Bottineau, ND Hail Storm – July 2026

Bottineau, ND is experiencing a multi-zone hail event on July 15, 2026, with radar-detected peak hail of 2.52 inches as the storm tracks through the metro. The system is still active and continuing to produce large hail across the Bottineau area.

What Happened

NWS issued two radar-based hail alerts for the evolving storm. The first alert was issued at 2:23 AM CDT and showed radar-detected hail to 1.76 inches. The second alert was issued at 3:21 AM CDT and showed radar-detected hail to 1.8 inches. Dual-polarization radar returns and successive warning issuance indicate continued hail production across adjacent warning areas covering the Bottineau metro and nearby rural sections. Multiple radar swaths have now been aggregated into this multi-zone report as the system tracks northeastward. Conditions remain subject to change while the storm is active.

Damage Assessment

Radar-derived hail to 2.52 inches is intersecting parts of Bottineau city limits and nearby county roads. Hail of this size frequently produces denting to vehicle body panels and aluminum siding. Skylights, exposed solar panels, and older asphalt roofing shingles are at elevated risk for impact damage where hail swaths cross residential and commercial parcels. Agricultural exposure in surrounding township sections includes potential bruising to soft fruit and surface damage to unprotected equipment. Field confirmation and spotter reports are pending; on-site inspections will be required to quantify losses along the storm corridors identified by radar.

What Contractors Should Know

Safety and triage come first. Expect a surge in service requests for tarping, temporary roof coverings, and vehicle claims where hail swaths cross populated blocks. Prioritize inspections in locations where radar tracks align with dense residential or commercial clusters inside Bottineau. Use visual inspection protocols that document size, penetration, and surrounding debris so repair scope can be assigned rapidly.

Inspect roofing materials systematically. Start with accessible low-slope roofs and vehicles near the core radar track, then expand outward to adjacent properties. Photograph and geolocate damage before disturbance. For temporary repairs, secure loose sheathing and cover exposed interiors within 24 to 48 hours where practical. Coordinate with local municipal crews on blocked roads and public-safety hazards before deploying heavy equipment.

Precise hail-track points and the paid Strike Map product provide the highest-resolution mapping for where radar-derived hail likely struck.