Hail is a natural phenomenon experienced in most parts of the world at some point in time. Hail is formed in strong thunderstorm clouds when an intense updraft combines with a high liquid water content. Hailstones can increase in size as more water freezes onto their surface. Hail varies in weight as well as size-from half a centimetre in diameter to that of a grapefruit. The size and intensity of hailstones impact the degree of damage they cause, especially to vehicles, aircrafts, buildings, crops and livestock. Hailstorms cause cracks in buildings and leaks in rooftops-which bear the brunt of hailstorm damage more often than not.

Due to the intensity of storms attributed to some catastrophic weather events, onsite catastrophe (CAT) adjusters are likely to encounter the effects of hailstorms. Roofs are constantly exposed to the elements and subject to wear and tear. Because of this, the use of proper documentation practices to identify and capture the true hailstorm damage greatly assists in coverage determination. Following are some best practices in documenting the physical damage of hailstorms during a catastrophic event.