Lawrence area, October 13, 2026: spotters filed 1 hail report in Leavenworth County, at 23:45 UTC. The largest stone measured 1.50 in. at Tonganoxie, Leavenworth County. The closest report fell 12.3 miles from the Lawrence city center (Tonganoxie).
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 | 1 | 1.50″ |
Reported hail, report by report
| Time (UTC) | Hail size | Location | Distance from city center |
|---|---|---|---|
| 23:45 | 1.50″ | Tonganoxie, Leavenworth County | 12.3 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 1.50 in. hail on October 13, 2026 means for a Lawrence roof
1 of the 1 sized Lawrence reports reached 1 in. The 1.50 in. stone at Tonganoxie, Leavenworth County falls in the 1.00 to 1.74 in class; on October 13, 2026 that is quarter to ping-pong ball territory for Lawrence.
What spotters wrote
1.50″, Tonganoxie at 23:45 UTC: Vehicle had dents and a cracked windshield. Strong winds also reported at the time. Time estimated from radar.
How this day compares with other hail days
Lawrence has 4 hail days in our NOAA log; by largest hailstone, October 13, 2026 ranks #3 of them. Logged days closest in time to October 13, 2026:
- September 15: 3 reports, largest 1.75″
- September 6: 3 reports, largest 1.00″
- August 18: 5 reports, largest 1.75″
The same storm in nearby cities
October 13: 3 cities in 2 states drew SPC hail reports. Topeka, KS lies closest to Lawrence, 24 miles west-northwest, with 5 reports, largest 1.75 in.
| City | Distance | Reports | Largest hail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Topeka, KS | 24 mi west-northwest | 5 | 1.75″ |
1 nearest to Lawrence, within 220 miles; each link opens that city’s list for October 13, 2026.
A dated plan for the Lawrence storm
Lawrence: that storm was 12 days ago. Rows marked passed are not cut-off dates on their own; the only legal limits are the ones tagged statute. For Lawrence the photo window, the inspection and the target filing date (Tue, Oct 20) are already behind us.
- 10 working days after Lawrence notice on Tue, Oct 20. Statute text
- 15 working days run from the proof of loss you file, not from Oct 13. Statute text
- Put the adjuster's estimate next to your roofer's scope. Ask for a re-inspection of any line that differs.
- 5 years, counted from a different start point and not from Lawrence's storm day. Statute text
Lawrence: insurer clocks counted from a claim filed Tue, Oct 20; working-day clocks skip weekends. Claim deadlines for Lawrence, KS. Hail claim guide for Kansas. Not legal advice; your own reporting deadline comes from your policy.
Hail history near Lawrence: not the first
Lawrence’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. Check your own address on the hail risk lookup.
See all roofing contractors in Lawrence, KS
What the sizes reported on October 13, 2026 can do to a roof
| Size class in Lawrence'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. |
Size classes follow the SPC report diameters; the damage wording is general, not a finding about any one roof.
2026 in the Douglas County hail record
NOAA's county table already holds 5 hail reports for Douglas County in 2026 through June 2026, with a largest stone of 1.75 in. That is more than 2 of the 6 full years before it. The busiest full year in the table is 2018 with 9 reports.
| Year | NOAA hail reports, Douglas County | Largest stone |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 6 | 2.50″ |
| 2018 | 9 | 1.50″ |
| 2019 | 8 | 1.00″ |
| 2021 | 1 | 1.00″ |
| 2022 | 1 | 1.25″ |
| 2023 | 8 | 1.25″ |
| 2026 (through June 2026) | 5 | 1.75″ |
This date among 2026's matched hail days
In 2026 the feed holds 4 matched hail days for Lawrence. Ranked by largest stone, then report count, October 13, 2026 is #3 of them.
| Date | City | Reports | Largest hail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 18 | Lawrence | 5 | 1.75″ |
| Sep 15 | Lawrence | 3 | 1.75″ |
| Oct 13 | Lawrence | 1 | 1.50″ |
| Sep 6 | Lawrence | 3 | 1.00″ |
Ranked by largest stone, then by report count. Only dates the SPC feed matched to a covered city are counted.
Questions about this storm
Lawrence, October 13, 2026: how big was the hail?
At Tonganoxie, Leavenworth County, the largest SPC report was 1.50 in.
Lawrence, October 13, 2026: how close did the hail fall?
The nearest report sat 12.3 miles from the city center.
Lawrence, October 13, 2026: was this the worst hail day on record?
Lawrence has 4 logged hail days; October 13, 2026 ranks #3 for Lawrence, at 1.50 in. The best other day reached 1.75 in.
Lawrence, October 13, 2026: what dates apply to a Kansas insurer?
A claim filed on Tue, Oct 20 puts Lawrence's insurer on the clock: acknowledgment by Tue, Nov 3; decision 15 working days after proof of loss. That is Kansas law, applied to Lawrence. Information, not legal advice; Lawrence homeowners find their own reporting deadline in the policy.
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 Lawrence on October 13, 2026?
The feed shows hail reports that day in Topeka, KS (24 miles west-northwest, 5 reports, up to 1.75 in.).
Was 2026 a busy hail year in Douglas County?
NOAA's county table already holds 5 hail reports for Douglas County in 2026 through June 2026, with a largest stone of 1.75 in. That is more than 2 of the 6 full years before it. The busiest full year in the table is 2018 with 9 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