Solar Panels and Hail: Will Your System Survive Major Storms?

It's the question almost every solar shopper eventually asks: what happens to my $25,000 rooftop investment when a hailstorm hits?

The honest answer surprises people. Solar panels are one of the most durable pieces of equipment on a typical American home — more durable than the asphalt shingles underneath them, more durable than skylights, and substantially more durable than a car's windshield. The vast majority of hailstorms cause zero damage to a properly installed modern solar array.

But "vast majority" is not "all." Severe hail does happen, and when it does, the cleanup is more involved than a roof claim. Here's a clear-eyed look at the real risk, what the data shows, and how to make sure your system and your wallet are protected.

How Tough Are Modern Solar Panels, Really?

Every solar panel sold in the United States is tested to the IEC 61215 international standard. Part of that test specifically measures hail impact. Panels are hit with 1-inch (25 mm) ice balls fired at 51 mph (23 m/s) at 11 different points on the front surface. To pass, the panel must show no visible cracks and continue to perform within 5% of rated output.

Most modern Tier 1 panels go well beyond that. Premium residential modules from manufacturers like Q CELLS, REC, Panasonic, Maxeon, and Silfab are commonly tested to handle 2-inch (50 mm) hail at 70+ mph, with some "hail-resistant" models rated for 3-inch hail.

For context, the National Weather Service classifies hail by size:

• Pea (0.25") to dime (0.75") — extremely common, no panel risk
• Quarter (1.0") — meets the IEC test threshold, no risk to compliant panels
• Golf ball (1.75") — most modern panels still survive
• Tennis ball (2.5") — premium hail-rated panels designed for this
• Baseball (2.75") and above — all bets off, severe damage to roofs and cars too

According to NOAA's Storm Events Database, the average annual incidence of 2-inch-or-larger hail in any single U.S. zip code is well under 1%. In the highest-risk areas — parts of Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado, and Wyoming — it's higher but still below 5% per year. For most of the country, the actual probability of seeing destructive hail in any given year is very low.

Real-World Damage Data

The most cited large-scale study of solar hail damage came after the May 2017 Denver hailstorm, which produced widespread 2.75-inch hail across a metro area with roughly 30,000 residential solar systems. NREL and the Solar Energy Industries Association reviewed insurance and installer data from the aftermath:

• Roughly 0.05% of analyzed residential modules suffered cell-level damage
• Approximately 1.5% of arrays in the most-affected areas needed at least one panel replaced
• Most affected systems continued operating at greater than 90% of pre-storm output

A more recent and dramatic data point: the May 2019 hailstorm at the 178 MW Midway Solar Farm in Pecos County, Texas, generated headlines because roughly 400,000 utility-scale modules were damaged. But the damage was at a utility-scale facility with fixed-tilt mounting and lower-grade modules. Residential rooftop systems in the same region with steeper-tilt installation and better modules saw a fraction of the damage.

The takeaway: catastrophic solar hail loss is rare. When it happens, it's almost always in regions with documented high hail risk and almost always covered by homeowners insurance.

How Insurance Actually Handles Solar Hail Damage

Your roof-mounted solar system is treated as part of your home for insurance purposes in nearly every state. That means:

Standard homeowners HO-3 and HO-5 policies cover solar damage from hail, wind, lightning, fire, falling objects, and most named perils. The panels and inverters are typically included in your dwelling coverage limit, not as a separate rider.

The deductible applies once for the whole storm event. If you have a $2,000 wind/hail deductible and a storm damages your roof and your panels, you pay $2,000 total — not separate deductibles for the roof and the array.

Replacement cost coverage is critical. If your policy is "actual cash value" instead of "replacement cost," depreciation will be subtracted from the panel value, leaving you to cover the gap. If you have solar (or are about to install it), call your agent to confirm you have replacement cost coverage on dwelling, and ask if there's a separate roof schedule that depreciates with age.

Some insurers in high-hail states require a separate "wind/hail deductible" that's a percentage of the dwelling value (often 1% to 5%) instead of a flat dollar amount. On a $400,000 dwelling, a 2% wind/hail deductible is $8,000. That can change the math on whether to file a small claim or pay out of pocket.

Notify your insurer when you install solar. Most carriers want to know about the system, and a few states allow them to require separate disclosure or a small rate adjustment. Failure to notify can become a coverage issue during a claim.

Warranty vs Insurance: What Each Actually Covers

This is the part that confuses most homeowners.

The product warranty (typically 10-25 years on the panel itself, 5-15 years on inverters) covers manufacturing defects. If the panel cracks because of a defect in the glass or a delamination issue, the manufacturer pays.

The performance warranty (typically 25-30 years) guarantees the panel will produce a certain percentage of rated power. It does not cover physical damage from storms.

The workmanship warranty (typically 5-10 years from your installer) covers installation errors, like a leak around a mounting bracket. It does not cover hail damage.

Hail damage is an insurance claim, not a warranty claim. The manufacturer and installer are not on the hook unless the panel was somehow defective in a way that made it fail during normal weather.

If you live in a high-hail region and want extra peace of mind, ask your installer about modules specifically rated for severe hail. Q CELLS Q.PEAK Duo, REC Alpha Pure-R, and Maxeon 6 are commonly cited for their above-average hail performance. The premium is usually $0.05 to $0.15 per watt installed — perhaps $400 to $1,200 on a typical 8 kW system.

What to Do After a Hail Storm

If a significant storm hits your area:

1. Don't climb on the roof. Wet panels and roof debris are a serious fall hazard. Use binoculars or a drone if you have one.
2. Check your monitoring app. Most modern systems will flag underperformance or outright failure within hours. Compare today's production to a similar weather day last week or last month.
3. Document the storm. Save the local NOAA storm report, news articles, and any visible exterior damage to vehicles, screens, or vinyl siding. This corroborates the date and severity if you need to file a claim.
4. Call your installer. Most reputable solar companies offer post-storm visual inspections at no charge. They'll also know how to document panel damage in the format your insurance adjuster will accept.
5. Call your insurance carrier. File the claim under your homeowners policy. Mention the solar system specifically so the adjuster brings the right specialist or knows to coordinate with your installer.
6. Get a replacement quote in writing before signing anything. Some adjusters will offer to pay out a "panel cleaning and inspection" amount when actual replacement is warranted. A written installer estimate gives you leverage.

Bottom Line: Should Hail Risk Change Your Solar Decision?

For most U.S. homeowners, no. Modern panels meet or exceed the impact standards used to certify residential roofing materials. The actual annual probability of severe hail damage is very low, and your homeowners insurance is designed to cover it when it does happen.

If you live in a documented high-hail region (Front Range Colorado, parts of Texas, the Plains states), three reasonable steps:

• Choose hail-rated modules (Q CELLS, REC Alpha Pure-R, Maxeon 6, or equivalent)
• Confirm your homeowners policy has replacement cost coverage and a manageable wind/hail deductible
• Ask your installer about Class 4 impact-rated mounting hardware

Beyond that, the data is clear: rooftop solar is one of the most weather-resilient pieces of your home. Don't let storm anxiety push you toward a worse financial decision.

Want to see how solar pencils out for your specific zip code, including local incentives that can offset any extra hail-rated module cost? Run a free estimate on the EnergyScout calculator, or browse our state-by-state incentive search to see what's available where you live.

Sources

1. IEC 61215 Crystalline Silicon Terrestrial Photovoltaic Modules Standard — iec.ch
2. NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database — ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents
3. NREL Hail Damage Field Study — Denver Storm Analysis — nrel.gov
4. SEIA Solar System Insurance and Risk Guide — seia.org
5. Insurance Information Institute, Homeowners Insurance and Solar Panels — iii.org
6. EnergySage 2026 Solar Hail Resistance Comparison — energysage.com