Top 10 Most Hail-Damaged Cities in America

Hail causes more property damage in the United States than tornadoes, hurricanes, and floods combined in most years. According to NOAA's Storm Prediction Center, the US averages over 4,500 significant hail events annually. But the damage is not distributed evenly. A handful of cities absorb a wildly disproportionate share of hail-related destruction.

Using NOAA Storm Prediction Center data, National Weather Service storm reports, and insurance industry loss estimates, we ranked the 10 US cities most impacted by hail. If you live in one of these metros, understanding your hail risk is not optional.

1. Denver, Colorado

Denver sits at the top of nearly every hail damage ranking, and the data backs it up. The Denver metro area averages 12 to 15 significant hail events per year, with hailstones regularly reaching 1.5 to 2 inches in diameter. The city's position along the Front Range corridor creates a perfect collision zone where warm Gulf moisture meets cold mountain air, generating powerful supercell thunderstorms.

Insurance losses tell the story clearly. The May 2017 hailstorm alone caused an estimated $2.3 billion in insured losses across the metro area. In a typical year, Denver-area hail claims run between $1 billion and $2 billion. The combination of high storm frequency, large hail size, and dense suburban development makes Denver the most hail-damaged city in America by almost every metric.

What makes Denver vulnerable: Rapid elevation change along the Front Range, high population density in the hail corridor, and a long hail season running from April through September.

2. Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas

The DFW metroplex is a close second. North Texas averages 10 to 12 significant hail events per year, with some years seeing far more. The April 2016 hailstorm produced baseball-sized hail across large sections of the metro and caused roughly $1.2 billion in insured losses in a single event.

DFW's vulnerability comes from its sheer size. The metro sprawls across more than 9,000 square miles, which means virtually any storm that forms along the dry line in central Texas has a good chance of hitting some portion of the metro. NOAA data shows that Tarrant, Dallas, Collin, and Denton counties consistently rank among the top 20 counties nationwide for severe hail reports.

What makes DFW vulnerable: Massive metro footprint, position along the Texas dry line, warm season that extends from March through October, and rapid suburban expansion into historically rural hail zones.

3. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Oklahoma City sits squarely in the heart of Tornado Alley, but tornadoes are only part of the story. The OKC metro averages 8 to 12 significant hail events per year, with multiple events each season producing hail over 2 inches in diameter. The city's position in central Oklahoma puts it directly in the path of supercell thunderstorms that develop along the dry line.

Total insured hail losses in the OKC metro regularly exceed $500 million annually. The May 2010 hailstorm produced softball-sized hail in parts of the metro and caused over $1 billion in losses. NOAA Storm Prediction Center data, which is headquartered in Norman just south of OKC, shows that Oklahoma County and its neighbors consistently rank in the top 10 nationally for severe hail reports.

What makes OKC vulnerable: Central position in the Great Plains severe weather corridor, frequent supercell activity from April through July, and flat terrain that allows storms to maintain strength as they cross the metro.

4. San Antonio, Texas

San Antonio often surprises people on hail damage lists, but the numbers are clear. The metro averages 6 to 10 significant hail events per year, and central Texas produces some of the largest hailstones in the country. The April 2016 storm that also hit DFW dropped 4.5-inch hail in parts of the San Antonio metro, causing widespread destruction.

What sets San Antonio apart is the severity of individual events. While it may see fewer total hail days than Denver or DFW, the storms that do hit often produce very large hail. Bexar County regularly appears in NOAA's top 20 for significant hail reports, defined as hail 1 inch or larger in diameter.

What makes San Antonio vulnerable: Position at the southern edge of Hail Alley, extreme CAPE values during spring months, proximity to Gulf moisture that fuels severe thunderstorms, and older housing stock in many neighborhoods.

5. Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota

The Twin Cities metro may not have the reputation of Texas or Oklahoma for severe weather, but hail data tells a different story. Minneapolis-St. Paul averages 6 to 9 significant hail events per year, with a compressed but intense hail season running from May through August.

The August 2009 hailstorm remains one of the costliest in Minnesota history, producing over $1 billion in insured losses across the metro. More recently, hail events in 2022 and 2023 caused hundreds of millions in additional damage. Hennepin and Ramsey counties consistently rank among the top hail-impacted counties in the upper Midwest according to NOAA data.

What makes Minneapolis vulnerable: Convergence of warm southern air masses with Canadian cold fronts during summer months, large metro population, and aging roof stock across older inner-ring suburbs.

6. Omaha, Nebraska

Omaha sits in the middle of one of the most hail-active regions on Earth. The metro averages 7 to 10 significant hail events per year, with peak activity concentrated in May and June. Douglas and Sarpy counties rank among the highest in Nebraska for total hail reports.

The June 2014 hailstorm dropped baseball-sized hail across western Omaha and caused an estimated $750 million in insured losses. Nebraska as a whole ranks in the top five states for annual hail events, and Omaha, as its largest metro, absorbs the majority of insured losses. NWS Omaha regularly issues severe thunderstorm warnings with hail of 1.5 inches or larger during peak season.

What makes Omaha vulnerable: Central position in the Great Plains hail corridor, frequent interaction between Pacific and Gulf air masses, and steady westward suburban expansion into open agricultural land where storms maintain full intensity.

7. Wichita, Kansas

Kansas is one of the most hail-prone states in the country, and Wichita bears the brunt. The metro averages 6 to 9 significant hail events per year. Sedgwick County ranks among the top counties nationally for severe hail reports in NOAA's storm events database.

Wichita's central Kansas location puts it directly in the path of supercells that form along the dry line. The April 2012 hailstorm produced grapefruit-sized hail in parts of the metro and caused hundreds of millions in damage. While Wichita is smaller than many cities on this list, its per-capita hail damage rate is among the highest in the nation.

What makes Wichita vulnerable: Dead center in Hail Alley, flat terrain with no natural barriers to storm energy, and frequent supercell development along the dry line from April through July.

8. Kansas City, Missouri/Kansas

Straddling the Missouri-Kansas border, Kansas City gets hit from storms tracking across both states. The metro averages 6 to 8 significant hail events per year, with Johnson County, Kansas and Jackson County, Missouri both ranking high in NOAA's hail report database.

The March 2024 hailstorm caused over $500 million in insured losses across the metro. Kansas City's position at the eastern edge of the Great Plains means it catches storms that have already traveled hundreds of miles, often at peak intensity. The metro's mix of older homes and newer suburban development creates a wide range of vulnerability.

What makes Kansas City vulnerable: Eastern edge of the Great Plains severe weather corridor, frequent squall line and supercell passage, and a metro area that spans two states and multiple counties of varying building code standards.

9. Tulsa, Oklahoma

Tulsa averages 5 to 8 significant hail events per year, making it the second Oklahoma city on this list. Tulsa County and Rogers County both rank among the state's most hail-impacted areas. The metro's position in northeastern Oklahoma puts it in the path of storms that form along the dry line and track northeast.

The May 2019 severe weather outbreak produced widespread hail damage across the Tulsa metro alongside flooding and tornadoes. Annual insured hail losses in the Tulsa metro typically run between $200 million and $500 million. NWS Tulsa data shows that significant hail events (1 inch or larger) occur almost weekly during peak season.

What makes Tulsa vulnerable: Northeast Oklahoma position in the severe weather corridor, frequent supercell tracks from southwest to northeast that cross the metro, and significant older housing stock.

10. Colorado Springs, Colorado

Colorado Springs rounds out the top 10 but could easily rank higher. The city averages 8 to 12 significant hail events per year, rivaling Denver in frequency. Its position along the southern Front Range and the Palmer Divide creates uniquely favorable conditions for hail-producing storms.

The August 2018 hailstorm produced widespread 2-inch hail across the city and caused over $300 million in damage. El Paso County consistently ranks among the top 5 Colorado counties for severe hail reports. Colorado Springs sees a hail season that runs from April through September, with June and July being the peak months.

What makes Colorado Springs vulnerable: Palmer Divide geography that triggers afternoon convection, southern Front Range position, growing population that puts more homes in the hail corridor, and elevation changes that intensify storm development.

What This Data Means for Homeowners

If you live in any of these metros, hail damage is not a matter of if but when. Here is what you can do right now to protect yourself:

Check your hail history. Use HailScore to look up past hail events at your specific address. Knowing your property's hail exposure helps you make informed decisions about roofing materials and insurance coverage.

Review your insurance policy. Many homeowners in high-hail areas carry policies with separate hail or wind deductibles. Understand what you owe out of pocket before a storm hits, not after.

Invest in impact-resistant roofing. Class 4 impact-resistant shingles can reduce hail damage significantly. Many insurance companies offer premium discounts of 10% to 28% for Class 4 roofs in hail-prone areas.

Document your property now. Take photos of your roof, siding, gutters, and windows while they are in good condition. This documentation is critical for insurance claims after a storm.

Act quickly after storms. Insurance companies in high-hail areas enforce strict claim filing deadlines. In some states, you have as little as one year from the date of damage to file. Do not wait.

The data from NOAA's Storm Prediction Center makes one thing clear. Hail damage is concentrated in specific regions, and if your city is on this list, proactive preparation is the smartest investment you can make.