If you live in Hail Alley, you are no stranger to severe spring and summer weather. But lately, you might have heard meteorologists or storm chasers using a (kind of scary) new term: “Gorilla Hail.”
It sounds intense because it is. When a storm system brings gorilla hail to your neighborhood, it poses a major threat to your vehicles, your safety, and your roof. Let’s break down exactly what gorilla hail is, how it forms, and what kind of destruction it leaves in its wake.
Key Points
- “Gorilla hail” refers to ultra-destructive, abnormally large ice chunks ranging from tennis ball to softball size (2+ inches in diameter).
- Falling at speeds up to 72 mph, these massive stones cause severe structural bruising, granule loss, and can punch holes directly through your roof decking.
- Hail damage is often invisible from the ground; immediate professional inspection is critical to catch structural fractures before they turn into major leaks.
What Exactly Is “Gorilla Hail”?
The term “gorilla hail” was originally coined by famous meteorologist and storm chaser Reed Timmer to describe abnormally large, destructive hailstones. While standard hail might look like small pebbles or marbles, gorilla hail is classified as stones that reach the size of tennis balls, baseballs, or even softballs (spanning more than two inches in diameter).
How Does It Grow So Big?
Hail forms inside severe thunderstorms with incredibly powerful updrafts (rapidly rising currents of warm air). First, water droplets are carried high up into the freezing upper atmosphere by the updrafts, where they freeze into ice. As they fall back down, they collect more moisture that freezes on impact.
This cycle repeats over and over. For gorilla hail to form, the storm’s updrafts have to be exceptionally strong, sometimes exceeding 100 mph, to keep stones weighing up to a pound suspended in the air. Once the hail becomes too heavy for the wind to support, it plummets to the ground.
How Much Damage Can Gorilla Hail Cause?
When ice chunks the size of baseballs fall from tens of thousands of feet in the air, they can reach terminal velocities between 44 and 72 mph. If driven by high storm winds, their destructive power multiplies.
Gorilla hail can cause:
Severe Roof Damage
Your roof bears the brunt of any hailstorm. While small hail might just cause some minor damage, gorilla hail can cause catastrophic structural issues:
- Bruised and Cracked Shingles
- Granule Loss
- Punched Holes
- Damaged Accents and Penetrations
Vehicle Destruction
Vehicles left in the open during a gorilla hail event often look like they were hit with sledgehammers. It routinely shatters windshields, caves in roofs, and can completely total a car in a matter of minutes.
Siding and Property Harm
Standard vinyl or aluminum siding can be cracked, dented, or completely shredded by wind-driven large hail. It also destroys outdoor furniture, AC condensers, backyard decks, and windows.
Personal Injury
Safety must always come first. Gorilla hail is fully capable of causing severe concussions, broken bones, or worse if it strikes a person or pet.
What Should You Do If Gorilla Hail Hits Your Neighborhood?
If a severe storm warning mentions large hail, stay indoors, keep away from windows (which can be shattered by the stones), and move to an interior room or basement.
Once the storm clears and it is completely safe to go outside, you need to act quickly to protect your property.
Immediately After the Storm: Do a Ground-Level Check
Walk around your property and look for obvious signs of damage from the ground. Check if your gutters are dented, look for broken windows, and see if there are piles of shingle granules accumulating at the bottom of your downspouts.
Within 24-48 Hours: Call a Certified Roofing Professional
Never climb onto a hail-damaged roof yourself, as structural integrity could be compromised. Call a trusted local expert like Farha Roofing for a professional inspection. Hail damage isn’t always obvious from the ground, and subtle bruising can lead to massive leaks months down the road.
Before Repairs Begin: Document Everything
Take clear photos of any damage to your property, vehicles, and any large hailstones you safely find on the ground. Keep a record of the exact date and time the storm hit.
With Professional Backing: File an Insurance Claim
If your roof has sustained storm damage, contact your insurance provider once you’ve had a professional inspection. Having a detailed inspection report from a reputable roofing company ensures you have the exact documentation needed to get your claim approved smoothly.
Don’t Wait Until Your Roof Leaks
Gorilla hail creates hidden vulnerabilities. Even if your roof looks okay from the driveway, the underlying seals could be shattered. Catching the damage early saves you thousands in repairs later.
If a storm just rolled through your area and you suspect your home took a beating, give the team at Farha Roofing a call today. We specialize in storm damage recovery and will make sure your home is safe, secure, and ready for whatever the skies throw at it next.
FAQs
1. Can gorilla hail damage my roof even if I don’t see missing shingles?
Yes. This is actually the most dangerous type of damage because it is invisible from the ground. Gorilla hail causes deep “bruising” on asphalt shingles, which fractures the fiberglass mat underneath the surface. While the shingle might look intact from afar, its structural integrity is ruined, and it will begin to leak over the next few months as rain and sun wear it down.
2. How big does hail have to be to completely puncture a roof?
While standard hail (under 1 inch) rarely breaks through a roof, gorilla hail (more than two inches in diameter) can easily punch holes completely through your shingles and the wooden roof decking underneath. This is especially true if your roof is old, as the materials are more brittle.
3. Does homeowners’ insurance cover gorilla hail damage?
In almost all cases, yes. Standard homeowners’ insurance policies cover storm and hail damage. Because gorilla hail causes sudden, catastrophic damage, it is highly advisable to file a claim. However, having a certified professional from Farha Roofing inspect the roof before you call your adjuster gives you an itemized, expert report that helps ensure your insurance company approves the full scope of necessary repairs.
4. How long do I have to file an insurance claim after a major hailstorm?
While many insurance policies give you up to one year from the date of the storm to file a claim, you should never wait. Gorilla hail creates immediate vulnerabilities. If you wait months to file, water can slowly seep into your attic, causing wood rot and mold. Furthermore, insurance companies prefer claims to be filed as close to the weather event as possible to avoid disputes over when the damage actually occurred.
5. Are certain roofing materials better at surviving gorilla hail than others?
Yes. Standard 3-tab shingles offer very little protection against massive hail. If you live in an area prone to severe storms, upgrading to Class 4 Impact-Resistant (IR) shingles or a metal roofing system is a smart investment. Class 4 shingles are engineered and tested to withstand the impact of 2-inch steel balls dropped from high distances without cracking, giving you a much higher defense system against gorilla-sized storms.