At 18:55 UTC on July 21, 2026, Richmond had 1 hail report within 25 miles, reported from Hanover County. Hail peaked at 2.25 in. at Doswell, Hanover County. Nearest to Richmond was a report 22.8 miles out (Doswell).
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 | 2.25″ |
Reported hail, report by report
| Time (UTC) | Hail size | Location | Distance from city center |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18:55 | 2.25″ | Doswell, Hanover County | 22.8 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 2.25 in. hail on July 21, 2026 means for a Richmond roof
1 of the 1 sized Richmond reports reached 1 in. The 2.25 in. stone at Doswell, Hanover County falls in the 1.75 to 2.49 in class; on July 21, 2026 that is golf ball to hen egg territory for Richmond.
What spotters wrote
2.25″, Doswell at 18:55 UTC: Broadcast media reported a measured hail stone of approximately 2.25 inches.
How this day compares with other hail days
Richmond has 2 hail days in our NOAA log; by largest hailstone, July 21, 2026 ranks #1 of them. Logged days closest in time to July 21, 2026:
- September 4: 1 report, largest 1.00″
The same storm in nearby cities
On July 21 the log holds 1 matched city in 1 state; Richmond has no neighbour within 220 miles, so its hail stood alone on July 21.
Where the claim clocks stand for the Richmond storm
Richmond: that storm was 96 days ago. Rows marked passed are not cut-off dates on their own; the only legal limits are the ones tagged statute. For Richmond the photo window, the inspection and the target filing date (Tue, Jul 28) are already behind us.
- The Richmond clock starts at your proof of loss, not on Jul 21: 15 calendar days. Statute text
Richmond: insurer clocks counted from a claim filed Tue, Jul 28; working-day clocks skip weekends. Claim deadlines for Richmond, VA. Not legal advice; your own reporting deadline comes from your policy.
Hail history near Richmond: not the first
Richmond’s county has logged 3 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 1.00″, below the 2.25″ of July 21, 2026. Check your own address on the hail risk lookup.
See all roofing contractors in Richmond, VA
What the sizes reported on July 21, 2026 can do to a roof
| Size class in Richmond's reports | Looks like | Reports | What that size can do |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.75 to 2.49 in | golf ball to hen egg | 1 | 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.
This date among 2026's matched hail days
In 2026 the feed holds 2 matched hail days for Richmond. Ranked by largest stone, then report count, July 21, 2026 is #1 of them.
| Date | City | Reports | Largest hail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 21 | Richmond | 1 | 2.25″ |
| Sep 4 | Richmond | 1 | 1.00″ |
Ranked by largest stone, then by report count. Only dates the SPC feed matched to a covered city are counted.
The week after July 21, 2026
The SPC feed matched no hail report to Richmond or to the 4 other covered cities within 100 miles on any of the 7 days after Tue, Jul 21, through Tue, Jul 28.
Questions about this storm
Richmond, July 21, 2026: how big was the hail?
At Doswell, Hanover County, the largest SPC report was 2.25 in.
Richmond, July 21, 2026: how close did the hail fall?
The nearest report sat 22.8 miles from the city center.
Richmond, July 21, 2026: was this the worst hail day on record?
Richmond has 2 logged hail days; July 21, 2026 ranks #1 for Richmond, at 2.25 in. The best other day reached 1.00 in.
Richmond, July 21, 2026: what dates apply to a Virginia insurer?
A claim filed on Tue, Jul 28 puts Richmond's insurer on the clock: acknowledgment by Wed, Aug 12; decision 15 calendar days after proof of loss. That is Virginia law, applied to Richmond. Information, not legal advice; Richmond 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.
What did the feed log near Richmond in the week after July 21, 2026?
The SPC feed matched no hail report to Richmond or to the 4 other covered cities within 100 miles on any of the 7 days after Tue, Jul 21, through Tue, Jul 28.
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