Data current as of 2026-10-16 · Sourced from NOAA Storm Events
Over the past five years, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has recorded 49 hail storms within 25 miles of Pontiac, MI. Of those, 36 produced hail at least quarter-size — the threshold most insurance carriers consider potentially damaging to asphalt shingles. The largest reported hail in this window was ping pong ball-sized, which can fracture shingle mat and dent metal flashing on contact. 2026 was the most active year on record locally, with 22 documented hail events.
Check Hail History for a Specific Address in Pontiac| Severity | Count | What it means for roofs |
|---|---|---|
| Severe | 4 events | Ping pong-size, granule loss and bruising common |
| Significant | 32 events | Quarter-size, the standard insurance damage threshold |
| Moderate | 13 events | Marble-size, possible cosmetic damage |
| Year | Reported Hail Events Within 25 mi |
|---|---|
| 2026 | 22 events |
| 2025 | 6 events |
| 2024 | 10 events |
| 2023 | 10 events |
| 2022 | 1 event |
2026 was the busiest hail year on record locally for Pontiac, with 22 documented events inside the 25-mile radius. Storm activity in Pontiac typically peaks in spring and early summer, when the jet stream pushes Gulf moisture into the area and supercell thunderstorms become more frequent.
| Date | Location | Severity | Size | NOAA Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-07-15 | Holly, MI | Significant | 1.00" | Social media photo estimating hail size of approximately a quarter-sized. |
| 2026-06-16 | 3 SW Highland, MI | Significant | 1.00" | — |
| 2026-06-16 | HIGHLAND, MI | Significant | 1.00" | — |
| 2026-06-16 | 2 NE Franklin, MI | Significant | 1.00" | Photo report of 1 inch hail at the intersection of 15 & Telegraph road. |
| 2026-06-16 | FRANKLIN, MI | Significant | 1.00" | — |
| 2026-06-10 | Dearborn Heights, MI | Significant | 1.25" | Mutiple reports of hail between 1 and 1.25 inches. |
| 2026-06-10 | DEARBORN, MI | Significant | 1.25" | Mutiple reports of hail. |
| 2026-06-10 | GREENFIELD VLG, MI | Significant | 1.00" | Multiple reports of 1 inch hail. |
| 2026-06-10 | Dearborn, MI | Significant | 1.00" | Multiple reports of 1 inch hail in Dearborn. |
| 2026-05-19 | HIGHLAND PARK, MI | Significant | 1.00" | — |
| 2026-05-19 | 2 S Oak Park, MI | Significant | 1.00" | Report of dime to quarter size hail |
| 2026-05-09 | CLARKSTON, MI | Significant | 1.00" | — |
| 2026-05-09 | 2 E Clarkston, MI | Significant | 1.00" | — |
| 2026-05-04 | 2 E Hazel Park, MI | Moderate | 0.88" | Report of nickel sized hail |
| 2026-05-04 | PLEASANT RIDGE, MI | Moderate | 0.88" | — |
| 2026-03-11 | 5 NE Sterling Heights, MI | Moderate | 0.50" | Social media photo of hailstone measured by tape measure. |
| 2026-03-07 | 1 NW Macomb, MI | Significant | 1.00" | Hail reported near Hayes and 26 mile road. |
| 2026-03-06 | MACOMB, MI | Significant | 1.00" | — |
| 2026-02-18 | PARSHALLVILLE, MI | Significant | 1.00" | — |
| 2026-02-18 | ROSE CENTER, MI | Significant | 1.00" | — |
NOAA has recorded 187 high-wind events within 25 miles of Pontiac, MI in the past five years. Of those, 186 reached severe-thunderstorm thresholds (58+ mph). The highest measured gust was 81 mph.
| Severity | Count |
|---|---|
| Severe | 81 events |
| Significant | 105 events |
| Moderate | 1 event |
| Date | Location | Gust (mph) | Severity | NOAA Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-09-03 | Detroit City Airport, MI | 51 | Significant | — |
| 2026-07-03 | Oakland County Intl Air, MI | 62 | Significant | — |
| 2026-07-03 | Selfridge ANGB, MI | 53 | Significant | — |
| 2026-07-03 | Chesterfield, MI | 63 | Significant | Measured on a handheld anemometer |
| 2026-06-12 | HAZEL PARK, MI | 64 | Severe | A large tree and power lines were blown down. |
| 2026-06-11 | INKSTER, MI | 68 | Severe | A large tree was blown down onto a house, partially destroying a chimney. |
| 2026-06-10 | WESTACRES, MI | 64 | Severe | A downed tree closed the road near Old Orchard Trail and West Shore Drive. |
| 2026-05-19 | LIVONIA, MI | 60 | Significant | Estimated 60-mph thunderstorm wind gust and pea-sized hail. |
| 2026-05-19 | Detroit City Airport, MI | 54 | Significant | Measured at KDET - Detroit City Airport |
| 2026-05-19 | 1 S Livonia, MI | 60 | Significant | Estimated 60 mph thunderstorm wind gust and pea size hail. |
| 2026-05-19 | NEW HUDSON, MI | 62 | Significant | Downed tree and large tree limbs. |
| 2026-05-19 | NEW HUDSON, MI | 64 | Severe | Several snapped trees reported at Kensington Metro Park. |
| 2026-05-19 | OXBOW, MI | 64 | Severe | A large tree was blown down across Elizabeth Lake Road, just west of Williams Lake Road. Numerous large tree limbs were also reported down near the intersection of Cooley Lake Road and Elizabeth Lake Road. |
| 2026-05-19 | ROMEO, MI | 64 | Severe | Trees and power lines were reported down across portions of northern and northwestern Macomb County. |
| 2026-05-19 | ELIZABETH LAKE ESTAT, MI | 60 | Significant | A large tree was snapped, and several large tree limbs were blown down. One of the limbs fell and crushed portions of a camper. |
| 2026-05-19 | 2 E Auburn Hills, MI | 48 | Significant | Measured via anemometer |
| 2026-05-19 | MT VERNON, MI | 64 | Severe | Multiple trees were reported down at Stony Creek Metropark. |
| 2026-05-19 | Oakland County Intl Air, MI | 49 | Significant | Measured at KPTK Pontiac Airport |
| 2026-05-19 | FRASER, MI | 58 | Significant | A few large tree limbs and power lines were reported down. |
| 2026-05-18 | Detroit City Airport, MI | 43 | Moderate | Measured at KDET - Detroit City Airport |
The most recent quarter-size-or-larger hail storm recorded by NOAA within 25 miles of Pontiac was on July 15, 2026. HailCheck refreshes from the NOAA Storm Events database daily, so newer events appear here as they are reported.
Pontiac averages roughly 10 reported hail events per year within a 25-mile radius. Significant storms (quarter-size or larger) account for 36 of the 49 events recorded over the last five years.
The largest documented hail near Pontiac in the last five years was ping pong ball-sized. Most Pontiac-area hail falls in the marble-to-quarter range, with destructive storms (egg-size or larger) appearing roughly once every few years.
Most homeowners insurance policies in MI cover hail damage to roofs, siding, and gutters under the dwelling and other-structures coverage. Coverage typically requires the damage to be tied to a verifiable storm date — which is where the NOAA hail history above (and a HAAG-style test square validation) becomes important for the claim file.
Use the HailCheck address search to enter any street address in or near Pontiac. HailCheck returns every NOAA hail event within a configurable radius, along with severity bands, dates, and storm narratives for Pro members.
If your property in or near Pontiac took on hail during one of the storms above, the standard process for documenting damage is a 10×10 foot test square inspection. A HAAG-trained reviewer counts impact indicators — granule displacement, mat fractures, and bruising — within the marked square and produces a PASS or FAIL document for the claim file.
HailCheck offers a $99 photo-based HAAG-style test square validation. You submit photos from the field, our reviewer evaluates the impact indicators and cross-references the NOAA storm dates listed above, and a written PASS/FAIL determination is returned within one business day. We do not send anyone to the roof — the validation is built around the photos you submit.
Learn About $99 HAAG-Style ValidationPontiac sits east of the traditional hail alley, where hail events are less frequent than the central plains but tend to be associated with strong squall lines and tropical systems. Local roof systems are less commonly hardened for hail, which can mean even moderate impacts produce claim-worthy damage.