Key numbers
103 verified hail storms with stones of 1.5 inches or larger reached El Paso County, which includes Colorado Springs, from 2000 to 2025 in the storm records we keep; the largest measured 4.5 inches (softball size) on July 13, 2011 (NOAA NCEI).
| Hail storms by decade, 2000 to 2025 | 2000s: 35, 2010s: 44, 2020s: 24 Source: Storm library: El Paso County hail history |
|---|---|
| Largest hail | 4.5 in. (softball), July 13, 2011 Source: NOAA NCEI |
| Costliest hail storm | $352.8 million insured losses (2016 dollars), July 28, 2016 Source: RMIIA |
| 380,066 | Colorado had 380,066 hail loss claims from 2017 to 2019, second only to Texas (637,977), per the National Insurance Crime Bureau. Source: National Insurance Crime Bureau, 2017-2019 |
| 50 | Colorado and Kansas share the highest property hail-damage risk index in the U.S. (50, versus 1 in the Southeast), per a national hail atlas. Source: Illinois State Water Survey / University of Illinois, 1950-2009 data |
| 244 | Colorado ranked 6th among U.S. states for major hail events (hail 1 inch or larger) in 2025, with 244 events. Source: Insurance Information Institute (Triple-I), 2025 |
A storm counts when the library lists El Paso County among the areas it hit. Each hail size is the storm's largest report, which may have fallen in a neighboring county, and insured losses cover every area the storm hit.
Hail history by ZIP (NOAA reports since 1996; linked ZIPs have a full page, method)
| ZIP | Area | 1 in.+ reports | Largest |
|---|---|---|---|
| 80107 | Ponderosa Park | 64 | 3 in. |
| 80101 | Unincorporated Elbert County | 58 | 4.25 in. |
| 80106 | Black Forest | 49 | 2.5 in. |
| 80117 | Kiowa | 48 | 2.75 in. |
| 80832 | Ramah | 41 | 4.5 in. |
| 80828 | Limon | 40 | 3 in. |
| 80835 | Simla | 35 | 4.5 in. |
| 80830 | Matheson | 27 | 2.75 in. |
Roofers working in unincorporated Elbert County need a permit from the Elbert County Building Department, which is the county’s permit office, and it requires one for every roof replacement and any repair over 100 square feet. Before you hire anyone, the county asks you to do two things: verify the roofer’s Elbert County license (the department will check it or give you a list of licensed local contractors; or read how to know if a roofer is legitimate) and get HOA approval first if you have an HOA. Permits are designed to the county’s criteria: the 2018 International Codes, a 115 mph design wind speed, and an ice barrier underlayment required. If your address is inside an incorporated town’s limits, confirm with the town which department issues the permit.
Where big hail has fallen in Elbert County
NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center preliminary reports show how widely hail spreads across the county in a single afternoon:
| Date | Place (as reported) | Largest hail |
|---|---|---|
| July 4, 2010 | 8 miles east-southeast of Kiowa | 2.75 inches |
| July 4, 2010 | 1 mile south of Matheson | 2.75 inches |
| July 4, 2010 | 6 miles west-northwest of Limon (Elbert County) | 2.75 inches |
| July 4, 2010 | Near Kiowa, Elizabeth, Agate and Simla | 1 to 2 inches |
| August 6, 2018 | 5 miles east-northeast of Cedar Point | 1.75 inches |
| August 6, 2018 | 13 miles east-northeast of Kiowa | 1.25 inches |
Any of those would be severe hail by the National Weather Service’s 1-inch definition. An impact-rated roof is worth pricing here; see the Class 4 shingle comparison.
The county’s design criteria, in plain terms
- 115 mph ultimate design wind speed and severe weathering: fastening and shingle wind ratings matter.
- Ice barrier underlayment required: budget for it in every bid.
- Ground snow load set by address: the county points to the ASCE hazard tool rather than one number, so a heavier roof needs an address-specific check.
- Ceiling insulation R-49 in the energy table: if the attic is open during a re-roof, it is a good time to ask about insulation.
- 36-inch frost line, climate zone 5B, 1 °F winter design temperature: long, cold winters, which is why the county’s re-roof handout requires attic ventilation that meets IRC R806 on every re-roof.
Before you sign with an Elbert County roofer
- Verify the county license with the Building Department.
- Get a written contract; Colorado requires one for roofing work, and no roofer may pay or waive your deductible.
- Confirm who pulls the permit and who will be there for the mid-roof inspection, photo or in person.
- Keep the claim in your name. We document the damage with photos so nothing gets missed in the scope.
Towns we cover in Elbert County
- Roofers in Elbert and roof repair in Elbert
- Elizabeth
- Neighboring areas: Peyton, Parker and the full service area list
Integrity Roofing and Painting is veteran-owned and family-run since 1990, an Owens Corning Platinum Preferred contractor with 650+ Google reviews. Call (719) 488-2800 or request a free roof inspection; we reply the same business day.
Sources: Elbert County Building Department, Permits; Elbert County, "Did a Hailstorm Leave you with Roof Damage?" (June 24, 2026); Elbert County, Climatic and Geographic Design Criteria; Single Family Residential Re-roofing guide (Colorado Chapter ICC), linked by Elbert County; NOAA Storm Prediction Center storm reports for July 4, 2010 and August 6, 2018 (preliminary); NWS glossary: severe thunderstorm; C.R.S. 6-22-103 and 6-22-105 (unofficial reproduction).
