July 2, 2026: NOAA's SPC logged 1 hail report around Ames, all in Polk County, at 22:25 UTC. The closest report fell 16.9 miles from the Ames city center (4 NW Polk City). Hail peaked at 1.00 in. at 4 NW Polk City, Polk County.
Where the hail fell
- under 0.75 in
- 0.75 to 0.99
- 1.00 to 1.74
- 1.75 to 2.49
- 2.50 and up
How many reports fell close to the city
| Distance from city center | Reports | Largest hail |
|---|---|---|
| Within 5 miles | 0 | — |
| Within 10 miles | 0 | — |
| Within 25 miles | 1 | 1.00″ |
Reported hail, report by report
| Time (UTC) | Hail size | Location | Distance from city center |
|---|---|---|---|
| 22:25 | 1.00″ | 4 NW Polk City, Polk County | 16.9 mi |
The rows above come from preliminary Local Storm Reports of the NOAA Storm Prediction Center. Sizes are reported hailstone diameters; times are UTC. Reports can be added or corrected for about a day after the event. Where a report carries no distance, it is measured in a straight line from its coordinates to the city center.
What 1.00 in. hail on July 2, 2026 means for a Ames roof
1 of the 1 sized Ames reports reached 1 in. The 1.00 in. stone at 4 NW Polk City, Polk County falls in the 1.00 to 1.74 in class; on July 2, 2026 that is quarter to ping-pong ball territory for Ames.
How this day compares with other hail days
Ames has 3 hail days in our NOAA log; by largest hailstone, July 2, 2026 ranks #3 of them. Logged days closest in time to July 2, 2026:
- September 8: 6 reports, largest 2.25″
- July 20: 6 reports, largest 2.75″
The same storm in nearby cities
July 2: 3 cities in 2 states drew SPC hail reports. Dubuque, IA lies closest to Ames, 154 miles east-northeast, with 1 report, largest 1.25 in.
| City | Distance | Reports | Largest hail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dubuque, IA | 154 mi east-northeast | 1 | 1.25″ |
1 nearest to Ames, within 220 miles; each link opens that city’s list for July 2, 2026.
Where the claim clocks stand for the Ames storm
Ames: that storm was 115 days ago. Rows marked passed are not cut-off dates on their own; the only legal limits are the ones tagged statute. For Ames the photo window, the inspection and the target filing date (Thu, Jul 9) are already behind us.
- After you file proof of loss for the Jul 2 storm, the insurer has 30 days. Statute text
Ames: insurer clocks counted from a claim filed Thu, Jul 9; working-day clocks skip weekends. Claim deadlines for Ames, IA. Hail claim guide for Iowa. Not legal advice; your own reporting deadline comes from your policy.
July 2 against the Story County July record
Ames's July 2 log shows 1.00 in. hail. The record July in Story County since 2014 is 2020, with 14 reports and a largest stone of 2.50 in.
Hail history near Ames: not the first
Ames’s county has logged 126 hail events since 2017; if this one leads to a replacement, ask about Class 4 impact-resistant shingles, which some insurers discount. Check your own address on the hail risk lookup.
See all roofing contractors in Ames, IA
What the sizes reported on July 2, 2026 can do to a roof
| Size class in Ames's reports | Looks like | Reports | What that size can do |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.00 to 1.74 in | quarter to ping-pong ball | 1 | Shingles can bruise and shed granules, often unseen from the ground. |
Size classes follow the SPC report diameters; the damage wording is general, not a finding about any one roof.
This date among 2026's matched hail days
In 2026 the feed holds 3 matched hail days for Ames. Ranked by largest stone, then report count, July 2, 2026 is #3 of them.
Ranked by largest stone, then by report count. Only dates the SPC feed matched to a covered city are counted.
The week after July 2, 2026
The SPC feed matched no hail report to Ames or to the 1 other covered cities within 100 miles on any of the 7 days after Thu, Jul 2, through Thu, Jul 9.
Questions about this storm
Ames, July 2, 2026: how big was the hail?
At 4 NW Polk City, Polk County, the largest SPC report was 1.00 in.
Ames, July 2, 2026: how close did the hail fall?
The nearest report sat 16.9 miles from the city center.
Ames, July 2, 2026: was this the worst hail day on record?
Ames has 3 logged hail days; July 2, 2026 ranks #3 for Ames, at 1.00 in. The best other day reached 2.75 in.
Ames, July 2, 2026: what dates apply to a Iowa insurer?
A claim filed on Thu, Jul 9 puts Ames's insurer on the clock: acknowledgment by Fri, Jul 24; decision 30 days after proof of loss. That is Iowa law, applied to Ames. Information, not legal advice; Ames homeowners find their own reporting deadline in the policy.
Do I need an inspection if my roof looks fine?
Often, yes. Hail bruises and granule loss are hard to see from the ground. A dated inspection scope is what ties damage to this storm rather than to ordinary wear.
Did the same storm hit towns near Ames on July 2, 2026?
The feed shows hail reports that day in Dubuque, IA (154 miles east-northeast, 1 report, up to 1.25 in.).
What did the feed log near Ames in the week after July 2, 2026?
The SPC feed matched no hail report to Ames or to the 1 other covered cities within 100 miles on any of the 7 days after Thu, Jul 2, through Thu, Jul 9.
About these numbers
Every figure on this page comes from the NOAA Storm Prediction Center Local Storm Reports file, matched to reports within 25 miles of the city center. Reports are preliminary: they come from trained spotters, emergency managers, the public and mPING app submissions, and sizes are often estimated against a coin or ball. We do not adjust them. A roofer tagged Verified holds a license or registration we confirmed in a public registry. That tag says nothing about coverage, so ask whoever you pick for a current certificate of insurance before signing.
More Resources
All recent local hail · Roofing contractors · Insurance claim guide · Roof replacement costs here · Emergency roof repair