August 13–15 Denver Hail & Flooding: What Actually Hit the Metro?

Denver Metro experienced several rounds of intense thunderstorms between August 13 and August 15, bringing everything from large hail to torrential rainfall and significant flash flooding.

But Denver storms can be extremely localized. One neighborhood can experience damaging hail while another only a few miles away receives heavy rain—or very little at all. So rather than treating this as one metro-wide hail event, here's what we know about where the strongest storms occurred and what homeowners in the affected areas should look for.

August 13: Large Hail Hits Parts of the Denver Metro

On Thursday, August 13, severe thunderstorms moved through portions of the Denver area. One of the more notable reports came from Centennial in Arapahoe County, where golf-ball-sized hail was reported. The storm also knocked down trees and caused damage to homes and property in affected areas.

For homeowners, hail of this size is significant. Golf-ball-sized hail is approximately 1.75 inches in diameter, large enough to potentially damage asphalt shingles, gutters, siding, window screens, exterior trim, and other exposed building materials. That doesn't mean every home beneath the storm automatically sustained damage. Hail damage depends on several factors, including hail size, wind speed, roof age, shingle type, storm duration, and the angle at which the hail strikes the home.

August 14: Another Round of Localized Storms

Storm activity continued into Friday, August 14, with areas of southwest Denver and the Littleton area experiencing heavy rainfall and hail. This is a good example of how localized Front Range thunderstorms can be. Conditions can vary dramatically over only a few miles, which is why neighborhood-level storm reports are more useful to homeowners than simply hearing that "Denver got hail."

If your neighborhood experienced hail, the most useful information to document is approximately when it occurred, how large the hailstones appeared, how long the storm lasted, and whether nearby vehicles, trees, screens, or outdoor furniture show signs of impact.

August 15: Hail and Flash Flooding Become the Bigger Story

By Saturday, August 15, the storm threat shifted toward a combination of hail and extremely heavy rainfall.

Severe thunderstorms brought heavy rain and hail to portions of the Denver Metro and areas east of Interstate 25.

Some of the most dramatic conditions occurred in Douglas County, where flooding stranded vehicles and required emergency response.

At Meridian Boulevard and Maroon Circle in the Meridian area, officials reported approximately three feet of floodwaterat the intersection. What made the situation particularly unusual was what was underneath the water: approximately two to three feet of accumulated hail.

The hail helped clog drainage areas while torrential rainfall continued, creating dangerous flash-flood conditions.

Was the Entire Denver Metro Hit?

No—and that's important. These storms shouldn't be described as though every homeowner across Denver experienced the same conditions. Colorado thunderstorms are often highly localized. Hail size, rainfall, wind, and storm duration can change significantly from one neighborhood to another.

A homeowner in one part of Centennial may have experienced large hail while a property several miles away received mostly rain. The same was true during the August 15 storms, when some areas experienced significant flooding while other portions of the metro saw much less rainfall.

That's why the question isn't simply:

"Did Denver get hail?"

It's:

"What happened at my property?"

What Should Homeowners Check After These Storms?

If your home was directly underneath one of the stronger storms, you don't need to climb onto your roof to look for damage.

Start with areas you can safely inspect from the ground.

Look for:

• Dents in gutters or downspouts

• Damaged window screens

• Dents on metal vents or exterior fixtures

• Shingle debris on the ground

• Damage to siding or trim

• Broken branches

• Water staining or signs of water intrusion

• Significant granule accumulation near downspouts

Vehicles can also provide useful clues. If cars parked outside experienced visible hail damage, it's reasonable to take a closer look at other exposed surfaces around the property.

Visible damage at ground level can help tell the story of what happened during a storm, but it doesn't automatically confirm roof damage. Likewise, a roof that looks normal from the driveway isn't necessarily damage-free. If your property was in the path of large hail, a professional inspection is the safest way to evaluate the roof without climbing onto it yourself.

Hail vs. Flooding: Different Problems to Watch For

The August 13–15 storms are also a reminder that severe weather doesn't only threaten roofs. Large hail can affect shingles, siding, gutters, windows, screens, exterior metals, and other exposed surfaces. Heavy rainfall creates a different set of concerns. Homeowners should watch for overflowing gutters, water collecting near the foundation, basement moisture, damaged downspouts, clogged drainage systems, and water entering around windows or exterior penetrations.

When hail accumulation combines with intense rainfall—as occurred in parts of Douglas County on August 15—gutters and storm drains can become overwhelmed even when they were functioning properly before the storm.

If Your Neighborhood Was Hit

Don't assume your home has damage simply because hail was reported somewhere in the Denver Metro. First determine whether your immediate neighborhood was actually affected.

If you experienced large hail, noticed exterior damage, or aren't sure about the condition of your roof, documenting what you see and having the property professionally inspected can help you understand whether anything needs attention.

At Weatherguard Construction, we inspect roofing, siding, gutters, windows, and other exterior components for storm-related damage throughout the Denver Metro. Our goal is straightforward: determine what happened to the property and explain what—if anything—needs to be addressed.