Hail in Cattaraugus County, NY
Cattaraugus County has taken some of the largest hail there is. NOAA radar has confirmed 5 hail events of 1 inch or larger in Cattaraugus County since 2025, the largest 4″ (grapefruit) on March 31, 2026. The most recent confirmed hail was March 31, 2026.
Did hail hit your exact address?
This page covers the whole area. Enter your address to see what NOAA radar detected over your specific roof - free, in seconds.
About Cattaraugus County, NY
Cattaraugus County spreads across the hilly Allegheny Plateau of western New York, a region of forested ridges and deep valleys south of Lake Erie. Hail is infrequent and usually small when it falls, because the cool, stable air drawn off the lake often limits how strongly summer storms can build. The Buffalo radar (KBUF) stands about 48 miles to the north, near enough to track passing cells though the high terrain in between can hide their lowest reaches.
The hail record for Cattaraugus County, NY
Hail at 4″ is rare and outright destructive, large enough to total roofs and vehicles, not just bruise them.
This year has run hot: 3 confirmed events in 2026 already, ahead of the recent pace.
March does most of the damage here; Cattaraugus County is comparatively quiet the rest of the year.
Common questions
How often does it hail in Cattaraugus County?
NOAA radar has confirmed 5 severe hail events (1 inch or larger) in the Cattaraugus County area since 2025.
When is hail season in Cattaraugus County?
Hail in Cattaraugus County is concentrated in March, within a season that runs spring into early summer.
What's the largest hail recorded in Cattaraugus County?
Radar confirmed 4-inch hail, about grapefruit size, on March 31, 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.
Has Cattaraugus County had hail big enough to total a roof?
4″ hail is in the range where damage can be severe enough to warrant a full roof replacement on standard asphalt shingles. Whether a roof is actually totaled depends on its material and age, how intense the storm was at your specific address, and your insurer's inspection. Hail size alone doesn't decide it.
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.
Should I file a hail claim or pay out of pocket?
It depends on the damage versus your deductible. At the 4″ sizes seen here, damage often exceeds a typical deductible, which can make a claim worthwhile, but get a repair estimate first to compare, and keep in mind that filing can affect future premiums.
Recent confirmed hail near Cattaraugus County, NY
What this means for your home
Don't overlook vehicle damage
Hail at the 4″ sizes Cattaraugus County has seen also dents vehicles, cracks glass, and chips paint. Document car damage alongside your roof before any repairs. Both can be part of the same claim.
Read anything before you sign it
Some contractors ask storm-hit homeowners to sign an "assignment of benefits," which can hand control of your insurance claim to them. Read it closely. You can document and file a claim yourself without giving that up.
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.
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.
Claims have deadlines
Policies set a deadline for hail-damage claims, and state law may also apply. Windows range from months to several years depending on your state and policy. Knowing the exact date hail hit your address helps you file on time.
Keep a 'before' record
Photos of your roof and exterior in good condition make new hail damage much easier to prove later. A few shots now, before the next storm, can save an argument with an adjuster over what's old wear and what's storm damage.
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.