Between 20:19 and 20:23 UTC on August 18, 2026, La Crosse had 2 hail reports within 25 miles, reported from La Crosse County. Hail peaked at 1.25 in. at 1 WNW Onalaska, La Crosse County. Nearest to La Crosse was a report 6.2 miles out (1 WNW Onalaska).
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 | 2 | 1.25″ |
| Within 25 miles | 2 | 1.25″ |
Reported hail, report by report
| Time (UTC) | Hail size | Location | Distance from city center |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20:23 | 1.25″ | 1 WNW Onalaska, La Crosse County | 6.2 mi |
| 20:19 | 1.00″ | 2 S Holmen, La Crosse County | 8.9 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 1.25 in. hail on August 18, 2026 means for a La Crosse roof
2 of the 2 sized La Crosse reports reached 1 in. The 1.25 in. stone at 1 WNW Onalaska, La Crosse County falls in the 1.00 to 1.74 in class; on August 18, 2026 that is quarter to ping-pong ball territory for La Crosse.
How this day compares with other hail days
La Crosse has 2 hail days in our NOAA log; by largest hailstone, August 18, 2026 ranks #2 of them. Logged days closest in time to August 18, 2026:
- September 1: 1 report, largest 1.50″
The same storm in nearby cities
August 18: 6 cities in 3 states drew SPC hail reports. Rochester, MN lies closest to La Crosse, 63 miles west-northwest, with 2 reports, largest 1.00 in. 2 cities lie within 220 miles of La Crosse with hail reports on August 18.
| City | Distance | Reports | Largest hail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rochester, MN | 63 mi west-northwest | 2 | 1.00″ |
| Oshkosh, WI | 135 mi east | 2 | 1.00″ |
2 nearest to La Crosse, within 220 miles; each link opens that city’s list for August 18, 2026.
Where the claim clocks stand for the La Crosse storm
La Crosse: that storm was 68 days ago. Rows marked passed are not cut-off dates on their own; the only legal limits are the ones tagged statute. For La Crosse the photo window, the inspection and the target filing date (Tue, Aug 25) are already behind us.
Claim deadlines for La Crosse, WI. Not legal advice; your own reporting deadline comes from your policy.
August 18 against the La Crosse County August record
La Crosse's August 18 log shows 1.25 in. hail. The record August in La Crosse County since 2014 is 2021, with 4 reports and a largest stone of 1.25 in.
Hail history near La Crosse: not the first
La Crosse’s county has logged 68 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 La Crosse, WI
What the sizes reported on August 18, 2026 can do to a roof
| Size class in La Crosse's reports | Looks like | Reports | What that size can do |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.00 to 1.74 in | quarter to ping-pong ball | 2 | 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.
2026 in the La Crosse County hail record
NOAA's county table already holds 5 hail reports for La Crosse County in 2026 through June 2026, with a largest stone of 1.50 in. That is more than 3 of the 8 full years before it. The busiest full year in the table is 2023 with 16 reports.
| Year | NOAA hail reports, La Crosse County | Largest stone |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 8 | 1.75″ |
| 2018 | 1 | 0.75″ |
| 2019 | 1 | 0.75″ |
| 2020 | 10 | 2.50″ |
| 2021 | 12 | 1.50″ |
| 2022 | 12 | 1.75″ |
| 2023 | 16 | 4.00″ |
| 2024 | 3 | 2.00″ |
| 2026 (through June 2026) | 5 | 1.50″ |
This date among 2026's matched hail days
In 2026 the feed holds 2 matched hail days for La Crosse. Ranked by largest stone, then report count, August 18, 2026 is #2 of them.
| Date | City | Reports | Largest hail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 1 | La Crosse | 1 | 1.50″ |
| Aug 18 | La Crosse | 2 | 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 August 18, 2026
The SPC feed matched no hail report to La Crosse or to the 3 other covered cities within 100 miles on any of the 7 days after Tue, Aug 18, through Tue, Aug 25.
Questions about this storm
La Crosse, August 18, 2026: how big was the hail?
At 1 WNW Onalaska, La Crosse County, the largest SPC report was 1.25 in.
La Crosse, August 18, 2026: how close did the hail fall?
The nearest report sat 6.2 miles from the city center and the farthest 8.9 miles. Within 10 miles: 2 of 2 reports.
La Crosse, August 18, 2026: how long did the hail last?
Reports are stamped from 20:19 to 20:23 UTC, a window of 4 minutes. Late reports can still be added for about a day.
La Crosse, August 18, 2026: was this the worst hail day on record?
La Crosse has 2 logged hail days; August 18, 2026 ranks #2 for La Crosse, at 1.25 in. The best other day reached 1.50 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.
Did the same storm hit towns near La Crosse on August 18, 2026?
The feed shows hail reports that day in Rochester, MN (63 miles west-northwest, 2 reports, up to 1.00 in.); Oshkosh, WI (135 miles east, 2 reports, up to 1.00 in.).
What did the feed log near La Crosse in the week after August 18, 2026?
The SPC feed matched no hail report to La Crosse or to the 3 other covered cities within 100 miles on any of the 7 days after Tue, Aug 18, through Tue, Aug 25.
Was 2026 a busy hail year in La Crosse County?
NOAA's county table already holds 5 hail reports for La Crosse County in 2026 through June 2026, with a largest stone of 1.50 in. That is more than 3 of the 8 full years before it. The busiest full year in the table is 2023 with 16 reports.
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