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 |
| 2372 | June accounted for 2372 of Colorado's 6848 NOAA-logged hail reports from 2010 through 2025 (about 34.6%). Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), 2010-2025 |
| More than 2,500 | IBHS measured more than 2,500 hailstones from nearly 30 Great Plains storms (2012-2014), ranging from 3 mm to 106 mm in diameter. Source: American Meteorological Society / IBHS, 2012-2014 |
| 80% | Hail accounts for as much as 80% of severe convective storm insurance claims in a given year. Source: Insurance Information Institute (Triple-I), 2026 (general statement) |
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.
To prepare your Colorado Springs roof for summer, do four things in spring: check the roof and gutters from the ground for winter damage, clear gutters and valleys, make sure flashing and pipe boots are sealed, and confirm the attic is ventilated. Then book a professional inspection if anything looks off. Summer here brings strong high-altitude sun and the hail season, and a roof that goes into June with loose shingles or failing seals is the one that leaks after the first storm.
Why summer is hard on roofs here
- High-altitude UV. The EPA says UV intensity increases about 6 percent per kilometer above sea level. At 6,035 feet, Colorado Springs gets roughly 11 percent more UV than the coast, which dries out shingle asphalt, sealants and rubber pipe boots faster.
- Heat cycling. Hot afternoons and cool nights make roofing materials expand and contract every day, which loosens nails and opens small gaps in sealant.
- Hail. Two of the area’s well-documented storms came in summer: the June 6, 2012 hailstorm and the July 28, 2016 storm, when NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center logged hail up to 2.5 inches near Peterson Air Force Base and Falcon.
- Wind and lightning. Summer thunderstorms bring gusts that lift worn shingles at the edges, and lightning that can damage chimneys and roofs.
Your spring roof checklist
- Look for winter damage from the ground. Missing, lifted or creased shingles, especially along the eaves, rakes and ridge where wind does the most damage.
- Clear gutters, downspouts and valleys. Debris holds water against the roof edge and blocks summer downpours. Check that gutters are firmly attached. Our Colorado Springs gutters team can repair or replace sagging runs.
- Check flashing and pipe boots. Chimney, wall and skylight flashing should lie flat and sealed. Rubber pipe boots crack in strong sun; a cracked boot is one of the most common summer leaks.
- Check the attic. On a hot afternoon, a properly vented attic should not feel like an oven, and there should be no stains on the decking or damp insulation. Read why attic ventilation matters.
- Trim branches that touch or overhang the roof.
- Note anything that looks like hail bruising or heavy granule loss and compare it with our guide to hail damage versus normal wear.
When to call a professional
Call for an inspection if you find any of these:
- Shingles missing, cracked or lifting in more than one spot
- Granules piling up at the downspouts
- Stains on ceilings or attic decking
- Loose or rusted flashing
- A roof that is near the end of its expected life
Many summer repairs are small: resealing a boot, replacing a few shingles, refastening flashing. Larger repairs and any replacement go through the Pikes Peak Regional Building Department, which requires a PPRBD-licensed contractor and a permit for roof replacement. If the spring check turns up storm damage instead of wear, see what to check after a Colorado Springs hail storm. Winter freeze-thaw and cold-weather installs cause their own repairs; we cover them in weather-related roof repairs. In the Denver area, our Denver summer roof guide covers that city’s permit rules and wind zones.
Book a spring inspection
Integrity Roofing and Painting has been family-run since 1990 and is veteran-owned, with our Colorado Springs office at 115 N Union Blvd. We are an Owens Corning Platinum Preferred contractor with 650+ Google reviews. Call (719) 488-2800, book a free Colorado Springs roof inspection, or read about our Colorado Springs roof repair service.
Sources: U.S. EPA, Learn About the UV Index (UV and elevation); City of Colorado Springs, 2025 budget profile (elevation 6,035 feet); NOAA Storm Prediction Center, storm reports for July 28, 2016 (preliminary); Pikes Peak Regional Building Department, Hail and Disaster Information.
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