A Year in Review
Over the course of the year, CoreLogic Weather Forensics estimated that damaging hail (two-inches or greater) fell on more than 567,000 single- and multifamily homes in the contiguous U.S. The combined reconstruction cost value (RCV) of these properties is worth $160 billion.
Damaging hail hit Texas harder than all other states over the last year. More than 180,000 homes in the Lone Star State felt the impacts of damaging hail. The next highest was Nebraska with almost 70,000 impacted homes followed by Missouri, Oklahoma and Kansas. Approximately 72% of the homes that damaging hail impacted were in Texas, Nebraska, Missouri, Oklahoma and Kansas (Figure 1).
Figure 1: Map of number of homes impacted by hail of 2 inches or greater by state. Source: CoreLogic
NUMBER OF HOMES IMPACTED BY 2"+ HAIL
Top 5 States
– TEXAS
– NEBRASKA
– MISSOURI
– OKLAHOMA
– KANSAS
4,240,790 – ALL OTHER STATES
Table 1: Top 5 states for number of homes impacted by hail of 2 inches or greater. Source: CoreLogic
Two-inch hail, about the size of a hen's egg, can cause significant damage due to its diameter and speed. The impacts can include significant damage to roofing, siding, windows and skylights. It can also damage electrical infrastructure, causing power outages and creating more difficulties with response. The distribution of hail impact over the course of the year revealed key patterns that claims professionals should note.
CoreLogic Weather Verification captured 133 days where damaging hail fell across the U.S. last year. While this represents a decrease relative to 2023, it was still above the 20-year average of 121 days (Figure 2).
Figure 2: The annual number of days with greater than or equal to 2-inch hail. Source: CoreLogic
The frequency and geographic distribution of hail days, when combined with days with tornado or extreme wind reports, uncovers an interesting trend in 2024 SCS activity. While the number of 2024 large hail days last year was higher than the 20-year average, several states saw at least ten fewer days with large hail (Figure 3). However, there were significantly more tornado reports and slightly more severe wind reports compared to the long-term average. This suggests that 2024 featured more “outbreak-type” severe weather days—intense but concentrated events—rather than prolonged stretches of severe weather.
The shift towards more concentrated, high-severity events is important for claims managers and insurers. Outbreak-type days often lead to a rapid surge in claims, overwhelming processing systems and resources. Understanding these dynamics can assist carriers fine-tune resource allocation, pricing models and reinsurance strategies to better manage the impacts of such patterns. For example, the most impactful single hail event of 2024 occurred on Sep. 24 in Oklahoma City, where damaging hail fell on 35,000 homes (Figure 4). This was the most impactful single hail event of 2024. Other outbreak events include June 12 that heavily impacted homes in Douglas, NE and March 14 with impacts in Denton, TX and in St. Charles, MO. These events underscore the risks of outbreak-type days, where localized but extreme weather events can rapidly overwhelm resources.
Difference in Number of 1" Hail Days Between 2024 and 20 Year Average (Through Nov 30)
Figure 3: Difference in number of days with greater than or equal to one-inch hail between 2024 and the 20-year average. Source: CoreLogic
Number of Homes Impacted by 2" or Greater Hail by Month
Figure 4: Total number of homes impacted nationwide by hail of 2 inches or greater by month. Source: CoreLogic
Number of Homes Impacted by 2" or Greater Hail in May
Figure 4b: Total number of homes impacted nationwide by hail of 2 inches or greater by day in the month of May. Source: CoreLogic
Claims management during these concentrated events, including, for example, the Sept. 24 Oklahoma City event, requires the use of advanced data tools that ensure efficient resource allocation and timely claims processing. CoreLogic Weather Verification Technology helps insurers by providing precise, detailed data on hail size, wind speeds and tornado paths, enabling them to accurately attribute damage to specific events. This technology streamlines the claims process and ensures accurate damage assessment.
The data captured by CoreLogic Weather Verification Technology also supports long-term resilience planning. By understanding shifting patterns in severe weather activity, carriers can proactively adjust their risk strategies. Detailed storm data informs risk models that allow insurers to better prepare for the increasing likelihood of extreme weather events.
Understanding the patterns of hail damage and leveraging advanced verification tools enables insurers to respond quickly and effectively to extreme weather events. These insights not only improve immediate claims management but also support long-term resilience efforts, helping insurers refine their risk models, allocate resources more efficiently, and reduce future risks. By integrating weather data into underwriting, claims processing and resilience planning insurers can build a more responsive, agile and sustainable approach to managing severe weather risks.