On the evening of Wednesday, September 2, 2026, the strongest hail cores of the year formed over the Lapeer County and Thumb area. The National Weather Service Detroit/Pontiac office logged measured 1.00 inch hail at Otter Lake at 6:04 p.m., and its event summary says the storm cores near Imlay City produced "significant hail in excess of 2 inches (greater than egg size)" along with damaging straight-line winds. If your home is in Lapeer, Metamora, Dryden, Almont, Imlay City, Capac or the lake communities in northern Lapeer County, this is the storm to have your roof checked for. Written by Aaron Scott, licensed Michigan residential builder and owner of Roofing Army, this guide covers what fell where, what that size of hail does to asphalt shingles, what to look for, and how the insurance timeline works.
Where did the September 2 hail fall in Lapeer County?
The NWS Detroit/Pontiac storm report log and the Storm Prediction Center's preliminary report list for September 2 agree on the measured hail that evening:
| Time (EDT) | Location | County | Measured hail |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5:38 p.m. | Birch Run | Saginaw | 2.00 inches (multiple spotter and public reports with photos) |
| 6:04 p.m. | Otter Lake, 6600 block of Hart Lake Rd | Lapeer | 1.00 inch |
| 6:49 p.m. | 1 mile northwest of Capac | St. Clair (on the Lapeer County line) | 2.00 inches |
| 7:17 p.m. | Kimball | St. Clair | 1.50 inches (trained spotter) |
The NWS narrative adds the radar context: the strongest reflectivity of the whole event was sampled "near Imlay City where 60 dBZ values were sampled up to 35,000 feet," and that is the core the office credits with hail over 2 inches. The Detroit News covered the same reports that night, noting the 2 inch hail northwest of Capac shortly before 7 p.m. and the trained spotter measurement of 1.5 inches in Kimball. A tornado warning went up for northeastern St. Clair County at 7 p.m., and NWS later confirmed a brief EF-0 tornado at Marysville with 75 mph winds.
The storm did not stop at the county line. Later that night and the next day the same system produced 60 to 70 mph straight-line winds across Oakland, Macomb and Wayne counties and an EF-2 tornado in Detroit, which we cover separately in our Oakland County wind storm guide. Between the two days NWS counted nearly 300,000 power outages.
What does 1 to 2 inch hail do to asphalt shingles?
The National Weather Service defines severe hail as 1 inch in diameter, "about the size of a quarter," or larger. On its size chart a half dollar is 1.25 inches, a golf ball is 1.75 inches, and a tennis ball is 2.5 inches. The Otter Lake hail was right at the severe threshold. The Capac and Imlay City hail was golf ball to egg size, which is the size the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) builds its impact test around: IBHS fires laboratory-made 1.5 and 2.0 inch hailstones at shingles because those sizes reliably damage them. In its most recent ratings, released November 19, 2025, IBHS tested 24 impact-resistant shingles covering roughly 95% of that market, and none earned an "Excellent" rating; most were "Good." Standard shingles, which is what most Lapeer County roofs have, are not in that category at all.
Here is what we look for on hail-hit roofs, in the order it shows up:
- Bruises. A hailstone hits, the granules are knocked loose in a circle, and the asphalt mat underneath is fractured. Press the spot and it feels soft, like a bruise on fruit. The mat is now open to UV and water.
- Granule loss into the gutters. A layer of black grit in the gutters and at the downspout outlets after one storm is the roof shedding its sun protection.
- Dented soft metals. Box vents, ridge vent caps, gutters, downspouts and flashing take dents that never lie about hail size. Adjusters look at these first.
- Cracked or split shingles. At 2 inches and up, older brittle shingles crack outright.
- Collateral damage. Window screens, siding, painted decks and vehicles. The Capac and Imlay City size hail damages all of them.
One finding worth knowing about small hail: an IBHS study published in October 2025 in the journal Frontiers in Materials found that shingles exposed to repeated hail under 1 inch became roughly ten times more susceptible to damage from a later severe hail event. So a roof that took pea to dime hail in past summers and 1 inch hail on September 2 may be in worse shape than either storm alone would suggest.
What should Lapeer County homeowners check now?
- Gutters and downspouts. Look for granule piles at the outlets and dents on the top edge of the gutter. Dents there mean the roof took the same hits.
- Metal roof accessories from the ground. Box vents and the drip edge are visible with binoculars. Dimples on them are diagnostic.
- Soft surfaces around the house. AC condenser fins, mailbox, painted railings, deck boards. Fresh hail pocks on those tell you the size that hit the roof.
- Attic and ceilings. Hail bruises usually do not leak the first week. Check anyway, and again after the next hard rain.
- Photograph everything with a date. Include the yard debris and the hailstones themselves if you still have any.
- Do not let a storm chaser on the roof. Michigan DIFS warns that after severe weather, people claiming to be adjusters or contractors go door-to-door, and says to check licenses, references and insurance before hiring anyone. Ask for a Michigan residential builder license number.
How does the insurance claim window work for hail damage in Michigan?
The reporting deadline is set by your policy, not by the state. Some policies set it at about a year from the date of loss, some longer. Check your policy: the number is in the conditions section, and the date of loss for this event is September 2, 2026. The Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services (DIFS) is the authority on the rest of the process, and its guidance is consistent: notify your agent or insurer immediately after a loss, take pictures or video of the damage before repairs, make only temporary repairs and keep the receipts, and contact your insurer before hiring a contractor. DIFS also states that when hail lifts or damages shingles, the policy covers the damaged portion of the roof and the insurer is not required to replace the entire roof, which is exactly why every slope needs to be documented. If the insurer's investigation drags on, DIFS notes there is no time limit on the insurer's side, but you can file a complaint or call 877-999-6442.
Our two guides on the paperwork side are how to file a roof insurance claim in Michigan and does insurance cover roof replacement in Michigan. Read those before you call your carrier.
What does the Roofing Army free hail inspection include?
Our Oxford office is the closest one to Lapeer County, and we work Lapeer, Metamora, Dryden, Leonard and the Almont and Capac area every week. Two recent jobs in the hail path give you a sense of real pricing if it comes to that: a 3,693 square foot roof in Capac at $14,463 and a 2,855 square foot roof in Almont at $21,137.61. The inspection itself is free and includes:
- Drone photo documentation of every slope and every soft metal. Timestamped, high resolution, uploaded to your job portal. Hail bruises photograph well from a drone at the right angle and light.
- A test square count. We chalk a 10 by 10 foot square on each slope and count hits, which is the same method adjusters use.
- We meet your adjuster on site. Same roof, same test squares, same photos. It removes the argument.
- Same-day emergency tarping if the hail cracked shingles enough to leak, with the receipt for your claim.
- An honest call. Plenty of Otter Lake roofs took 1 inch hail and are fine. If yours is, we say so and you have dated photos for the file.
If a storm damage replacement follows, a project manager is on site for the job, we do not take deposits, and the new roof goes on with 6 feet of ice and water shield at the eaves and cap nails on the underlayment, the same way we build every roof in Lapeer County. Same-day emergency tarping is available whether or not you ever hire us for the roof.
Frequently Asked Questions
How big was the hail in Lapeer County on September 2, 2026?
The National Weather Service Detroit/Pontiac office logged measured 1.00 inch hail at Otter Lake at 6:04 p.m. on September 2, 2026, and its event summary says storm cores near Imlay City produced hail in excess of 2 inches. Just across the county line, 2.00 inch hail was measured 1 mile northwest of Capac and 1.50 inch hail in Kimball.
Does 1 inch hail damage asphalt shingles?
It can. One inch is the National Weather Service's severe hail threshold. Whether it bruises shingles depends on the shingle's age, the hail's density and wind speed, and the roof pitch. Roofs that are 10 or more years old, or that took smaller hail in prior years, are the most vulnerable. An IBHS study published in 2025 found repeated sub-1-inch hail makes shingles roughly ten times more susceptible to later severe hail.
How long do I have to file a hail claim in Michigan?
Your policy sets the deadline, so check your policy's conditions section. Some set it at about one year from the date of loss. The Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services advises notifying your insurer immediately, photographing damage before repairs, and keeping receipts for temporary repairs. The date of loss for this storm is September 2, 2026.
Will my insurer replace the whole roof for hail damage?
Not necessarily. Michigan DIFS states that a homeowners policy covers the portion of the roof that was damaged and the insurer is not required to replace the entire roof. Whether a full replacement is owed depends on how many slopes show damage, matching, and your policy wording. Documenting every slope with test squares and drone photos is how you make the case.
Is the Roofing Army hail inspection really free?
Yes. There is no charge and no obligation. We photograph every slope by drone, chalk test squares, write up what we find, and meet your adjuster on site if you file a claim. If the roof is fine, we tell you that and you keep the dated documentation.
