Hail Reports in Lawrence, Kansas — Last 90 Days

Hail near Lawrence in the last 90 days

• 1.75 inLargest hail in 90 days (golf-ball size)
• 4Hail days near Lawrence
• 12SPC reports
• October 13, 2026Most recent event

Around Lawrence, the NOAA Storm Prediction Center logged 12 hail reports within 25 miles between August 18 and October 13, 2026, spread over 4 storm days. Every one of those days brought stones of 1″ or more, and 0 of the 12 Lawrence reports with coordinates fell within 10 miles of the city center. In a typical year Lawrence sees about 8 hail-producing storms, which is why insurers price separate wind-and-hail deductibles in this market.

Lawrence's storm-climate context

Lawrence sits in northeast Kansas under a humid continental climate that exposes roofs to punishing extremes. The record high of 114 F was recorded in August; the record low of -25 F hit on February 12, 1899. Average annual snowfall is 10.4 inches, and spring thunderstorm season brings frequent hail that strips granules from asphalt shingles and dents metal panels. The combination of freeze-thaw cycles through winter, hail impact in spring, and summer UV load at high temperatures stresses every roofing material category and shortens service life below manufacturer ratings.

Lawrence's 94,934 residents (2020 Census) are anchored by the University of Kansas, the city's dominant employer at 10,116 workers. The university's large campus and surrounding student housing stock create steady re-roofing volume for institutional and multi-family roofs. Lawrence Memorial Hospital and Hallmark Cards round out the employer base. Located 25 miles east of Topeka and 35 miles west of Kansas City, the city draws roofing contractors from both metro areas, making the local market competitive for homeowners seeking bids.

How close the hail came

Lawrence's nearest hail report, one of 12, came 12.3 miles from the city center on October 13, 2026 (1.50″ at Tonganoxie). August 18, 2026 was the heaviest day around Lawrence, with 5 reports and a top stone of 1.75″. Near Lawrence, 4 of 4 hail days reached 1″ or larger.

Distances are straight-line from the city center to each SPC report point; reports without coordinates are left out of the table.

Hail events near Lawrence by date

The Lawrence tables above list preliminary Local Storm Reports from the NOAA Storm Prediction Center. Sizes are reported hailstone diameters; times are UTC. Reports can be added or corrected for about a day after each event. A quiet log does not mean no hail: small or unreported events happen. The closest report in this window landed 12.3 miles from Lawrence's center.

On the Lawrence map, circle positions are the NOAA SPC report coordinates; tap a circle for the date and hail size.

Hail size: < 1″ 1–1.75″ ≥ 2″ not recorded

How severe was it? The NWS yardstick, applied to Lawrence's reports

Hail history in Lawrence: the long picture

County-level NOAA records for the county behind Lawrence, 2014–June 2026. Each figure shows its source. Storms after the archive ends are not in these numbers. Ranks count from 1, the highest.

Lawrence against the 209 cities we cover

• #91of 209Days with hail 1 in or larger in Lawrence: middle
• #102of 209Days with hail 1.75 in or larger (golf ball) in Lawrence: middle
• #70of 209Days with 58+ mph thunderstorm wind in Lawrence: middle
• #126of 209Tornadoes in Lawrence: middle
• #203of 209Reported storm property damage in Lawrence: bottom quarter
• #154of 209Share of homes built before 1980 in Lawrence: middle

Hail events in Lawrence's county, since 2017: 38, or roughly 4 a year, topped by a 2.50″ stone. Set against that baseline, the 4 hail days near Lawrence in the 90-day window above run above the long-term average rate. Check your own Lawrence address on the hail risk lookup.

Lawrence's county logged fewer hail events than the Kansas median (90 per county since 2017), below the state's typical pace.

Three ways a storm reaches a roof

In the archive for Lawrence's county, 2018 was the busiest hail year (9 recorded events); the largest stone on record, 2.50″, fell in 2017. A Lawrence roof older than 2017 with no documented inspection has probably taken at least one unexamined hit.

In a market with repeat hail, impact-resistant Class 4 shingles often pay for themselves through insurer premium discounts — worth discussing with a Lawrence roofer if a recent event tips you into a replacement.

Douglas County fact sheet for Lawrence homeowners

Housing age, federal disaster declarations and your state's claim deadlines in one place. All three come from public records, county level.

What to do if your roof was in the hail path

1. Walk the ground, not the roof. Hail came as near as 12.3 miles to Lawrence (Tonganoxie, October 13, 2026) in the last 90 days. Granule piles under a Lawrence downspout and dents on gutters, vents and screens are the signs to look for.
2. Photograph and date everything before repairs. For Lawrence the worst day is August 18, 2026 with 5 reports and a top stone of 1.75 in. Dated photos, a coin beside a hailstone and this NOAA log tie your loss to one storm day.
3. Expect door-knockers; do not rush. With 4 of the 4 hail days at 1 inch or more around Lawrence, canvassers arrive fast. A contract or Assignment of Benefits signed at a Lawrence door is a risk; a written scope from your own roofer is not.
4. Watch two deadlines: the policy's and the insurer's. 12 days ago: that is how long since the newest hail day near Lawrence. Your window to report a Lawrence loss sits in the policy; the insurer's answer clocks are state law, linked below.
5. Bring the written scope to the adjuster. A Lawrence estimate stays honest when the adjuster receives your contractor's written scope. Step-by-step: the roof insurance claim guide.

Insurer clocks for Lawrence homeowners: rule text, quotes and links on the Kansas claim-deadlines page (checked 2026-10-09). Not legal advice.

Hail in Lawrence — questions homeowners ask

Check your own ZIP in Lawrence

The county figures above average over everything inside the county line. For a score tied to your Lawrence address, run your ZIP through the hail risk lookup — Lawrence ZIP codes include 66044, 66049, 66047, 66045, 66048.

Lawrence neighborhoods — hail exposure varies by area

Hail paths track with storm cell movement, not city limits. If you're in Sunflower Lake, Hawthorne Park, Rock Chalk Park, South Lawrence or Eastside, check your specific street against the report locations above — distance from Lawrence's center is listed for each report.

More resources

• Roofing contractors in Lawrence
• Storm damage repair in Lawrence
• Roof repair in Lawrence
• Roof inspection in Lawrence
• Insurance claim guide
• Hail insurance claims in Kansas
• Roof replacement costs in Lawrence
• Emergency roof repair
• All recent hail reports
• Hail risk lookup

Sources: NOAA Storm Prediction Center Local Storm Reports (last 90 days, preliminary) and the NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (county of the city, 2014–June 2026); U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (housing). The Storm Events archive used here ends in 2026, so storms between that date and the start of the 90-day log are not shown. How we collect data. Are you a roofer in Lawrence? See how requests reach contractors.