Hail history in Empire, MN
Radar has detected major hail over the Empire area on 20 days since 2011, up to 3.75" (baseball size or larger) on August 6, 2013. Source: NOAA Severe Weather Data Inventory radar signatures, which estimate hail aloft near Empire, not confirmed ground reports.
Data last updated: July 28, 2026
Every major hail day near Empire
What this record means for a Empire roof
The list above covers 20 radar-confirmed hail days over Empire between 2011 and 2025. The largest signature recorded over the Empire area was 3.75" (baseball size or larger) on August 6, 2013. Radar put the local estimate at or above the 1" mark, the size generally capable of damaging asphalt shingles, on every one of those days.
Insurers and their adjusters can pull this same NOAA archive, so a date on this list is not news to the company handling a claim. What the archive cannot show is the condition of your specific roof, which is why dated photos and a written inspection report carry the weight in a dispute. Most homeowner policies also set a deadline to report storm damage, commonly one or two years from the date of loss, so a recent date above matters most if the roof was never inspected after it.
Get the roof inspected, free
Radar cannot confirm what hit your shingles; an inspection can, and it costs you nothing. For Minnesota properties, our sister site MN Hail Buddy passes your request to exactly one licensed Minnesota contractor: one company, never a blast list, and your information is not sold to anyone else.
Request a free Minnesota inspectionMN Hail Buddy is part of the same network as this site. The contractor pays for the introduction; you pay nothing.
Before you sign anything, read the contractor red flags: assignment-of-benefits traps, deductible games, and storm-chaser tells.
Nearby towns in the same storm paths
Hail swaths are tens of miles wide, so these communities near Empire share most of the same radar-detected hail days.
Common questions
Has Empire had hail big enough to damage roofs?
Radar has detected hail up to 3.75" (baseball size or larger) over the Empire area, most recently on August 15, 2025. Hail of 1" or larger is generally considered capable of damaging asphalt shingles.
Does this prove my roof was damaged?
No. Radar estimates hail aloft, accurate to roughly a mile, and cannot confirm what reached any specific roof. It is a strong reason to document your roof and check your policy's claim deadline after a listed date, not proof of damage.
How do I check my exact address in Empire?
Use the free address lookup on this site. It searches the same NOAA radar archive within a radius you choose around your address, back to 2011.
If one of these dates is recent
- The first 48 hours : what to photograph and do before anything gets repaired.
- Contractor red flags : worth reading before signing anything a door-knocker hands you.
- The printable Playbook : the whole claim, start to finish.