Between 19:39 and 19:59 UTC on August 18, 2026, Rochester had 2 hail reports within 25 miles, reported from Olmsted and Winona counties. The closest report fell 10.9 miles from the Rochester city center (2 SSE Viola). The largest stone measured 1.00 in. at 2 SSE Viola, Olmsted 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 | 2 | 1.00″ |
Reported hail, report by report
| Time (UTC) | Hail size | Location | Distance from city center |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19:39 | 1.00″ | 2 SSE Viola, Olmsted County | 10.9 mi |
| 19:59 | 1.00″ | Saint Charles, Winona County | 20.7 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 August 18, 2026 means for a Rochester roof
2 of the 2 sized Rochester reports reached 1 in. The 1.00 in. stone at 2 SSE Viola, Olmsted County falls in the 1.00 to 1.74 in class; on August 18, 2026 that is quarter to ping-pong ball territory for Rochester.
How the storm moved through the area
| County | Reports | Largest hail | Closest to city center |
|---|---|---|---|
| Olmsted | 1 | 1.00″ | 10.9 mi |
| Winona | 1 | 1.00″ | 20.7 mi |
The same storm in nearby cities
August 18: 6 cities in 3 states drew SPC hail reports. La Crosse, WI lies closest to Rochester, 63 miles east-southeast, with 2 reports, largest 1.25 in. 2 cities lie within 220 miles of Rochester with hail reports on August 18.
| City | Distance | Reports | Largest hail |
|---|---|---|---|
| La Crosse, WI | 63 mi east-southeast | 2 | 1.25″ |
| Oshkosh, WI | 195 mi east | 2 | 1.00″ |
2 nearest to Rochester, within 220 miles; each link opens that city’s list for August 18, 2026.
Where the claim clocks stand for the Rochester storm
Rochester: 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 Rochester the photo window, the inspection and the target filing date (Tue, Aug 25) are already behind us.
- Counting from Aug 18, 2 years apply to Rochester. Statute text
Rochester: insurer clocks counted from a claim filed Tue, Aug 25; working-day clocks skip weekends. Claim deadlines for Rochester, MN. Not legal advice; your own reporting deadline comes from your policy.
August 18 against the Olmsted County August record
Rochester's August 18 log shows 1.00 in. hail. The record August in Olmsted County since 2014 is 2014, with 2 reports and a largest stone of 1.25 in.
Hail history near Rochester: not the first
Rochester’s county has logged 94 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.
Verified roofers in Rochester
- Legacy Remodeling And ConceptsVerified
- Redemptive Roofing LLCVerified
- 2 Brothers ContractingVerified
- Above All Roofing of RochesterVerified
- Allstar Roofing LLCVerified
- Brauer Roofing INCVerified
See all roofing contractors in Rochester, MN
What the sizes reported on August 18, 2026 can do to a roof
| Size class in Rochester'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 Olmsted County hail record
NOAA's county table already holds 5 hail reports for Olmsted County in 2026 through June 2026, with a largest stone of 1.75 in. That is more than 4 of the 9 full years before it. The busiest full year in the table is 2017 with 27 reports.
| Year | NOAA hail reports, Olmsted County | Largest stone |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 27 | 1.75″ |
| 2018 | 11 | 2.00″ |
| 2019 | 4 | 0.88″ |
| 2020 | 2 | 1.00″ |
| 2021 | 4 | 1.00″ |
| 2022 | 22 | 1.75″ |
| 2023 | 9 | 1.50″ |
| 2024 | 3 | 1.25″ |
| 2025 | 7 | 1.00″ |
| 2026 (through June 2026) | 5 | 1.75″ |
The week after August 18, 2026
The SPC feed matched no hail report to Rochester or to the 3 other covered cities within 100 miles on any of the 7 days after Tue, Aug 18, through Tue, Aug 25.
Verified roofers near Rochester
20 verified roofers listed for Rochester. Verified means the license was matched to a state registry.
Questions about this storm
Rochester, August 18, 2026: how big was the hail?
At 2 SSE Viola, Olmsted County, the largest SPC report was 1.00 in.
Rochester, August 18, 2026: how close did the hail fall?
The nearest report sat 10.9 miles from the city center and the farthest 20.7 miles. Within 10 miles: 0 of 2 reports.
Rochester, August 18, 2026: how long did the hail last?
Reports are stamped from 19:39 to 19:59 UTC, a window of 20 minutes. Late reports can still be added for about a day.
Rochester, August 18, 2026: what dates apply to a Minnesota insurer?
A claim filed on Tue, Aug 25 puts Rochester's insurer on the clock: acknowledgment by Tue, Sep 8; decision Tue, Oct 6. That is Minnesota law, applied to Rochester. Information, not legal advice; Rochester 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.
Rochester, August 18, 2026: what is the last day under Minnesota law to act on this loss?
Lawsuit limit: Not before Friday, August 18, 2028. Counting from Aug 18, 2 years apply to Rochester. Source: Minn. Stat. §65A.01 subd. 3. Information, not legal advice; your policy can set a shorter reporting window.
Did the same storm hit towns near Rochester on August 18, 2026?
The feed shows hail reports that day in La Crosse, WI (63 miles east-southeast, 2 reports, up to 1.25 in.); Oshkosh, WI (195 miles east, 2 reports, up to 1.00 in.).
What did the feed log near Rochester in the week after August 18, 2026?
The SPC feed matched no hail report to Rochester 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 Olmsted County?
NOAA's county table already holds 5 hail reports for Olmsted County in 2026 through June 2026, with a largest stone of 1.75 in. That is more than 4 of the 9 full years before it. The busiest full year in the table is 2017 with 27 reports.
How many verified roofers can inspect after the Tue, Aug 18 storm in Rochester?
20 verified roofers listed for Rochester. Verified means the license was matched to a state registry.
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