What Happened
Around 5:00 PM on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, a thunderstorm moved southeast across Crawford County. The National Weather Service logged 1.25 inch hail (half dollar size) about 3 miles east of Meadville at 5:02 PM and 1 inch hail (quarter size) about 1 mile north of Cochranton at 6:05 PM. Trees came down southeast and southwest of Meadville and northwest of Cochranton, and the storm kept going into Venango County north of Oil City.
Hail that size can bruise shingles, knock off the protective granules and dent gutters, vents and siding. It's easy to miss from the yard, and it usually doesn't leak until a winter of freezing and thawing works on it.
Every Official Report From the Storm
These come from the NOAA Storm Prediction Center log for September 2, 2026, with times converted to Eastern time. Hail and wind also hit places between these points where nobody filed a report, so if you live near the shaded path, assume your home was in it.
| Time | Location | County | Report |
|---|
| 5:02 PM | 3 mi E of Meadville | Crawford | 1.25 in hail, half dollar |
| 5:10 PM | 2 mi SE and 4 mi SSE of Meadville | Crawford | Several trees down |
| 5:58 PM | 5 mi SW of Meadville | Crawford | Tree down |
| 6:05 PM | 1 mi N of Cochranton | Crawford | 1.00 in hail, quarter |
| 6:18 PM | 5 mi NW of Cochranton | Crawford | Tree down |
| 6:20 PM | 2 mi N of Rouseville | Venango | Tree down |
| 6:30 PM | 7 mi SW of Tionesta | Venango | Tree and lines down |
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center storm reports, September 2, 2026. Reports come from trained spotters, the public and mPING. Some times are estimated from radar.
Communities in the Storm's Path
East Meadville
The largest hail of the storm fell about 3 miles east of town, with trees down just southeast. Homes east of Meadville toward Route 77 were closest.
Cochranton
Quarter size hail about a mile north of town, and a tree down to the northwest.
Between Meadville and Cochranton
The storm moved from one report to the other along the French Creek and Route 322 corridor, so homes in between were likely under it too.
North of Oil City
Trees down north of Rouseville and southwest of Tionesta. No hail was logged there, but wind can lift shingles.
Crawford County Is in an SBA Disaster Area
The U.S. Small Business Administration declared a disaster for severe storms and flash flooding from September 2 through 3, 2026 (declaration PA-20044). Erie and Clinton are the primary counties, and Crawford County is included as a neighboring county. Homeowners there can apply for low interest SBA disaster loans to repair physical damage until November 23, 2026.
Please note: this is an SBA loan program, not a FEMA grant or insurance coverage, and it covers storm and flood damage generally. Learn more and apply at sba.gov. Our inspection photos can help you document damage for any claim or application.
Signs Your Home Took Hail or Wind
You don't need to climb anything. From the ground, look for:
- Dents in gutters, downspouts, window wraps or the metal vents on the roof
- Dark granules collected at the ends of downspouts or inside the gutters
- Missing, lifted or creased shingles, especially on the side that faced the storm
- Dings on a car, grill, shed or mailbox that was outside that evening
- New ceiling stains or damp spots in the attic after a heavy rain
See what hail damage looks like for example pictures.
Why Get It Checked Before Winter
Snow will cover your roof for weeks at a time, and damage that can't be seen can't be photographed. Bruised or lifted shingles also take on water during freeze and thaw cycles, and a small problem in October can be a ceiling leak in February.
About insurance: Many policies have time limits for reporting storm damage, so check yours. We document what we find. Your insurance company decides what your policy covers. We are not an insurance company or a public adjuster.
Who Does the Inspection
I'm Bret Ruth, local out of Franklin. I've partnered directly with The Exterior Company (TEC), which works with homeowners and insurance companies on storm damage every day and handles roofing, siding and gutters under one roof.
A free exterior inspection gives you photos of everything we find and a plain explanation. If there's damage, we help you understand each step of the insurance process and you decide whether to file. If there's nothing wrong, we tell you that.
Common Questions
The hail was only half dollar size. Is that enough to cause damage?
It can be, especially on older shingles, gutters, vents and siding. Wind from the same storm can also lift shingles. The only way to know is to have someone look. The inspection is free.
Does the SBA disaster declaration mean insurance will pay?
No. The SBA declaration opens low interest disaster loans for Crawford County homeowners until November 23, 2026. Insurance coverage is separate, and your insurance company decides what your policy covers.
Is the inspection really free?
Yes. No cost and no obligation. You get photos of everything we find and a plain explanation either way.
Should I climb up and look myself?
Please don't. Fall roofs are slick with leaves and frost, and walking on damaged shingles can make it worse. Look from the ground and let us handle the rest.
More reading: April 15, 2026 hail storm map · What hail damage looks like · Before the first snow checklist · Storm damage roof repair