Storms in Charlotte-area brought damaging wind and hail. How to brace for the next one [The Charlotte Observer]

When thunderstorms moved through the Charlotte area Monday evening, some residents saw severe damaging winds and two-inch hail, The Charlotte Observer reported.

Both Iredell and Rowan counties reported fallen trees, while Chesterfield County saw downed trees and powerlines near Powhite Parkway, WCNC reported.

In Mecklenburg County, hail as large as an inch was reported in north Charlotte, according to WCNC.

How does wind damage property?

When a strong to severe thunderstorm develops, that means the updrafts and downdrafts are strong, according to the National Weather Service.

While updrafts are what create a thunderstorm, “every thunderstorm also has a downdraft,” this is where “precipitation - rain and hail - falls from the storm,” NWS said.

“Today, we have a lot of Dcape or downdraft cape in place, which is about 1,300 to 1,400 jolts per kilogram of Dcape. So when we have high values like that, that can lead to damaging winds within thunderstorms. And so, it can create damage to property when those strong winds come down to the surface,” Ashley Rehnberg, a meteorologist at The Greenville-Spartanburg Airport said.

How to prepare for a severe storm

“For hail, you really can’t do much,” Rehnberg said. However, you can protect your car by parking it in a garage or carport.

If you happen to be far from a building or car during a hail storm, NWS says the best thing to do is “lie in an area noticeably lower than the level of the roadway and cover your head with your arms and a blanket, coat or other cushion if possible.”

And if you are driving during a large hail storm, pull over into a parking lot or gas station. Use a blanket or coat to protect yourself in case the windshield shatters.

When preparing for damaging winds, NWS suggests that people put up their trash cans, patio furniture or “anything that would blow away or become a projectile.”

If you have a trampoline, for example, tie it down and stow it somewhere sheltered from the wind so that it doesn’t blow onto someone else’s property.

“If a trampoline were to become airborne and land on a powerline, that could knock the power out potentially,” Rehnberg said.

And as for long-term protection solutions, FEMA advises replacing rock and gravel with materials like mulch or dirt.

How strong does wind have to be to cause damage?

While wind can do things like damage the shingles on roofs or knock over trees, Rehnberg explains that “severe thunderstorm warnings start at about 58 mph, that’s when the National Weather Service’s severe threshold starts.”

At 58 mph or more, is typically when more damage, like knocking down trees, will occur.

How big does hail need to be to cause damage?

“It’s usually around the size of a quarter, I believe, where it can start causing damage,” Rehnberg said.

While damaging hail starts at 1-inch in diameter, NWS says the larger hail gets, the higher likelihood it has to cause more damage.

Should I have wind and hail coverage?

It is important to note the specific cause of damage because of the differences in insurance coverage.

“In the state of North Carolina, Wind & Hail insurance might not be a part of your homeowners policy. Yet in a majority of cases, it is wind and hail that will do the most damage to your home,” North Carolina Coastal Insurance explained on its website.

“Depending on where you live, and the insurance company’s underwriting guidelines, windstorm and hail coverage may be excluded from your primary residential property insurance policy,” North Carolina Department of Insurance said.

Property owners have the option to purchase a separate windstorm and hail policy. But, this policy may have a separate deductible according to NCDOI.

If your windstorm and hail coverage is offered in a separate policy, it is typically written by the North Carolina Insurance Underwriting Association.

To be eligible for a windstorm and hail policy with the NCIUA, you will need an active primary coverage policy provided by an admitted carrier in North Carolina that has excluded windstorms.

Consider having a conversation with your insurance company about your coverage for wind and hail losses to determine your next steps.

What materials will protect against hail and wind?

A padded car cover or hail protection blanket can safeguard you from hail storms.

Creating windbreaks for your home by planting trees, shrubs, and bushes together, can protect you from high winds. These landscaping efforts provide wind protection, minimizing home heating costs and reducing wind speeds.

Vinyl siding and fiber-cement siding can also resist high winds when properly installed, according to FEMA.

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