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Hail frequency and your premium: how the record shapes underwriting

Percentage wind/hail deductibles, cosmetic-damage endorsements, roof payment schedules tied to age — the underwriting drift in hail country responds to the loss record, and the public Storm Events data is the visible spine of that record. A metro with 100+ recorded ≥1-inch events per season is priced like it.

For property owners and the pros who advise them, the record is leverage in both directions: knowing the documented local frequency explains the policy structures on offer, and documented impact-resistant upgrades (Class 4 shingles) earn premium credits in many hail states precisely because the actuarial tables behind them come from this same data.

Why is my wind/hail deductible a percentage now?

Carriers in high-frequency hail markets shifted to percentage deductibles (commonly 1–2% of dwelling limit) to share attritional hail risk. The local recorded frequency — visible on our metro season pages — is the underlying driver.

Do impact-resistant shingles actually lower premiums?

Many insurers offer credits for UL 2218 Class 4 roofing in hail states, sometimes substantial; several states encourage or require offering them. Verify the specific credit with the carrier — and keep the installation documentation.

Can I see the hail history underwriters see for my area?

The public record is the foundation: recorded events by year for your metro and state are exactly what these pages publish, from the same NOAA database the industry's vendors build on.

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