Arapahoe Park Hail Storm, August 13, 2026: What Homeowners Should Do Now
August 14, 2026
By Red Hawk Roofing
Arapahoe Park took the largest hail of the storm and the most reports — four in eleven minutes, topping out at golf-ball size, 1.75 inches, at 4:25 PM.
What was reported in Arapahoe Park
| Location | Size | Time | Source | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 miles west of Arapahoe Park | 1.75" | 4:25 PM | Public | reported |
| 2 miles west of Arapahoe Park | 1.00" | 4:19 PM | Trained spotter | measured |
| 1 mile west of Arapahoe Park | 1.00" | 4:30 PM | Public | reported |
| 3 miles west of Arapahoe Park | 0.75" | 4:19 PM | Public | reported |
Arapahoe Park was at the eastern end of the swath, where the storm's updraft peaked before collapsing. A trained spotter two miles west reported dents on metal roof vents and a significant amount of leaves stripped from trees — the kind of collateral evidence that tells you stones were landing hard. The last report came in at 4:30 PM, the same minute the severe thunderstorm warning expired, and the storm was finished shortly after.
How narrow this storm was
The band of 1.50 inch or larger hail measured roughly 9.1 miles long and only 1.4 miles wide. The storm tracked almost due east at about 15 mph and the entire event lasted 23 minutes across the metro.
That matters for Arapahoe Park homeowners more than the headline size does. On a swath this tight, one side of a subdivision can be hit and the other side untouched. A neighbor’s undamaged roof is not evidence about yours.
Was a warning issued for Arapahoe Park?
Yes. NWS Denver/Boulder issued a severe thunderstorm warning at 3:58 PM covering Arapahoe Park, tagged for 1.50" hail and 60 mph wind. It expired at 4:30 PM — about the length of the entire hail event.
How to check your roof
Hail damage on asphalt shingles is usually invisible from the ground. A stone can fracture the mat beneath a surface that still looks perfectly intact, and the bruised area then sheds its protective granules over the following months. Check from the ground — never climb up:
- Granules collecting in gutters and at downspout outlets
- Dents in soft metal — roof vents, gutters, flashing, the mailbox, AC condenser fins
- Splatter marks on decking, fascia or fence tops
- Torn or bruised window screens
The soft-metal dents matter most because they date the storm. Observers in this event specifically reported dented metal roof vents and dented cars.
Frequently asked questions
Was there hail in Arapahoe Park on August 13, 2026?
Yes. The National Weather Service logged 4 hail reports in and around Arapahoe Park on the afternoon of August 13, 2026, with the largest at 1.75 inches at 4:19 PM MDT. A severe thunderstorm warning covering Arapahoe Park was issued at 3:58 PM.
How big was the hail in Arapahoe Park?
The largest report in the Arapahoe Park area was 1.75 inches. Across southern Arapahoe County the storm produced nine hail reports, topping out at 1.75 inches near Arapahoe Park. Remember that a hail report names the largest stone found, not the average size that fell.
What time did the hail hit Arapahoe Park?
Around 4:19 PM MDT. Every confirmed hail report in the south metro landed between 4:07 PM and 4:30 PM — a 23-minute window — as the storm tracked almost due east at about 15 mph.
My neighbor's roof looks fine. Does that mean mine is?
Not necessarily. The band of 1.50 inch or larger hail was roughly 9 miles long but only about 1.4 miles wide. A home a mile off that axis may have seen little more than heavy rain. Damage on this storm varies street by street.
Should I get my Arapahoe Park roof inspected after this storm?
If your address was in or near the swath, yes. Hail bruising fractures the shingle mat beneath a surface that still looks intact, so a damaged roof commonly looks normal from the ground for months. An inspection costs nothing and documents the roof's condition either way.
For the full county-wide picture — all nine hail reports, the wind reports on the eastern plains, and the radar analysis — see our Colorado Hail Storm Report for August 13, 2026.
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Storm figures are National Weather Service Local Storm Reports for Colorado, 12Z August 13 through 12Z August 14, 2026, retrieved from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet archive and de-duplicated. Radar swath analysis by ExoVzn, an independent forensic meteorology firm, using NOAA MRMS data. Storm reports indicate where hail occurred; only a physical inspection establishes whether a specific roof was damaged.