By Kris Fraga, Owner, Top Flight Contracting | Last updated: August 22, 2026
Quick answer: Radar indicated hail up to 1.75 inches, near golf ball size, over Marvin, western Weddington, and northern Waxhaw on Friday afternoon, August 21, 2026. Hail this size commonly causes roof damage that is invisible from the ground. Homeowners in the path should get a documented inspection within the next few weeks.
On Friday afternoon, August 21, 2026, severe storms tracked across the south Charlotte metro under a National Weather Service severe thunderstorm watch. Radar indicated hail up to 1.75 inches across Marvin, western Weddington, and northern Waxhaw in the late afternoon, with a second cell over southwest Charlotte near Steele Creek and Lake Wylie in the same range. The same storms brought down trees and power lines from Pineville to Monroe, including along Providence Road near Kuykendall Road. If your home sits anywhere between Highway 521 and Sixmile Creek, there is a real chance your roof took damage, even if everything looks fine from the driveway.
Why 1.75 inch hail matters
Hail at 1 inch, about quarter size, is generally the threshold where asphalt shingles start taking damage that insurance companies recognize. At 1.75 inches, close to golf ball size, the impact energy is several times higher. That size of hail can:
- Bruise or fracture the fiberglass mat inside a shingle, which shortens its life even when the surface looks intact
- Knock granules loose, exposing the asphalt underneath to UV breakdown
- Crack skylights, dent gutters, downspouts, and soft metal vents
- Damage siding, window screens, and painted trim
The tricky part is that most hail damage is not visible from the ground. The bruising shows up on the roof surface, and the consequences, leaks and premature aging, show up months or years later. By then the insurance window may have closed.
What to check from the ground, safely
You do not need to get on your roof, and we would rather you did not. From the ground, look for:
- Dents in gutters, downspouts, and metal mailboxes
- Damaged window screens or cracked vinyl siding
- Granules collecting at the bottom of downspouts
- Dented AC unit fins or grill covers
- Shredded leaves and stripped branches, a good sign hail was significant at your address
If you see any of these, the roof almost certainly took hits too. This storm also produced damaging straight-line winds, so lifted or creased shingles and missing ridge caps are worth looking for alongside hail impacts.
How the insurance side works
A note on where this data comes from: the hail map above is built on storm data from Verisk, the analytics firm whose weather data much of the insurance industry relies on when evaluating claims. In other words, this is not a marketing map. It is the same class of data your insurance company sees, which is exactly why documenting damage tied to the August 21 date matters.
Homeowners insurance in North Carolina covers hail damage as a standard peril. A few things worth knowing:
- You typically have a limited window to file a claim after a storm, and documentation from close to the storm date makes claims much smoother
- An inspection and photo documentation now creates a record tied to the August 21 date, even if you wait to file
- Filing a hail claim is a no-fault claim. It is not the same as an at-fault auto claim and is handled differently by insurers
- Your insurer will send an adjuster. Having your own inspection report first means nothing gets missed on their visit
What a free inspection covers
Our inspection takes about 20 minutes. We photograph and document every slope of the roof, plus gutters, vents, flashings, siding, and screens. You get the photos and a straight answer: either you have claim-worthy damage or you do not. If the roof is fine, we tell you it is fine.
Top Flight Contracting is a Charlotte based, family owned exterior contractor. We are an AtlasPRO+ contractor and a CertainTeed ShingleMaster, and our replacement roofs in this area are typically installed with the Atlas Signature Select PRO 25 warranty backing them. We are BBB accredited and have been putting roofs on homes across the Charlotte metro, from Huntersville to Waxhaw.
Common questions after a hailstorm
Did it hail in Marvin, NC on August 21, 2026?
Yes. Radar data from Verisk indicated hail up to 1.75 inches over Marvin, western Weddington, and northern Waxhaw during the late afternoon of Friday, August 21, 2026, with a second cell over southwest Charlotte near Steele Creek.
Can hail damage a roof without any visible signs from the ground?
Yes, and it usually does. Hail bruises the shingle mat and knocks granules loose, damage that is only visible up close on the roof surface. Ground-level clues like dented gutters or damaged screens suggest roof damage, but their absence does not rule it out.
How long do I have to file a hail damage claim in North Carolina?
Most policies allow a limited window after the date of loss, often one to two years, but the exact period depends on your policy. Documenting damage close to the storm date makes any claim far stronger, so get the inspection now even if you file later.
Will a hail claim raise my insurance rates?
Hail claims are no-fault weather claims, treated differently from at-fault claims. Rates in a region often move after a widespread storm whether or not you file, which means neighbors who file get roofs while those who do not may still see the same rate changes.
Is a roof inspection after hail really free?
Ours is. About 20 minutes, photo documentation of every slope plus gutters, vents, and siding, and a straight answer either way. If the roof is fine, we tell you it is fine.
Serving Marvin, Weddington, and Waxhaw
The neighborhoods in and around the hail path, including the communities along New Town Road, Marvin Road, Rea Road, and Providence Road South, are areas we work regularly. Larger custom homes in Marvin and Weddington often have complex roof lines with multiple valleys and hips, which take hail harder than simple roofs and need a more careful inspection.
If your home is in the path, get it looked at in the next few weeks. You can request a free inspection at topflightcontractor.com/connect, or get an instant ballpark price for a replacement at topflightcontractor.com/instant-quote.