July 27, 2026: NOAA's SPC logged 1 hail report around Racine, all in Racine County, at 16:23 UTC. The closest report fell 22.3 miles from the Racine city center (Waterford). Hail peaked at 1.00 in. at Waterford, Racine County.
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 | 1.00″ |
Reported hail, report by report
| Time (UTC) | Hail size | Location | Distance from city center |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16:23 | 1.00″ | Waterford, Racine County | 22.3 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 1.00 in. hail on July 27, 2026 means for a Racine roof
1 of the 1 sized Racine reports reached 1 in. The 1.00 in. stone at Waterford, Racine County falls in the 1.00 to 1.74 in class; on July 27, 2026 that is quarter to ping-pong ball territory for Racine.
The same storm in nearby cities
July 27: 6 cities in 4 states drew SPC hail reports. Kenosha, WI lies closest to Racine, 10 miles south-southwest, with 5 reports, largest 1.25 in. Biggest stone outside Racine within 220 miles: 3.00 in. at Joliet, IL, 84 miles south.
| City | Distance | Reports | Largest hail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenosha, WI | 10 mi south-southwest | 5 | 1.25″ |
| Joliet, IL | 84 mi south | 39 | 3.00″ |
| Appleton, WI | 111 mi north-northwest | 1 | 1.00″ |
| Lafayette, IN | 166 mi south-southeast | 1 | 1.25″ |
| Ann Arbor, MI | 208 mi east | 1 | 1.00″ |
5 nearest to Racine, within 220 miles; each link opens that city’s list for July 27, 2026.
Where the claim clocks stand for the Racine storm
Racine: that storm was 90 days ago. Rows marked passed are not cut-off dates on their own; the only legal limits are the ones tagged statute. For Racine the photo window, the inspection and the target filing date (Mon, Aug 3) are already behind us.
Claim deadlines for Racine, WI. Not legal advice; your own reporting deadline comes from your policy.
July 27 against the Racine County July record
Racine's July 27 log shows 1.00 in. hail. The record July in Racine County since 2014 is 2023, with 3 reports and a largest stone of 2.50 in.
Hail history near Racine: not the first
Racine’s county has logged 26 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 Racine, WI
What the sizes reported on July 27, 2026 can do to a roof
| Size class in Racine'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 Racine County hail record
NOAA's county table already holds 4 hail reports for Racine County in 2026 through June 2026, with a largest stone of 1.00 in. That is more than 1 of the 5 full years before it. The busiest full year in the table is 2025 with 7 reports.
| Year | NOAA hail reports, Racine County | Largest stone |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 4 | 1.00″ |
| 2019 | 1 | 1.00″ |
| 2023 | 6 | 2.50″ |
| 2024 | 4 | 0.75″ |
| 2025 | 7 | 2.75″ |
| 2026 (through June 2026) | 4 | 1.00″ |
The week after July 27, 2026
After Mon, Jul 27, the feed logged 1 hail report on 1 of the next 7 days in Racine and the cities within 100 miles. The first came on Tue, Jul 28.
| Day | Reports in Racine | Other cities within 100 miles | Largest hail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tue, Jul 28 | 0 | 1 city, 1 report | 2.00″ |
Questions about this storm
Racine, July 27, 2026: how big was the hail?
At Waterford, Racine County, the largest SPC report was 1.00 in.
Racine, July 27, 2026: how close did the hail fall?
The nearest report sat 22.3 miles from the city center.
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 Racine on July 27, 2026?
The feed shows hail reports that day in Kenosha, WI (10 miles south-southwest, 5 reports, up to 1.25 in.); Joliet, IL (84 miles south, 39 reports, up to 3.00 in.); Appleton, WI (111 miles north-northwest, 1 report, up to 1.00 in.).
What did the feed log near Racine in the week after July 27, 2026?
After Mon, Jul 27, the feed logged 1 hail report on 1 of the next 7 days in Racine and the cities within 100 miles. The first came on Tue, Jul 28.
Was 2026 a busy hail year in Racine County?
NOAA's county table already holds 4 hail reports for Racine County in 2026 through June 2026, with a largest stone of 1.00 in. That is more than 1 of the 5 full years before it. The busiest full year in the table is 2025 with 7 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