Colorado Springs Hail Damage: Storm History, Roof Risk, and What to Do Next

Colorado Springs sits right in the heart of America's hail corridor. Between its position along the Palmer Divide and the rapid elevation changes along the Front Range, the city experiences some of the most frequent and intense hail events in the country. If you own a home here, understanding your hail risk is not optional. It is essential.

Why Colorado Springs Gets So Much Hail

The geography around Colorado Springs creates a near-perfect setup for hail-producing thunderstorms. The Palmer Divide — a ridge of higher terrain running east from the Rockies between Denver and the Springs — acts as a trigger for storm development. Warm, moist air flowing north from the plains collides with cooler air descending from the mountains, and the resulting updrafts can be powerful enough to produce hailstones two inches or larger.

El Paso County, where Colorado Springs is located, consistently ranks among the top counties in the nation for hail reports. The city and its surrounding communities — including Fountain, Security-Widefield, Falcon, and Monument — see hail-producing storms from April through September, with the peak window running from late May through mid-July.

Colorado Springs Hail Storm History

Colorado Springs has a long and expensive history with hail. Some of the most notable events include:

August 6, 2018 — A severe storm dropped golf ball to baseball-sized hail across the northeast side of the city, causing an estimated $350 million in insured damage. Thousands of vehicles were totaled and roofs across entire neighborhoods needed full replacement.

June 13, 2016 — Hail up to 2.5 inches struck the Briargate and Northgate areas. Insurance claims from this single event topped $200 million.

July 28, 2016 — Just six weeks after the June event, another major storm brought damaging hail to Stetson Hills and the eastern suburbs.

May 2017 — Multiple rounds of severe hail impacted the metro area during a two-week stretch, contributing to one of the most expensive hail seasons in state history.

These are just the headline events. In a typical year, Colorado Springs experiences a dozen or more hail-producing storms, many of which drop stones large enough to damage roofing materials.

What Size Hail Causes Roof Damage in Colorado Springs?

The threshold for roof damage depends on the roofing material, the age of the roof, and the angle of impact. As a general guideline:

1 inch (quarter size) — Can crack or dislodge standard three-tab asphalt shingles, especially on roofs older than 10 years

1.25 inches (half dollar size) — Often causes visible bruising on dimensional shingles and can crack vinyl siding

1.75 inches (golf ball size) — Causes significant damage to most roofing materials including newer architectural shingles

2.5 inches and larger — Can puncture roofing materials, shatter skylights, and damage metal components

In Colorado Springs, storms producing hail at or above 1.25 inches are common enough that most roofs will encounter multiple damaging events during their lifespan.

Neighborhoods Most Affected by Hail

While hail can strike anywhere in the metro area, certain parts of Colorado Springs tend to see more frequent and intense hail activity:

Briargate and Northgate — The northern suburbs sit in the path of storms that develop along the Palmer Divide and track south or southeast

Stetson Hills and Falcon — The eastern edge of the metro is particularly exposed to supercell thunderstorms moving off the divide

Cimarron Hills and Security-Widefield — Southern and southeastern communities catch storms that track through the urban core

Old Colorado City and Manitou Springs — While somewhat shielded by terrain, these western neighborhoods still see damaging hail from storms that form directly overhead

How to Check Your Hail History

Most homeowners are surprised to learn how many hail events have occurred near their address. A home in Briargate may have been within range of 15 or more hail events in the past decade, while a home just a few miles away in the foothills may have experienced fewer.

HailScore lets you look up the hail history for any address in Colorado Springs — free. Just enter your address and get a detailed report showing every documented hail event near your property, including hailstone sizes and dates. Your HailScore rating gives you a quick snapshot of your overall hail risk based on real NOAA radar data.

Signs of Hail Damage on Your Colorado Springs Roof

After a hailstorm, look for these indicators:

Dents or dimples on shingles — Hail impacts create circular depressions that are easier to feel than see

Missing or cracked shingles — Larger stones can break shingles outright

Granule loss — Check your gutters and downspouts for excessive granule buildup, which indicates shingle surface damage

Dented gutters, downspouts, or flashing — Metal components show hail impact clearly

Cracked or chipped window screens and frames — Soft metals dent easily and can confirm hail struck your property

Not all hail damage is visible from the ground. A professional roof inspection is the only reliable way to assess the full extent of storm damage.

Filing a Hail Damage Insurance Claim in Colorado Springs

Colorado law gives homeowners specific protections when filing hail damage claims. Here is what you should know:

File promptly. Most Colorado insurance policies require claims to be filed within one year of the damage event. Some policies have shorter windows, so check your specific policy language.

Document everything. Before calling your insurer, take photos and video of any visible damage. Note the date of the storm and save any severe weather alerts you received. Your HailScore report provides documented evidence of hail events at your address, which can support your claim.

Get an independent inspection. Your insurance company will send their own adjuster, but having an independent contractor inspection gives you a second assessment to compare against the insurer's findings.

Understand your deductible. Many Colorado policies have separate wind and hail deductibles, which may be a flat dollar amount or a percentage of your coverage. A 2% hail deductible on a $400,000 policy means you pay the first $8,000 out of pocket.

Know your rights. Colorado's Division of Insurance protects homeowners from unfair claim practices. If your claim is denied or underpaid, you have the right to request a re-inspection and to file a complaint with the state.

Choosing Hail-Resistant Roofing in Colorado Springs

Given the frequency of hail in the area, many Colorado Springs homeowners opt for impact-resistant roofing materials when it is time for a replacement:

Class 4 impact-resistant shingles — Rated to withstand 2-inch hailstones. Many Colorado insurers offer premium discounts of 15 to 30 percent for Class 4 roofs

Metal roofing — Standing seam metal roofs resist hail well but can show cosmetic denting from larger stones

Synthetic slate or shake — Composite materials can offer excellent impact resistance with the look of natural products

Concrete tile — Heavy and durable but can crack under very large hail

The upfront cost of impact-resistant materials is higher, but the combination of insurance savings and reduced replacement frequency often makes it the better long-term investment in hail-prone markets like Colorado Springs.

Check Your Colorado Springs Hail Risk Now

Whether you are buying a home, considering a roof replacement, or just want to know what your property has been through, check your hail history on HailScore. Enter any Colorado Springs address and get a free report with real storm data going back a decade.

Your roof has a story. HailScore helps you read it.