Waterloo area, August 7, 2026: spotters filed 3 hail reports in Buchanan and Black Hawk counties, between 20:58 and 21:15 UTC. The closest report fell 13.1 miles from the Waterloo city center (5 SE Readlyn). The largest stone measured 1.75 in. at Fairbank, Buchanan 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 | 3 | 1.75″ |
Reported hail, report by report
| Time (UTC) | Hail size | Location | Distance from city center |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21:15 | 1.75″ | Fairbank, Buchanan County | 18.0 mi |
| 20:58 | 1.25″ | 5 SE Readlyn, Black Hawk County | 13.1 mi |
| 21:02 | 1.25″ | 5 N Dunkerton, Black Hawk County | 13.8 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 1.75 in. hail on August 7, 2026 means for a Waterloo roof
| Size class | Reports | Share | Largest report in class |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.00 to 1.74 in | 2 | 67% | 5 SE Readlyn, 20:58 UTC |
| 1.75 to 2.49 in | 1 | 33% | Fairbank, 21:15 UTC |
3 of the 3 sized Waterloo reports reached 1 in. The 1.75 in. stone at Fairbank, Buchanan County falls in the 1.75 to 2.49 in class; on August 7, 2026 that is golf ball to hen egg territory for Waterloo.
How the storm moved through the area
| Hour (UTC) | Reports | Largest hail |
|---|---|---|
| 20:00 | 1 | 1.25″ |
| 21:00 | 2 | 1.75″ |
| County | Reports | Largest hail | Closest to city center |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buchanan | 1 | 1.75″ | 18.0 mi |
| Black Hawk | 2 | 1.25″ | 13.1 mi |
The same storm in nearby cities
August 7: 5 cities in 4 states drew SPC hail reports. Mankato, MN lies closest to Waterloo, 142 miles northwest, with 1 report, largest 1.00 in.
| City | Distance | Reports | Largest hail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mankato, MN | 142 mi northwest | 1 | 1.00″ |
1 nearest to Waterloo, within 220 miles; each link opens that city’s list for August 7, 2026.
Where the claim clocks stand for the Waterloo storm
Waterloo: that storm was 79 days ago. Rows marked passed are not cut-off dates on their own; the only legal limits are the ones tagged statute. For Waterloo the photo window, the inspection and the target filing date (Fri, Aug 14) are already behind us.
- The Waterloo clock starts at your proof of loss, not on Aug 7: 30 days. Statute text
Waterloo: insurer clocks counted from a claim filed Fri, Aug 14; working-day clocks skip weekends. Claim deadlines for Waterloo, IA. Hail claim guide for Iowa. Not legal advice; your own reporting deadline comes from your policy.
Hail history near Waterloo: not the first
Waterloo’s county has logged 59 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 Waterloo, IA
What the sizes reported on August 7, 2026 can do to a roof
| Size class in Waterloo'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. |
| 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.
The week after August 7, 2026
The SPC feed matched no hail report to Waterloo or to the 4 other covered cities within 100 miles on any of the 7 days after Fri, Aug 7, through Fri, Aug 14.
Questions about this storm
Waterloo, August 7, 2026: how big was the hail?
At Fairbank, Buchanan County, the largest SPC report was 1.75 in.
Waterloo, August 7, 2026: how close did the hail fall?
The nearest report sat 13.1 miles from the city center and the farthest 18.0 miles. Within 10 miles: 0 of 3 reports.
Waterloo, August 7, 2026: how long did the hail last?
Reports are stamped from 20:58 to 21:15 UTC, a window of 17 minutes. Late reports can still be added for about a day.
Waterloo, August 7, 2026: what dates apply to a Iowa insurer?
A claim filed on Fri, Aug 14 puts Waterloo's insurer on the clock: acknowledgment by Sat, Aug 29; decision 30 days after proof of loss. That is Iowa law, applied to Waterloo. Information, not legal advice; Waterloo 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 Waterloo on August 7, 2026?
The feed shows hail reports that day in Mankato, MN (142 miles northwest, 1 report, up to 1.00 in.).
What did the feed log near Waterloo in the week after August 7, 2026?
The SPC feed matched no hail report to Waterloo or to the 4 other covered cities within 100 miles on any of the 7 days after Fri, Aug 7, through Fri, Aug 14.
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