Columbia area, September 6, 2026: spotters filed 3 hail reports in Lexington County, between 21:47 and 22:01 UTC. Hail peaked at 2.00 in. at 5 W Lexington, Lexington County. The closest report fell 16.3 miles from the Columbia city center (5 W Lexington).
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 | 3 | 2.00″ |
Reported hail, report by report
| Time (UTC) | Hail size | Location | Distance from city center |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21:47 | 2.00″ | 5 W Lexington, Lexington County | 16.3 mi |
| 21:51 | 2.00″ | 5 W Lexington, Lexington County | 16.3 mi |
| 22:01 | 1.25″ | 6 NE Gilbert, Lexington County | 17.5 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 2.00 in. hail on September 6, 2026 means for a Columbia roof
| Size class | Reports | Share | Largest report in class |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.00 to 1.74 in | 1 | 33% | 6 NE Gilbert, 22:01 UTC |
| 1.75 to 2.49 in | 2 | 67% | 5 W Lexington, 21:47 UTC |
3 of the 3 sized Columbia reports reached 1 in. The 2.00 in. stone at 5 W Lexington, Lexington County falls in the 1.75 to 2.49 in class; on September 6, 2026 that is golf ball to hen egg territory for Columbia.
How the storm moved through the area
| Hour (UTC) | Reports | Largest hail |
|---|---|---|
| 21:00 | 2 | 2.00″ |
| 22:00 | 1 | 1.25″ |
What spotters wrote
2.00″, 5 W Lexington at 21:47 UTC: Corrects previous hail report from 5 W Lexington. Broadcast Media relayed a picture via SLACK of 1.5 to 2 inch hail. Time estimated by radar.
2.00″, 5 W Lexington at 21:51 UTC: Broadcast Media relayed a picture via SLACK of 1.5 to 2 inch hail. Time estimated by radar.
1.25″, 6 NE Gilbert at 22:01 UTC: Trained spotter reported pea sized up to half dollar sized hail around 400 block of Calks Ferry Road... Lexington 29072.
The same storm in nearby cities
September 6: 3 cities in 2 states drew SPC hail reports. Greenville, SC lies closest to Columbia, 97 miles northwest, with 5 reports, largest 1.75 in.
| City | Distance | Reports | Largest hail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greenville, SC | 97 mi northwest | 5 | 1.75″ |
1 nearest to Columbia, within 220 miles; each link opens that city’s list for September 6, 2026.
Where the claim clocks stand for the Columbia storm
Columbia: that storm was 49 days ago. Rows marked passed are not cut-off dates on their own; the only legal limits are the ones tagged statute. For Columbia the photo window, the inspection and the target filing date (Sun, Sep 13) are already behind us.
Claim deadlines for Columbia, SC. Not legal advice; your own reporting deadline comes from your policy.
September 6 against the Richland County September record
Columbia's September 6 log shows 2.00 in. hail. The record September in Richland County since 2014 is 2023, with 1 reports and a largest stone of 1.00 in.
Hail history near Columbia: not the first
Columbia’s county has logged 38 hail events since 2017; if this one leads to a replacement, ask about Class 4 impact-resistant shingles, which some insurers discount. In the area archive the biggest stone is 1.75″, below the 2.00″ of September 6, 2026. Check your own address on the hail risk lookup.
See all roofing contractors in Columbia, SC
What the sizes reported on September 6, 2026 can do to a roof
| Size class in Columbia'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. |
| 1.75 to 2.49 in | golf ball to hen egg | 2 | 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.
The week after September 6, 2026
The SPC feed matched no hail report to Columbia or to the 6 other covered cities within 100 miles on any of the 7 days after Sun, Sep 6, through Sun, Sep 13.
Questions about this storm
Columbia, September 6, 2026: how big was the hail?
At 5 W Lexington, Lexington County, the largest SPC report was 2.00 in.
Columbia, September 6, 2026: how close did the hail fall?
The nearest report sat 16.3 miles from the city center and the farthest 17.5 miles. Within 10 miles: 0 of 3 reports.
Columbia, September 6, 2026: how long did the hail last?
Reports are stamped from 21:47 to 22:01 UTC, a window of 14 minutes. Late reports can still be added for about a day.
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 Columbia on September 6, 2026?
The feed shows hail reports that day in Greenville, SC (97 miles northwest, 5 reports, up to 1.75 in.).
What did the feed log near Columbia in the week after September 6, 2026?
The SPC feed matched no hail report to Columbia or to the 6 other covered cities within 100 miles on any of the 7 days after Sun, Sep 6, through Sun, Sep 13.
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