May Hail Storm May Be Most Expensive In State History

The monster hail storm that pummeled the Denver metro area on May 8th caused more damage than any other storm in state history, according to the Rocky Mountain Insurance Information Association. They estimate that by the time all claims have been filed, the total will be $1.4 billion.

Golf ball - and even baseball-sized - hail damaged homes, cars and businesses along the Front Range during the late afternoon and early evening hours. The largest hail pelted areas west of Denver, including Wheat Ridge, Golden and Lakewood.

"The enormous size of the hail hitting densely populated areas of the Denver-Metro during rush hour has contributed to the magnitude of damage caused by this storm," says Carole Walker, Executive Director of the Rocky Mountain Insurance Information Association.

"Add to that Colorado’s population boom, escalating costs to repair high-tech cars and more expensive homes, the insurance price tag on our hailstorms can be expected to continue to rise."

The association says that the estimate is preliminary and based on the majority of the Colorado insurance company market share reporting available data

They believe that when all is said and done, more than 150,000 car insurance and 50,000 homeowner insurance claims will have been filed.

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The association says that if the $1.4 billion estimate holds up, this storm would surpass the $845.5 million July 20, 2009 storm and the July 11, 1990 storm, the most expensive in adjusted costs for today’s dollars.

Photo and graphic via Rocky Mountain Insurance Information Association