September 5, 2026: NOAA's SPC logged 4 hail reports around Cary, from Johnston and Wake counties, between 19:45 and 20:32 UTC. The largest stone measured 1.75 in. at 3 SE Clayton, Johnston County. Nearest to Cary was a report 19.7 miles out (3 ENE Knightdale).
The first Cary report is stamped 19:45 UTC: 1.50-inch hail at 3 ENE Knightdale (19.7 mi east). The last is 20:32 UTC: 1.50-inch hail at 3 ENE Knightdale (19.7 mi east).
The farthest report from the center is 3 SE Clayton (23.4 mi east-southeast): 1.75-inch hail, 3.7 miles beyond the nearest one.
Sizes on Sep 5 run from 1.00 in. at 2 E Clayton to 1.75 in. at 3 SE Clayton around 20:02 UTC.
The Cary event before this one is Wednesday, July 8, 2026, 59 days earlier, with 6 reports. Its largest stone measured 1.25 in.; Sep 5 reached 1.75 in.
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 | 4 | 1.75″ |
Reported hail, report by report
| Time (UTC) | Hail size | Location | Distance from city center |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20:02 | 1.75″ | 3 SE Clayton, Johnston County | 23.4 mi |
| 19:45 | 1.50″ | 3 ENE Knightdale, Wake County | 19.7 mi |
| 20:32 | 1.50″ | 3 ENE Knightdale, Wake County | 19.7 mi |
| 20:00 | 1.00″ | 2 E Clayton, Johnston County | 22.5 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 1.75 in. hail on September 5, 2026 means for a Cary roof
| Size class | Reports | Share | Largest report in class |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.00 to 1.74 in | 3 | 75% | 3 ENE Knightdale, 19:45 UTC |
| 1.75 to 2.49 in | 1 | 25% | 3 SE Clayton, 20:02 UTC |
4 of the 4 sized Cary reports reached 1 in. The 1.75 in. stone at 3 SE Clayton, Johnston County falls in the 1.75 to 2.49 in class; on September 5, 2026 that is golf ball to hen egg territory for Cary.
How the storm moved through the area
| Hour (UTC) | Reports | Largest hail |
|---|---|---|
| 19:00 | 1 | 1.50″ |
| 20:00 | 3 | 1.75″ |
| County | Reports | Largest hail | Closest to city center |
|---|---|---|---|
| Johnston | 2 | 1.75″ | 22.5 mi |
| Wake | 2 | 1.50″ | 19.7 mi |
What spotters wrote
1.50″, 3 ENE Knightdale at 19:45 UTC: Corrects time of previous hail report from 3 ENE Knightdale.
1.00″, 2 E Clayton at 20:00 UTC: Hail at NC42 and Glen Laurel Rd.
How this day compares with other hail days
Cary has 2 hail days in our NOAA log; by largest hailstone, September 5, 2026 ranks #1 of them. Logged days closest in time to September 5, 2026:
- July 8: 6 reports, largest 1.25″
The same storm in nearby cities
September 5: 4 cities in 2 states drew SPC hail reports. Rocky Mount, NC lies closest to Cary, 56 miles east, with 1 report, largest 1.75 in. 3 cities lie within 220 miles of Cary with hail reports on September 5.
| City | Distance | Reports | Largest hail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rocky Mount, NC | 56 mi east | 1 | 1.75″ |
| Jacksonville, NC | 105 mi southeast | 2 | 1.00″ |
| Greenville, SC | 214 mi west-southwest | 1 | 1.75″ |
3 nearest to Cary, within 220 miles; each link opens that city’s list for September 5, 2026.
Where the claim clocks stand for the Cary storm
Cary: that storm was 50 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 (Sat, Sep 12) are already behind us.
- After you file proof of loss for the Sep 5 storm, the insurer has 30 days. Statute text
- Counting from Sep 5, 3 years apply to Cary. Statute text
Cary: insurer clocks counted from a claim filed Sat, Sep 12; working-day clocks skip weekends. Claim deadlines for Cary, NC. Not legal advice; your own reporting deadline comes from your policy.
September 5 against the Wake County September record
Cary's September 5 log shows 1.75 in. hail. The record September in Wake County since 2014 is 2020, with 24 reports and a largest stone of 2.25 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
- 1st Stop Roofing and RestorationVerified
- BIG RED ROOFING & Home ExteriorsVerified
- Barkley-Jensen Roofing and RestorationVerified
- Modern RoofingVerified
- Oak City RoofingVerified
- Roofwerks, Inc.Verified
See all roofing contractors in Cary, NC
What the sizes reported on September 5, 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 | 3 | Shingles can bruise and shed granules, often unseen from the ground. |
| 1.75 to 2.49 in | golf ball to hen egg | 1 | Can fracture older shingles and dent vents, flashing and gutters. |
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, September 5, 2026 is #1 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 September 5, 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 Sat, Sep 5, through Sat, Sep 12.
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, September 5, 2026: how big was the hail?
At 3 SE Clayton, Johnston County, the largest SPC report was 1.75 in.
Cary, September 5, 2026: how close did the hail fall?
The nearest report sat 19.7 miles from the city center and the farthest 23.4 miles. Within 10 miles: 0 of 4 reports.
Cary, September 5, 2026: how long did the hail last?
Reports are stamped from 19:45 to 20:32 UTC, a window of 47 minutes. Late reports can still be added for about a day.
Cary, September 5, 2026: was this the worst hail day on record?
Cary has 2 logged hail days; September 5, 2026 ranks #1 for Cary, at 1.75 in. The best other day reached 1.25 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, September 5, 2026: what is the last day under North Carolina law to act on this loss?
Lawsuit limit: Not before Wednesday, September 5, 2029. Counting from Sep 5, 3 years apply to Cary. Source: N.C.G.S. 58-44-16(f)(18). Information, not legal advice; your policy can set a shorter reporting window.
Did the same storm hit towns near Cary on September 5, 2026?
The feed shows hail reports that day in Rocky Mount, NC (56 miles east, 1 report, up to 1.75 in.); Jacksonville, NC (105 miles southeast, 2 reports, up to 1.00 in.); Greenville, SC (214 miles west-southwest, 1 report, up to 1.75 in.).
What did the feed log near Cary in the week after September 5, 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 Sat, Sep 5, through Sat, Sep 12.
How many verified roofers can inspect after the Sat, Sep 5 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