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Getting certified weather records from NCEI
NCEI (the National Centers for Environmental Information) provides certified copies of its archived data — including Storm Events entries — for use in legal proceedings: an authentication of records as held by the US government, suitable for evidence rules that require it. Requests go through NCEI's certification service; expect a per-certification fee and processing time measured in weeks, so order ahead of deadlines.
Most claims never need certification: adjusters and appraisers verify against the public database directly. The escalation ladder in practice — verification report for the claim file; the public database row for any checker; certified copies when a proceeding's evidence standards demand authenticated records.
When do I actually need certified records?
Typically litigation or formal proceedings where authenticity of records must be established — your counsel will say so. For claims, reconsiderations and appraisal, the public record with precise citations almost always suffices.
What does NCEI certification contain?
Authenticated copies of the requested records as archived by NCEI, with certification of their provenance — not analysis or interpretation. Pair the certification with the analysis (distances, relevance) separately.
Is a verification report a certified record?
No — it is an assembly of public official records with citations, distances and methodology. It is built so every row can be checked against the source, and so the same rows can be ordered certified from NCEI if a proceeding requires it.
Sources and standing caveat
Official records referenced throughout: NCEI Storm Events Database (the official NWS storm record, 1950–present) and SPC daily storm reports (preliminary, same-day). NWS records are point and path observations. The absence of a nearby report does NOT prove that no hail fell at this address — it means no observation was logged nearby. A report of nearby hail documents the event; it does not by itself prove damage to a specific structure. Nothing on this page is legal, insurance, or public-adjusting advice — deadlines, coverage and remedies are policy- and state-specific.
Put the record in the file
A per-address verification report compiles every NWS-recorded hail and wind event within 1, 3 and 10 miles of any US address — distances, official narratives, citations, provenance labels — formatted as an insurance-appeal attachment, hosted on HailEvidence (the neutral evidence surface).
Unlimited reports — Pro $99/mo Single report $29
Related: How to document the date of loss for a hail claim · Fighting a denied hail claim with NWS records · SPC storm reports vs. NCEI Storm Events: which to cite, when · What counts as "severe" hail — and why 1 inch is the line