New York has seen some rough weather this summer. Strong thunderstorms have brought powerful winds, heavy rain, fallen trees, and large hail across different parts of the state.
The recent New York storm damage is an important reminder that severe weather can cause problems for homes and businesses. For property owners, the damage may not always be easy to see right away. A roof can look fine from the ground but still have New York hail damage from a powerful storm.
Even a small opening in a roof can allow rain inside and lead to bigger problems later.
Here is what New York property owners should know about the recent storms and what they can do if their property was damaged.
New York Hailstorm, Hurricane, and Tornado Property Damage
On August 12, 2026, severe thunderstorms moved across parts of western, central, and southern New York.
The storms brought heavy rain, lightning, strong winds, and unusually large hail. In Ontario County, warnings included wind gusts of around 60 mph. Winds that strong can knock down trees, damage power lines, and harm homes and businesses.
Some of the biggest hail reports came from the Southern Tier.
In Tompkins County, hail around 1.5 inches wide was reported. Farther south, the storms became even stronger as they moved into Broome County.
Around Binghamton, hail ranged from about the size of a golf ball to pieces around 3 inches wide. Some of the largest pieces were described as being around the size of a large apple or slightly bigger than a baseball.
A hailstorm with hail that large can cause extensive property damage, especially to roofs, siding, windows, gutters, and outdoor equipment.
New York can also face other types of severe weather throughout the year. Hurricanes, winter storms, and tornadoes can all damage property. While tornado damage may look different from hail damage, both can leave property owners facing expensive repairs.
New York Homeowners Also Faced Severe Storms in June
The August storms were not the only severe weather New Yorkers have faced this summer.
On June 6, another powerful line of thunderstorms moved through the New York City area.
According to the National Weather Service, wind gusts between 58 and 70 mph were recorded in parts of the region. LaGuardia Airport recorded a 64 mph wind gust, while Kennedy Airport recorded a 60 mph gust.
Those powerful winds knocked down trees and power lines across New York City and nearby areas.
CBS New York reported that more than 250 downed trees had been reported in New York City by late that evening. Quarter-sized hail was also reported in Sullivan County, while hundreds of power outages were reported across the Tri-State Area.
For New York homeowners, these storms are an important reminder that it does not take a hurricane or tornado to cause serious damage to a property.
Hail Damage, Wind Damage, and Water Damage to Your Property
Severe thunderstorms can cause several types of damage at the same time.
Large hail may crack or dent roofing materials, siding, gutters, skylights, and other parts of a property. Strong winds can tear away shingles, damage siding, break windows, and send tree branches or other objects flying.
Heavy rain can also cause water damage if the storm creates an opening in the property. In some situations, homeowners may also experience flood damage. Flood damage may be treated differently under an insurance policy, so it is important to understand what caused the damage.
Some common signs of storm damage include:
-
Missing, cracked, or loose shingles
-
Dents in gutters or siding
-
Broken windows or screens
-
Fallen tree branches
-
Damaged fences
-
Ceiling or wall stains
-
Water leaks
-
Damaged HVAC equipment
-
Loose or damaged roofing materials
Even if the property looks okay at first, there may still be damage that is difficult to see.
How a Storm Can Cause Roof Damage
The roof is one of the first parts of a property to take a hit during severe weather.
Large hail can strike shingles hard enough to crack or weaken them. Strong wind can also lift shingles or completely remove them.
Roof damage does not always mean there will be a large hole that is easy to see. A small damaged area may allow water underneath the roofing materials.
In serious cases, the damage may lead to the need for a full roof replacement rather than a simple repair.
Over time, untreated roof problems can also lead to leaks, mold, damaged ceilings, and other expensive problems.
Why a Roof Inspection Is Important After a Hailstorm
After a major hailstorm, homeowners should consider having their property inspected for possible damage.
A roof inspection may find problems that are difficult or impossible to see from the ground. An inspection can also help document what happened to the property after the storm.
Take photos and videos of visible damage before making major repairs. This may include damaged shingles, gutters, siding, windows, fallen trees, or water inside the property.
If emergency repairs are needed to prevent more damage, keep copies of receipts, invoices, photos, and other records. These documents may become important when filing a property damage claim or hail damage claim.
Does Homeowners Insurance Coverage Include Storm Damage?
Homeowners insurance may provide coverage for certain types of storm damage, but it depends on the policy and what caused the loss.
For example, a policy may cover certain damage caused by hail or wind but have different rules for flooding and other causes of loss.
New York properties can also face cold-weather problems. Heavy snow and freezing temperatures can sometimes cause ice dam damage when ice builds up along the edge of a roof and prevents melting snow from draining properly.
That is why homeowners should not assume that everything is covered or that nothing is covered. Reviewing the actual insurance policy is important.
Understanding Your Insurance Coverage and Policy
An insurance policy explains what types of losses may be covered and what rules the homeowner must follow.
It may also include deductibles, exclusions, deadlines, and limits on insurance coverage.
After a storm, homeowners should review their policy and report the damage to their insurance company as soon as reasonably possible.
If you are making a New York property insurance claim, keep copies of important documents related to the loss. This can include photos, repair estimates, inspection reports, emails, letters, and receipts.
Good records may also help if a New York insurance claim later becomes disputed.
Understanding the Storm Damage Claims Process
The claims process usually begins when a homeowner reports the damage to the insurance company.
The insurance company may send an insurance adjuster to inspect the property. The adjuster may look at the roof, siding, windows, interior damage, and other areas affected by the storm.
After the inspection, the insurance company will decide whether the claim is covered and how much it believes should be paid.
Homeowners should keep their own records during the claims process. Write down important dates and save copies of communications with the insurance company.
When dealing with a New York claim, do not be afraid to ask questions if something about the decision or payment does not make sense.
What If the Insurance Company Denies or Underpays Your Claim?
Filing an insurance claim does not always mean the process will go smoothly.
The insurance company may say that the damage is old, caused by normal wear and tear, or excluded under the policy.
In other situations, the insurance company may agree that storm damage happened but offer less money than the homeowner believes is needed to complete the repairs.
A denied or underpaid New York hail damage insurance claim does not always mean the process is over.
Depending on the situation, homeowners may be able to provide additional documents, estimates, photographs, or inspection reports. They may also be able to challenge the insurance company's decision.
Disagreements over what caused the damage, how much repairs should cost, or whether the loss is covered can sometimes lead to property insurance disputes.
When Should You Speak With New York Property Damage Attorneys?
Dealing with property damage is already stressful. Fighting with an insurance company can make the situation even harder.
Property damage attorneys may be able to help when a storm damage insurance claim is denied, delayed, or underpaid. An attorney can review the insurance policy, claim documents, estimates, and other information to better understand why the insurance company made its decision.
Legal help may also be useful when the insurance company and property owner disagree about the amount of damage or the repairs that are needed.
Don't Ignore Possible Storm Damage
After a storm passes, it can be easy to assume everything is fine if there is no tree through the roof or water pouring into the house.
But storm damage is not always that obvious.
The recent storms in New York brought large hail, strong winds, heavy rain, fallen trees, and power outages. Some property owners may discover damage right away, while others may not notice a problem until later.
Checking your property after severe weather and documenting possible damage early may help prevent a small problem from becoming a much bigger one.
If your New York property suffered hail damage, wind damage, roof damage, or water damage and your insurance claim was denied, delayed, or underpaid, Vargas Gonzalez Delombard, LLP may be able to help.
Contact our team for a free case review to discuss your property insurance claim and learn more about your options.
