NWS Confirms Quarter-Size Hail in Fond du Lac, WI — Aug 18, 2026

On the afternoon of August 18, 2026, a line of thunderstorms swept across Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, delivering quarter-sized hail to two locations within the city of Fond du Lac at approximately 4:50 PM Central Daylight Time. The National Weather Service office in Milwaukee (NWS MKX) confirmed one-inch hailstones — the size of a quarter — through official local storm reports logged in the NWS IEM database. No tornadoes or associated structural damage were reported in connection with the event, but hail of this size carries enough kinetic energy to cause meaningful damage to roofing systems, siding, gutters, and other exterior building components.

Fond du Lac County sits approximately 136 miles north-northeast of Oak Brook, Illinois, squarely within the service area of Allied Emergency Services, Inc. — a licensed storm damage restoration contractor with 27 years of experience helping Greater Midwest homeowners recover after severe weather. If you live in the Fond du Lac area and your property was in the path of yesterday’s storm, now is the time to take a careful look around before the next rain arrives.

What the National Weather Service Confirmed

NWS Milwaukee (MKX) issued official local storm reports documenting quarter-sized hail — defined as 1.00 inch in diameter — at two separate locations in Fond du Lac County on August 18, 2026:

• 1 SSE Fond du Lac (43.77°N, 88.44°W) — quarter-size hail confirmed at approximately 4:50 PM CDT
• 1 NE Fond du Lac (43.79°N, 88.44°W) — quarter-size hail confirmed at approximately 4:50 PM CDT

Both reports were logged in the NWS IEM local storm report database and verified by NWS MKX. No tornado warnings were issued in connection with this event, and no structural damage was formally reported alongside the hail observations.

Quarter-sized hail — one inch in diameter — sits at the threshold the National Weather Service uses to classify hail as “significant.” At this size, stones falling at terminal velocity carry enough force to leave visible impact marks on asphalt shingles, dent soft metals such as aluminum gutters and drip edge, crack or pit vinyl siding, and strip the granule coating from roofing materials. The damage isn’t always visible from the ground, but a trained eye at close range often reveals what a curbside glance misses entirely.

What Homeowners in Fond du Lac Should Check Now

If your home or property is in or near Fond du Lac and was in the storm’s path yesterday afternoon, a methodical exterior inspection is your most important next step. Identifying damage now — before rain infiltrates a compromised roof deck or behind damaged siding — can prevent far more serious and expensive problems down the road. Work through this checklist before calling anyone:

Roof

• From the ground, use binoculars to scan shingles for dark, circular bruise marks or patches where granule coating has been displaced, exposing the asphalt mat beneath
• Check metal components — ridge vents, pipe boots, drip edge, and step flashing — for dents or deformation; even modest denting on soft metals suggests surrounding shingles absorbed comparable impact
• Look at exposed wood fascia and trim boards for fresh splits, cracks, or surface scarring
• Do not walk a wet or potentially damaged roof. If you suspect damage, leave close-range roof inspection to a licensed professional with the right safety equipment

Siding and Exterior Walls

• Walk the full perimeter of your home looking for small craters, cracks, or circular dents on vinyl, aluminum, or wood siding panels
• West- and south-facing walls typically absorb the heaviest impact during summer storms tracking in from the northwest
• Check window screens for small punctures or tears — screen damage confirms hail reached that wall surface at force
• Inspect exterior trim, shutters, and any painted wood surfaces for chipping or impact marks

Gutters and Downspouts

• Run your hand along the back lip and interior of aluminum gutters — quarter-size hail frequently leaves a distinct pattern of dents along exposed sections
• Inspect the ground near downspout outlets for granule deposits washed off the roof surface; gritty, sand-like material collecting at the base of downspouts is one of the clearest early indicators of shingle damage above

Windows and Skylights

• Inspect any skylights for cracked or crazed glazing, dented frames, or compromised seals around the curb
• Check window caulking and exterior trim for fresh impact marks or sections that feel loose when pressed

Trees and Landscaping

• Obvious leaf stripping, snapped small branches, or visible bark scarring on trees in your yard confirms the storm’s local intensity — significant tree damage is a reliable indicator that adjacent structures absorbed comparable impact

Interior

• Check your attic for moisture, daylight penetrating through the decking, or fresh water staining on rafters and sheathing
• Walk upper-floor rooms and inspect ceilings for discoloration, soft spots, or bubbling paint that could signal a water intrusion point

If You Find Damage

Discovering storm damage — especially for the first time — can feel overwhelming. The path from storm to completed repair is more straightforward when you take it one step at a time:

1. Document everything before you touch it. Use your smartphone to photograph every area of concern. Shoot wide for context, close for detail. Most phones embed a timestamp and GPS coordinates automatically — that metadata matters if you later file a claim. The more thorough your photo record, the stronger your starting position.
2. Mitigate further damage if you safely can. If there is a visible breach — displaced shingles, broken glazing, gaps in siding — take reasonable temporary measures to prevent additional water entry, such as tarping over the affected section. Most homeowner insurance policies include a duty to mitigate further loss. Keep receipts for any materials purchased for emergency protection and include them in your documentation.
3. Schedule a professional inspection promptly. A licensed restoration contractor can safely access areas not reachable from the ground, produce a detailed written scope of damage, and be present with you during an adjuster’s site visit. Allied Emergency Services is an Illinois Licensed Roofing Contractor (License #104.019029) and has delivered storm damage restoration across Illinois, Wisconsin, and the Greater Midwest for 27 years. We inspect damage, provide comprehensive documentation, and perform covered repairs — including in Fond du Lac County.
4. File your insurance claim without delay. Homeowner policies generally require that losses be reported within a reasonable period. Check your specific policy for applicable deadlines. Allied’s role is to document the damage accurately, provide a detailed repair estimate, and complete the work — we are a licensed restoration contractor, not a public adjuster, and we do not negotiate, settle, or adjust insurance claims on behalf of policyholders.
5. Verify any contractor before you sign anything. Following a confirmed hail event, affected neighborhoods often attract out-of-region contractors. Always request proof of license and insurance, ask for a written estimate, and read any contract before signing. A reputable contractor will never pressure you to sign on the spot.

This article is provided as general information only and does not constitute legal or insurance advice. For guidance specific to your policy or claim, consult your insurer or a licensed public adjuster.

Get a Free Damage Assessment in Fond du Lac

Allied Emergency Services is available around the clock — 24 hours a day, 7 days a week — to respond to storm damage inquiries in Fond du Lac and throughout Fond du Lac County. Whether you spotted something on your inspection and want a professional opinion, or you simply want peace of mind that your property came through yesterday’s storm intact, our team is ready to help.

Visit our Fond du Lac storm damage restoration page to learn more about how we serve this community, or reach us directly any time:

• Call 24/7: (800) 792-0212
• Text ESTIMATE to: (844) 907-2546

Allied Emergency Services has been helping homeowners across the Greater Midwest recover from storm damage for 27 years. We know what quarter-size hail does to a Midwest roof — and we know how to help you get things right.