Waterford Hail — Storm History & NOAA Data for Waterford, MI

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 51 hail storms within 25 miles of Waterford, MI. Of those, 37 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 egg-sized, which can fracture shingle mat and dent metal flashing on contact. 2026 was the most active year on record locally, with 18 documented hail events.

Check Hail History for a Specific Address in Waterford

Hail Severity Breakdown — Waterford Area (Last 5 Years)

SeverityCountWhat it means for roofs
Destructive3 eventsEgg-size, expect mat fractures and gutter damage
Severe4 eventsPing pong-size, granule loss and bruising common
Significant30 eventsQuarter-size, the standard insurance damage threshold
Moderate14 eventsMarble-size, possible cosmetic damage

Waterford Hail Storms by Year

YearReported Hail Events Within 25 mi
202618 events
20257 events
202410 events
202314 events
20222 events

2026 was the busiest hail year on record locally for Waterford, with 18 documented events inside the 25-mile radius. Storm activity in Waterford typically peaks in spring and early summer, when the jet stream pushes Gulf moisture into the area and supercell thunderstorms become more frequent.

Notable Recent Waterford Hail Storms

Recent Hail Events Near Waterford

DateLocationSeveritySizeNOAA 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" —
2026-05-19 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" —
2026-02-18 LAKE ORION, MI Moderate 0.75" —
2026-02-18 (PTK)PONTIAC ARPT, MI Moderate 0.75" —
2025-06-24 WIXOM SPENCER ARPT, MI Significant 1.00" —
2025-06-21 LEONARD, MI Moderate 0.88" —

Wind Storm History — Waterford Area (Last 5 Years)

NOAA has recorded 160 high-wind events within 25 miles of Waterford, MI in the past five years. Of those, 160 reached severe-thunderstorm thresholds (58+ mph). The highest measured gust was 81 mph.

SeverityCount
Severe69 events
Significant91 events

Recent Wind Events Near Waterford

DateLocationGust (mph)SeverityNOAA Comments
2026-09-03 Brighton, MI 60 Significant Light tree damage.
2026-07-03 Oakland County Intl Air, MI 62 Significant —
2026-06-12 HAZEL PARK, MI 64 Severe A large tree and power lines were blown down.
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 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
2026-05-18 FENTON, MI 58 Significant Large tree limb observed down.
2026-05-18 UTICA, MI 64 Severe Tree down on power lines.
2026-05-18 (PTK)PONTIAC ARPT, MI 58 Significant —
2026-05-18 ROCHESTER HILLS, MI 58 Significant A large tree limb was reported down on a house, causing roof damage.
2026-05-18 UTICA, MI 68 Severe Large tree down on a house and car.
2026-05-18 OXBOW, MI 64 Severe Report of a large tree on home.

Frequently Asked Questions About Waterford Hail

When was the last major hail storm in Waterford, MI?

The most recent quarter-size-or-larger hail storm recorded by NOAA within 25 miles of Waterford was on July 15, 2026. HailCheck refreshes from the NOAA Storm Events database daily, so newer events appear here as they are reported.

How often does it hail in Waterford?

Waterford averages roughly 10 reported hail events per year within a 25-mile radius. Significant storms (quarter-size or larger) account for 37 of the 51 events recorded over the last five years.

How big does hail typically get in Waterford?

The largest documented hail near Waterford in the last five years was egg-sized. Most Waterford-area hail falls in the marble-to-quarter range, with destructive storms (egg-size or larger) appearing roughly once every few years.

Does my insurance cover hail damage in MI?

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.

How do I check hail history for a specific Waterford address?

Use the HailCheck address search to enter any street address in or near Waterford. HailCheck returns every NOAA hail event within a configurable radius, along with severity bands, dates, and storm narratives for Pro members.

What a HAAG-Style Test Square Validation Means in Waterford

If your property in or near Waterford 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 Validation

Why Waterford's Location Matters for Hail

Waterford 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.

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