Choosing who to let on your roof
After a big storm, expect door knockers. Some are legitimate; many are not. Five questions sort them quickly:
- Where is your office, and how long have you been there? (Ours: North Stemmons Freeway in Dallas since 2012, and Main Street in Frisco.)
- Are you manufacturer certified, and can you show the certificate?
- What is your general liability coverage? ($2 million, in our case.)
- Will you meet my adjuster on the roof?
- Will you put the warranty in writing, and who honors it in ten years?
And one hard rule: Texas law requires the insured deductible to be paid and prohibits a contractor from paying, waiving, absorbing, rebating or otherwise offsetting it. Treat an offer to “cover” the deductible as a serious warning sign, and review the 2026 Texas deductible-law field report for the current statutory and Texas Department of Insurance sources.
If the roof is damaged
Read our six-step claim guide before you call your carrier. The short version: use the correct storm date, review your policy and deductible, document the roof condition, allow the contractor to answer technical roofing-scope questions during the adjuster inspection, and review whether applicable code-related construction items are documented in the roofing scope. If you are replacing anyway, consider Class 4 impact-resistant shingles; the lifespan guide explains why they are the right call in a hail corridor.
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Hail season checklist: baseline inspection in March · know your deductible and RCV/ACV basis · gutters cleared, limbs trimmed · perimeter photos taken · storm date and time noted · ground-level photos after every storm · self-check score · documented inspection · claim reported with accurate information when you choose to file · do not hire a contractor who offers to waive, absorb or rebate the deductible.
Official safety & insurance references
Use these public sources alongside Roofing Giant’s roof-specific checklist:
- National Weather Service — Severe Thunderstorm Safety for official severe-weather safety guidance.
- Texas Department of Insurance — What to know about insurance and your roof for current roof-coverage and deductible questions.
- Texas Department of Insurance — Roofing and insurance: Know the law for contractor/public-adjuster and deductible boundaries.
Safety and insurance references are general public guidance. Roofing Giant documents roofing conditions and construction scope; the insurer determines policy coverage and claim payment.
Get your baseline inspection on the calendar.
Free 30-point inspection before the storms, or a documented damage inspection after one. Either way you get photos and a written report.
More DFW Roofing Field Reports
Explore Roofing Giant’s source-first local research on project data, permits, storm context, cost and contractor verification at the DFW Roofing Field Reports hub.
Company verification: current Roofing Giant business identity, office records, staffing disclosures and manufacturer-status disclosures are maintained at Roofing Giant Credentials & Verification.
Document the roof before you decide what to do next
If hail may have reached your property, keep the storm date separate from the roof findings. Use our Dallas hail roof-inspection documentation guide to see what photographs, test-area notes, roof measurements and exterior observations can be useful. For examples of how roofing scope can change as additional construction details are documented, review our roofing scope and supplement case studies.
