Centennial Hail Storm, August 13, 2026: What Homeowners Should Do Now
August 14, 2026
By Red Hawk Roofing
Centennial was the first place in the metro to report hail that afternoon. Two reports came in at 4:10 PM — 1.25 inch hail in Centennial itself and 0.75 inch hail a mile northeast.
What was reported in Centennial
| Location | Size | Time | Source | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Centennial | 1.25" | 4:10 PM | Public | reported |
| 1 mile NE of Centennial | 0.75" | 4:10 PM | Public | reported |
Centennial sat on the western end of the swath, where the storm first got organized. The larger stones fell a few miles east as the updraft matured, which is why Foxfield and Arapahoe Park logged bigger sizes minutes later. That does not mean Centennial roofs are fine — 1.25 inch hail is past the damage threshold for architectural shingles, and the reports name the largest stone found, not what fell across every roof in the city.
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 Centennial 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 Centennial?
Yes. NWS Denver/Boulder issued a severe thunderstorm warning at 3:58 PM covering Centennial, 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 Centennial on August 13, 2026?
Yes. The National Weather Service logged 2 hail reports in and around Centennial on the afternoon of August 13, 2026, with the largest at 1.25 inches at 4:10 PM MDT. A severe thunderstorm warning covering Centennial was issued at 3:58 PM.
How big was the hail in Centennial?
The largest report in the Centennial area was 1.25 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 Centennial?
Around 4:10 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 Centennial 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.