Hail in Garrett County, MD
Hail turns up in Garrett County on a regular basis. NOAA radar has confirmed 6 hail events of 1 inch or larger in Garrett County since 2025, the largest 1.1″ (quarter) on August 11, 2026. The most recent confirmed hail was September 4, 2026.
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About Garrett County, MD
Garrett County occupies the westernmost corner of Maryland, high on the Allegheny Plateau where forested ridges rise into cool, elevated highlands. Hail is uncommon at this altitude; the cool mountain air tends to blunt storm intensity, though terrain-driven lift can occasionally spark a storm carrying modest stones. The Pittsburgh (KPBZ) radar sits well off to the northwest at about 85 miles, far enough that it samples storm tops over the highlands and little near the ground.
The hail record for Garrett County, MD
Garrett County doesn't see hail every month, but it's a recurring visitor, with 6 confirmed events since 2025.
This year has run hot: 4 confirmed events in 2026 already, ahead of the recent pace.
Rather than a single peak, hail turns up from spring through summer in Garrett County, most often in May.
Common questions
How often does it hail in Garrett County?
NOAA radar has confirmed 6 severe hail events (1 inch or larger) in the Garrett County area since 2025.
When is hail season in Garrett County?
Garrett County sees hail from spring into early summer, most often in May.
What's the largest hail recorded in Garrett County?
Radar confirmed 1.1-inch hail, about quarter size, on August 11, 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 Garrett 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 Garrett County's confirmed hail reaches 1.1″. 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 Garrett 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 Garrett County, 4 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 Garrett County, MD
What this means for your home
If you were just hit
With recent hail in Garrett 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 Garrett 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.
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.
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.
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.