Hail in Branch County, MI
NOAA radar has confirmed 3 hail events of 1 inch or larger in Branch County since 2025, the largest 1″ (quarter) on July 3, 2026. The most recent confirmed hail was July 3, 2026.
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About Branch County, MI
Branch County lies along Michigan's southern border with Indiana, a gently rolling country of farmland, lakes, and the headwaters of small rivers. Hail is infrequent; the lake-moderated air tempers instability, so even the summer storms that ride a passing front seldom push stones past quarter size. The KIWX radar in northern Indiana sits about 51 miles to the southwest and keeps the county within reach.
The hail record for Branch County, MI
This year has run hot: 2 confirmed events in 2026 already, ahead of the recent pace.
Rather than a single peak, hail turns up from spring through summer in Branch County, most often in April.
Damaging hail is the exception rather than the rule in Branch County, but the record shows it does reach 1″ when it arrives.
Common questions
How often does it hail in Branch County?
NOAA radar has confirmed 3 severe hail events (1 inch or larger) in the Branch County area since 2025.
When is hail season in Branch County?
Branch County sees hail from spring into early summer, most often in April.
What's the largest hail recorded in Branch County?
Radar confirmed 1-inch hail, about quarter size, on July 3, 2026.
Does homeowner's insurance cover hail damage?
Hail is a covered peril under most standard homeowner's policies (typically HO-3), subject to your deductible. Whether you have replacement-cost or actual-cash-value coverage makes a big difference in what's paid out. Your declarations page will say which.
How do I know if my roof was damaged by hail?
Common signs are granules collecting in gutters and downspouts, bruised or cracked shingles, and dents on soft metals like vents, flashing, and gutter tops. A lot of hail damage isn't visible from the ground, so a professional inspection is the reliable check.
Is Branch County's hail big enough to damage a roof?
It can be. Asphalt shingles can begin showing functional damage in the ¾-to-1-inch range, and Branch County's confirmed hail reaches 1″. At these sizes damage is often hard to see from the ground, so whether it's a claimable loss depends on shingle type, age, and an inspection.
Is hail getting worse in Branch County?
Nationally, the research on long-term hail trends is mixed. Better radar coverage since the 1990s makes real increases hard to separate from improved detection. In Branch County, 2 confirmed events have been recorded in 2026 so far, but the tracked record is still short, so it isn't evidence of a lasting trend.
Recent confirmed hail near Branch County, MI
What this means for your home
If you were just hit
With recent hail in Branch County, you're still in the window to document and report it. Photograph any damage, note the storm date, confirm what radar detected at your address, and review your policy's reporting requirements. Deadlines vary.
Damage can be invisible from the ground
At Branch County's typical sizes, hail often bruises shingles and loosens granules without obvious holes, shortening roof life in ways that are easy to miss until the next storm or an inspection.
Document before you repair
If you suspect hail damage, photograph it and note the storm's date before making any repairs. Undocumented or already-fixed damage is much harder to claim later.
Know your hail deductible
Many policies in hail-prone states use a percentage deductible, often 1–2% of the home's insured value rather than a flat dollar amount. On a $400,000 home that can be $4,000–$8,000 out of pocket before coverage starts, so it's worth checking your declarations page before a storm.
Replacement cost vs. actual cash value
An RCV policy pays to replace your roof at today's prices; an ACV policy subtracts depreciation for the roof's age, which can mean a much smaller check on an older roof. Knowing which you carry shapes what a hail claim is actually worth.
Get more than one estimate
After a damaging storm, reputable local roofers get busy and out-of-town crews flood in. Get multiple written estimates and verify licensing and local references before signing anything.
Before you call your insurer
Get the radar evidence for your address.
A NOAA Radar Evidence Report documents exactly what federal radar recorded at your address - hail size, date, and signature - in a formatted PDF you can attach to a claim. Built entirely from public NOAA data.
Events are NOAA/NWS Severe Thunderstorm Warnings with confirmed hail ≥ 1 inch, matched to this county by the warning centroid. Federal public-domain data. A confirmed event indicates radar-detected hail over the area, not a guarantee of damage to any specific property.