The Front Range Hail Calendar
Not all months are equal. Based on NOAA reports and four years of field documentation in El Paso County:
- ●April–May: Opening season. Cold air masses still dominate, creating high-altitude hail cells that deliver marble-to-golf-ball-sized stones. The 2023 April storm was the costliest in El Paso County history.
- ●June (peak): Highest frequency month for hail events. Stronger updrafts produce larger stones and faster-moving cells.
- ●July–August: Less frequent but severe. Afternoon thunderstorm season — hail tends to be smaller but wind-driven, creating horizontal impact patterns on siding and windows.
- ●September: End-of-season cells track in from the southwest. Often high-altitude hail with significant soft-metal damage even when shingle impact is marginal.
- ●October–March: Rare but possible. Non-convective systems can produce hail — claims in this window are sometimes challenged by carriers, making documentation especially critical.
The Claim Filing Window: What Colorado Law Says
Colorado's statute of limitations on first-party insurance claims is two years from the date of loss. Most policies also contain a suit limitation clause (often one year) and a prompt notice requirement. Waiting too long can jeopardize your right to file — even if the damage is thoroughly documented.
The 12-Month Practical Window
While the legal window is two years, the practical window is 12 months. After that, evidence degrades, carrier adjusters are harder to schedule, and the forensic documentation that supports your claim becomes less compelling. If you had storm damage in the past 12 months and haven't had a professional inspection, your window is closing.
What Happens After the Storm Moves Through
- ●Days 1–7: The carrier's catastrophe (CAT) team deploys. They're processing hundreds of claims and have financial incentive to close them quickly.
- ●Weeks 2–4: Your adjuster is scheduled. This is when the first estimate is generated — often based on a ladder inspection, not a forensic audit.
- ●Months 2–6: Most homeowners accept the first offer. Those who don't — and who have documentation — negotiate supplements.
- ●Months 6–18: Supplement requests and re-inspections happen. The carrier's appetite for contesting well-documented claims decreases over time.
- ●Months 18–24: Claims become much harder to reopen. Documentation ages out; satellite storm data becomes less correlatable.
How to Protect Your Claim from Day One
- ●Date your damage: Write down the storm date, check the National Weather Service for verification, photograph any time-stamped data you can.
- ●Don't make permanent repairs before filing: Temporary tarps are fine. Permanent repairs made before an adjuster inspection can eliminate evidence of the original damage.
- ●Get a forensic audit before the adjuster visit: Our documentation package gives your adjuster a framework — they have to address what's in writing.
- ●Don't sign anything from the carrier until you've reviewed it: A signed proof of loss at ACV may close your claim before you receive RCV.
- ●Ask us to attend the adjuster meeting: We know what adjusters look for — and what they skip.