July 8, 2026: NOAA's SPC logged 6 hail reports around Cary, from Wake and Johnston counties, between 21:58 and 22:46 UTC. Nearest to Cary was a report 2.4 miles out (3 E Cary). Hail peaked at 1.25 in. at 4 N Lake Wheeler, Wake County.
The first Cary report is stamped 21:58 UTC: 1.00-inch hail at 4 S New Hill (12.7 mi south-southwest). The last is 22:46 UTC: 1.25-inch hail at 3 ESE Clayton (23.6 mi east-southeast).
The farthest report from the center is 3 ESE Clayton (23.6 mi east-southeast): 1.25-inch hail, 21.2 miles beyond the nearest one.
Sizes on Jul 8 run from 1.00 in. at 4 S New Hill to 1.25 in. at 4 N Lake Wheeler around 22:44 UTC.
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 | 4 | 1.25″ |
| Within 10 miles | 4 | 1.25″ |
| Within 25 miles | 6 | 1.25″ |
Reported hail, report by report
| Time (UTC) | Hail size | Location | Distance from city center |
|---|---|---|---|
| 22:44 | 1.25″ | 4 N Lake Wheeler, Wake County | 3.6 mi |
| 22:46 | 1.25″ | 3 ESE Clayton, Johnston County | 23.6 mi |
| 21:58 | 1.00″ | 4 S New Hill, Wake County | 12.7 mi |
| 22:35 | 1.00″ | 3 NNW Lake Wheeler, Wake County | 4.2 mi |
| 22:36 | 1.00″ | 3 NW Lake Wheeler, Wake County | 4.3 mi |
| 22:44 | 1.00″ | 3 E Cary, Wake County | 2.4 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 1.25 in. hail on July 8, 2026 means for a Cary roof
6 of the 6 sized Cary reports reached 1 in. The 1.25 in. stone at 4 N Lake Wheeler, Wake County falls in the 1.00 to 1.74 in class; on July 8, 2026 that is quarter to ping-pong ball territory for Cary.
How the storm moved through the area
| Hour (UTC) | Reports | Largest hail |
|---|---|---|
| 21:00 | 1 | 1.00″ |
| 22:00 | 5 | 1.25″ |
| County | Reports | Largest hail | Closest to city center |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wake | 5 | 1.25″ | 2.4 mi |
| Johnston | 1 | 1.25″ | 23.6 mi |
What spotters wrote
1.25″, 4 N Lake Wheeler at 22:44 UTC: Hail up to half dollar size.
1.25″, 3 ESE Clayton at 22:46 UTC: Half dollar size hail measured near Hemlock Green Lane.
1.00″, 4 S New Hill at 21:58 UTC: Picture of hail up to quarter size near Silent Cove Lane.
1.00″, 3 NNW Lake Wheeler at 22:35 UTC: Hail up to quarter sized near the intersection of Southeast Cary Parkway and Holly Springs Road.
How this day compares with other hail days
Cary has 2 hail days in our NOAA log; by largest hailstone, July 8, 2026 ranks #2 of them. Logged days closest in time to July 8, 2026:
- September 5: 4 reports, largest 1.75″
The same storm in nearby cities
On July 8 the log holds 2 matched cities in 2 states; Cary has no neighbour within 220 miles, so its hail stood alone on July 8.
Where the claim clocks stand for the Cary storm
Cary: that storm was 109 days ago. Rows marked passed are not cut-off dates on their own; the only legal limits are the ones tagged statute. For Cary the photo window, the inspection and the target filing date (Wed, Jul 15) are already behind us.
- 30 days run from the proof of loss you file, not from Jul 8. Statute text
- 3 years after the Jul 8 loss in Cary. Statute text
Cary: insurer clocks counted from a claim filed Wed, Jul 15; working-day clocks skip weekends. Claim deadlines for Cary, NC. Not legal advice; your own reporting deadline comes from your policy.
July 8 against the Wake County July record
Cary's July 8 log shows 1.25 in. hail. The record July in Wake County since 2014 is 2023, with 2 reports and a largest stone of 1.25 in.
Hail history near Cary: not the first
Cary’s county has logged 101 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.
Verified roofers in Cary
- Roofwerks, Inc.Verified
- Summit Roofing of NC, LLCVerified
- The Shingle MasterVerified
- 1st Stop Roofing and RestorationVerified
- BIG RED ROOFING & Home ExteriorsVerified
- Barkley-Jensen Roofing and RestorationVerified
See all roofing contractors in Cary, NC
What the sizes reported on July 8, 2026 can do to a roof
| Size class in Cary's reports | Looks like | Reports | What that size can do |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.00 to 1.74 in | quarter to ping-pong ball | 6 | 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 2 matched hail days for Cary. Ranked by largest stone, then report count, July 8, 2026 is #2 of them.
| Date | City | Reports | Largest hail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 5 | Cary | 4 | 1.75″ |
| Jul 8 | Cary | 6 | 1.25″ |
Ranked by largest stone, then by report count. Only dates the SPC feed matched to a covered city are counted.
The week after July 8, 2026
The SPC feed matched no hail report to Cary or to the 5 other covered cities within 100 miles on any of the 7 days after Wed, Jul 8, through Wed, Jul 15.
Verified roofers near Cary
8 verified roofers listed for Cary; 17 mores in 3 nearby cities within 60 miles, led by Burlington (42 miles west-northwest). Verified means the license was matched to a state registry.
| City | Distance | Verified roofers |
|---|---|---|
| Burlington, NC | 42 mi west-northwest | 6 |
| Fayetteville, NC | 51 mi south | 5 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | 56 mi east | 6 |
Questions about this storm
Cary, July 8, 2026: how big was the hail?
At 4 N Lake Wheeler, Wake County, the largest SPC report was 1.25 in.
Cary, July 8, 2026: how close did the hail fall?
The nearest report sat 2.4 miles from the city center and the farthest 23.6 miles. Within 10 miles: 4 of 6 reports.
Cary, July 8, 2026: how long did the hail last?
Reports are stamped from 21:58 to 22:46 UTC, a window of 48 minutes. Late reports can still be added for about a day.
Cary, July 8, 2026: was this the worst hail day on record?
Cary has 2 logged hail days; July 8, 2026 ranks #2 for Cary, at 1.25 in. The best other day reached 1.75 in.
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.
Cary, July 8, 2026: what is the last day under North Carolina law to act on this loss?
Lawsuit limit: Not before Sunday, July 8, 2029. 3 years after the Jul 8 loss in Cary. Source: N.C.G.S. 58-44-16(f)(18). Information, not legal advice; your policy can set a shorter reporting window.
What did the feed log near Cary in the week after July 8, 2026?
The SPC feed matched no hail report to Cary or to the 5 other covered cities within 100 miles on any of the 7 days after Wed, Jul 8, through Wed, Jul 15.
How many verified roofers can inspect after the Wed, Jul 8 storm in Cary?
8 verified roofers listed for Cary; 17 mores in 3 nearby cities within 60 miles, led by Burlington (42 miles west-northwest). Verified means the license was matched to a state registry.
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