Hail and windshields
Short answer: Hail of 1 inch, quarter size, is the National Weather Service’s severe threshold, and Dallas County logged 189 such reports from 2015 to July 2026. Windshields are laminated and usually crack; tempered side and back windows shatter[1][2][4].
How is hail size described?
The National Weather Service compares stones with everyday objects. Its SKYWARN chart runs from pea size (1/4 inch) through penny (3/4 inch) and quarter (1 inch), which it marks as the severe criterion, up to golf ball (1 3/4 inches), baseball (2 3/4 inches), grapefruit (4 inches) and softball (4 1/2 inches)[1].
| Size | Description | Dallas County reports at or above |
|---|---|---|
| 1/4 in | Pea | 231 |
| 3/4 in | Penny | 231 |
| 1 in | Quarter (severe) | 189 |
| 1 3/4 in | Golf ball | 40 |
| 2 3/4 in | Baseball | 6 |
| 4 in | Grapefruit | 1 |
Report counts come from this wiki’s Dallas County hail data[2].
What happens to a windshield in hail?
A windshield is laminated: two layers of glass bonded to a plastic interlayer, built so that broken glass stays in place[3]. Hail usually chips or cracks the outer layer and leaves the inner one intact, so the car stays drivable but the damage grows with heat and road vibration. Because the glass is angled back, it takes glancing blows; the flatter back glass and roof take more direct hits. Larger stones and wind-driven hail are what break windshields through.
Why do side and back windows shatter?
Most side and rear windows are tempered glass, which is heat-treated so that it breaks into small blunt pieces rather than shards[4]. A tempered window does not chip and crack like a windshield: once the surface is breached, the whole pane breaks at once. That is why hail can leave a windshield cracked but a back window gone. See back glass and door and quarter glass.
What should a driver do after a hailstorm?
- Photograph the glass and body before moving the car, with the date visible if possible.
- Cover broken openings with plastic and tape; a tempered window leaves the cabin open to rain.
- Check the windshield for chips in the driver’s line of sight, which can glare at night.
- Call the insurer if you carry comprehensive coverage, which in Texas covers hail damage to the car[5].
- Ask the glass shop whether a camera on the windshield will need recalibration after replacement[6].
When is the risk highest?
In Dallas County, March to June produce most hail reports, led by April, with a smaller autumn bump; 24 September 2023 alone produced 14 reports[2]. Parking under cover on days with severe storm warnings is the cheapest protection. Car covers and hail blankets help with small stones, but not with the 2- to 4-inch hail the county saw in 2018, 2023 and 2026.
Does a hail claim count against you in Texas?
The Texas Department of Insurance says a company cannot refuse to renew your policy because you had claims for weather damage[5]. It can still raise rates across a whole area after a bad storm season, and you pay the comprehensive deductible on each claim. See glass claims in Texas.
What does the shop say about hail?
Faith Auto Glass publishes advice posts on handling hail damage to a windshield in the Dallas spring[7]. Its service pages list windshield and back glass replacement and mobile service, which is the work hail usually creates[8].
Citations
- ^ a b SKYWARN hail size chart. National Weather Service, Baltimore/Washington office. Seen 9 November 2026.
- ^ a b c Storm Events Database: hail reports, Dallas County, Texas, 2015 to July 2026. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Seen 9 November 2026.
- ^ 49 CFR 571.205, Standard No. 205: Glazing materials. Electronic Code of Federal Regulations. Seen 9 November 2026.
- ^ a b Tempered glass. Wikipedia. Seen 9 November 2026.
- ^ a b Auto insurance guide. Texas Department of Insurance. Seen 9 November 2026.
- ^ Understanding the Importance of Calibration: What are the Facts?. Auto Glass Safety Council. Seen 9 November 2026.
- ^ Auto Glass Tips & News (blog index). Faith Auto Glass (faithautoglassdallas.com). Seen 9 November 2026.
- ^ Our Services and service areas. Faith Auto Glass (faithautoglassdallas.com). Seen 9 November 2026.
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Reader questions
What size hail breaks a windshield?
There is no fixed size; 1-inch hail is the NWS severe threshold, and golf-ball hail and larger is what most often breaks glass.
Why did hail break my back window but only crack the windshield?
Back and side windows are usually tempered and shatter; windshields are laminated and hold together.
Can my insurer drop me for a hail claim in Texas?
TDI says insurers cannot refuse to renew a policy because of weather damage claims.