Hail-Damaged Gutter Checklist for Wichita's 2026 Storms

The 2026 hail storms around Wichita

The National Weather Service office in Wichita (ICT) posts event summaries with preliminary local storm reports for its biggest storms (NWS Wichita, event summaries). These are the 2026 events on that list with hail reported in the area this site covers. Sizes are in inches; "estimated" and "measured" follow the NWS reports, and times are Central time. Preliminary reports can be revised later.

For scale, the NWS considers hail one inch in diameter, about the size of a U.S. quarter, to be severe (National Weather Service, what makes a storm severe). Golf ball hail is about 1.75 inches. Aluminum gutters and downspouts dent at sizes well below that, so even "small" hail can leave marks on gutters.

This table is not a complete list. Smaller and more local hail reports do not always get an event summary. To check a specific date and county, NOAA's NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database publishes finalized storm data, usually some months after the event.

Why gutters show hail first

Gutters and downspouts are thin, soft metal, usually aluminum, mounted where hail hits them at full speed. They dent more easily than shingles or siding, which is why adjusters and roofers often look at gutters, downspouts and metal vents first: a row of round dents on a gutter is a quick, visible sign of how big the hail was and which direction it came from. The same dents also matter for the gutter itself. Dented gutters can hold water, seams can split, and bent hangers let runs sag.

The checklist: from the ground

Do not climb onto the roof. Everything below can be checked from the ground or from a ladder set on firm, level ground, ideally with a second person.

1. Gutter faces and the top lip. Look along each run with the sun at a low angle. Round dents on the front face, and especially on the rolled top edge, are classic hail marks.
2. Downspouts. Check the side facing the storm. Downspouts dent easily and are a good record of hail size. Note any that are crushed or pulled loose from their straps.
3. Elbows and corners. Dents at miters and elbows can crack sealant and start leaks at the joints.
4. Granules in gutters and at downspout outlets. A heavy pile of shingle granules washing out of a downspout after a hail storm can point to roof damage.
5. Hangers and pitch. Hail and wind together can bend hangers and change the slope, so water stands in the trough instead of draining.
6. Screens and guards. Plastic screens crack and metal guards dent; damaged guards can let debris in or collapse into the gutter.
7. Fascia wrap and soffit. Aluminum fascia wrap dents like gutters; vinyl soffit can crack. See fascia and soffit behind gutters.
8. Splatter marks. Fresh hail often leaves bright spots where it knocked off dirt or oxidation on gutters, fences, mailboxes and AC units. They fade over time, so photograph them soon after the storm.
9. Water test. When it is safe, run a hose in each gutter and watch for leaks at seams and corners and for water standing in dented sections.
10. Collateral damage. Dents on the AC unit, grill, car or mailbox help show the storm's size and direction, which supports a claim.

Document it the right way

• Write down the storm date and time. The NWS event pages above list report times, which can help.
• Take wide photos of each side of the house, then close-ups of dents, with something for scale such as a coin or tape measure.
• Photograph before any repair, cleanup or temporary fix.
• Keep receipts for anything you do to prevent further damage.

Insurance, contracts and Kansas law

Homeowners policies commonly cover sudden hail and wind damage minus the deductible, and some Kansas policies carry separate or percentage-based wind and hail deductibles; the Kansas Insurance Department's shopper's guide explains the basics (Kansas Insurance Department, Home and Renters Shopper's Guide). Report the damage to your insurer and ask whether gutters and downspouts are included in the adjuster's estimate. After a storm, door-to-door sales are common. Kansas law gives you until midnight of the third business day after signing to cancel most door-to-door sales (K.S.A. 50-640 (door-to-door sales, three-day cancellation)) and sets rules for assigning insurance benefits to a residential contractor (K.S.A. 50-6,143 (assignment of insurance benefits to a contractor)). Read any contract before you sign, and be wary of anyone offering to cover or waive your deductible. The full process is in how to handle a hail damage gutter claim in Kansas and gutter insurance claims in Kansas.

Repair, replace or just clean?

• A few dents, no leaks: often cosmetic. Some homeowners leave them, though dents in the trough can hold water and debris.
• Crushed downspouts or a single bad run: usually a repair. See gutter repair and hail-damaged gutters.
• Dents along most runs, split seams, bent hangers: replacement is often more sensible, and it is a chance to upsize to 6-inch gutters or heavier aluminum. See gutter installation and replacement options and 5-inch vs. 6-inch gutters.
• Granules, leaves and twigs knocked loose: hail strips trees and shingles at the same time, so the gutters may need a cleaning before they drain properly again. See gutter cleaning after a storm.

Published cost ranges for repair and replacement are in the gutter cost guide. They are general estimates, not quotes.

Related services

• Hail-Damaged Gutters: Document, repair or replace gutters and downspouts dented, crushed or torn by hail and wind.
• Gutter Repair: Fix leaking seams and corners, sagging or loose runs, bad pitch and damaged downspouts.
• Gutter Insurance Claims in Kansas: How gutter damage fits into a Kansas hail or wind claim, from photos to deductibles.

Sources: NWS Wichita, event summaries; NWS Wichita, April 11, 2026 damaging supercell; NWS Wichita, April 23, 2026 landspouts and large hail; NWS Wichita, April 25, 2026 Wichita hail storm; NWS Wichita, May 18, 2026 widespread severe storms; National Weather Service, what makes a storm severe; NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database; Kansas Insurance Department, Home and Renters Shopper's Guide; K.S.A. 50-640 (door-to-door sales, three-day cancellation); K.S.A. 50-6,143 (assignment of insurance benefits to a contractor).