Hail & Storm History by Zip Code
See recent hail, wind, and tornado events near your St. Louis home
Free Storm History Lookup
The St. Louis metro and Southern Illinois experience some of the highest hail frequency in the country. A significant storm may have impacted your roof without producing visible damage from the ground — especially with hail under 2 inches in diameter, which can still cause functional damage to standard shingles.
Enter your contact information and zip code below to see recent hail, wind, and tornado events near your home. We use your information to send you a follow-up with inspection recommendations if your area saw significant activity. We will not spam you.
What Hail Damage Looks Like on Your Roof
Hail damage on asphalt shingles typically appears as circular impact marks where the hailstone struck the surface and knocked granules loose. These marks may look like small dark spots or shallow dents, depending on shingle age and hail size. Fresh impact spots often expose the dull fiberglass mat beneath the granule layer — unlike the more uniform granule wear patterns of normal aging. On older shingles where granules are already thin, hail impacts may fracture the mat itself, creating a soft, spongy feel when pressed. The critical issue is not cosmetic — exposed mat degrades rapidly under UV and moisture, shortening the shingle's remaining life significantly.
Away from the roof surface itself, hail leaves evidence that trained inspectors look for first: dents on gutters and downspouts (the aluminum deforms predictably under hail impact), dents or cracks on AC condenser fins, soft metal flashing dents, cracked or bruised paint on wood fascia, and impact craters in soft cap metal at ridges and hips. These non-roof indicators help date the damage and establish that a specific storm event caused it — which is important for insurance documentation. If you see any of these signs after a storm, photograph them with a ruler for scale before they weather further.
Cedar shake and natural slate sustain different damage patterns. Cedar shake may show splits along the grain and compressed impact zones. Slate tiles may exhibit spider-web cracking that is invisible from below but allows water infiltration. Metal roofing typically shows surface dents without functional failure unless hail is exceptionally large — which is one reason metal is the most impact-resistant common roofing material in practical terms, even though its formal Class 4 rating matches impact-resistant shingles on paper. Composite membranes (TPO, EPDM) are generally evaluated differently — hail damage on flat roofs is less common but still possible with extreme hail events.
What to Do After a Storm Event
Document visible damage immediately
Before any cleanup, photograph impact marks on gutters, dents on AC units, and any visible roof damage from ground level. Date and time stamps from your phone's camera app are valuable for insurance purposes. Do not delay — evidence disappears as weather affects surfaces.
Schedule a professional inspection within 60 days
Missouri's one-year insurance claim deadline starts from the storm date, but many carriers require prompt written notice. A professional inspection within 60 days gives you documentation while damage is fresh. Revolve's free inspection includes drone photography of every roof plane.
Contact your insurance carrier
Call your homeowners insurer to report a potential claim — not to initiate a formal claim, but to put them on notice. Ask about your specific claim filing deadline and whether an advance inspection by a public adjuster or contractor is advisable before the carrier's adjuster visits.
Understand your policy (ACV vs. RCV)
Your policy may pay Actual Cash Value (depreciated) or Replacement Cost Value (full replacement cost). ACV policies pay less upfront — the difference (depreciation holdback) is released after work is completed with an RCV endorsement. Know your coverage type before accepting any payment.
Do not sign an Assignment of Benefits (AOB) form
Some contractors ask homeowners to sign an AOB that transfers claim rights to the contractor. Missouri strongly discourages this practice, and it can complicate your claim. Work with a reputable contractor who communicates through you, not around you.
Insurance Claim Deadlines: Missouri vs. Illinois
Missouri
Missouri statute of limitations for property insurance claims is generally 1 year from the date of loss. Many policies contain a shorter contractual "prompt notice" requirement — typically 60 to 180 days — that must also be met. Verify your policy's specific deadline.
Illinois
Illinois generally allows 2 years from the date of loss for property insurance claims under state law, though individual policy language may impose shorter deadlines. Many Madison and St. Clair County homeowners assume they have more time than their policy allows — review your declarations page.
The above reflects typical statutory deadlines as of 2025. Always consult your policy and an attorney or public adjuster for advice specific to your situation.
Storm History FAQs
How do I know if my roof was damaged by a recent hail storm?
Hail damage is often not visible from the ground, especially on asphalt shingles. The most reliable way to determine hail damage is a professional inspection with close-up photography. Signs that warrant an inspection include: circular impact marks or dents on gutters, downspouts, AC condenser fins, or painted wood trim; granule deposits in gutters or downspouts after a storm; cracked or chipped paint on flashing; visible dents on metal ridge cap. If a storm affected your area (shown in the lookup above), we recommend scheduling a free inspection within 60 days to preserve your insurance claim rights.
How long do I have to file an insurance claim for hail damage in Missouri?
Missouri insurance law generally allows one year from the date of loss to file a property insurance claim, though individual policies may contain shorter contractual claim-filing requirements. If your storm history lookup shows a significant hail event in the past 12 months, do not delay — have a professional document any damage before the deadline. In Illinois, the typical filing window is longer (often 2 years), but again, individual policies vary. Read your declarations page or call your agent to confirm your specific deadline.
What size hail causes roof damage?
Hail 1.00 inch (quarter-sized) or larger can cause bruising and granule loss on standard asphalt shingles. Hail 1.50 inches (ping-pong-ball sized) or larger reliably causes functional damage — granule displacement exposing the fiberglass mat to UV, mat fractures, and accelerated aging. Hail 1.75 inches (golf ball) or larger is typically sufficient to support an insurance claim. Impact-resistant Class 4 shingles, metal roofing, synthetic slate, and natural slate can withstand hail sizes that would damage standard asphalt — which is a major reason to consider these materials at replacement time.
Is this storm history data from NOAA or from a paid service?
The event data displayed in this tool is sourced from the NOAA Storm Prediction Center public archive, which is a free government data source. We preloaded recent events for St. Louis metro and Southern IL zip code prefixes. The data is provided for informational purposes — specific event dates and magnitudes should be verified at spc.noaa.gov before being used in any official insurance or legal context. We update our data periodically but do not claim real-time accuracy.
Will looking up my storm history automatically start an insurance claim?
No. Using this lookup tool does not file or initiate any insurance claim. It simply provides you with publicly available storm history information. Any insurance claim decision is entirely up to you. If you choose to schedule a free inspection after seeing storm results, our inspection documentation belongs to you — you decide whether to submit it to your insurer. Revolve never files claims on your behalf without your explicit written authorization.
What counties are covered by your storm history data?
Our current data covers the following counties: St. Louis City MO, St. Louis County MO, St. Charles County MO, Jefferson County MO, Franklin County MO, Madison County IL, and St. Clair County IL. If your zip code falls outside these areas, the lookup may return no results — contact us directly and we can assist with a manual storm history review.
What should I do after seeing storm events near my zip code?
If you see significant hail events (1.50 inches or larger) in your zip code within the past 12 months, the next step is a free professional inspection. At Revolve Construction, we photograph every roof section from grade and with drone imagery, document any hail impact signatures, and provide you with a written report at no cost and with no obligation. If damage is present and your roof is a good candidate for an insurance claim, we prepare all documentation for submission. You are under no obligation to proceed with any work.
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