North Texas Hail Season and Your Windows: What to Do

When is hail season in North Texas?

Hail season in North Texas peaks in spring. The National Weather Service office in Fort Worth says storms with tornadoes, damaging winds and large hail can occur throughout the year, but they are most common in the spring months.

That wording matters for planning. Spring is the time to check your windows, know your policy and have a plan. A storm in October or January is still possible. The agency does not say hail is limited to one season, so a calendar is a guide, not a promise.

This post does not give a hail count per city. The National Weather Service pages we read do not publish one, and we will not invent a number.

How bad can a North Texas hailstorm get?

A single storm can cause billions of dollars in damage. On May 5, 1995, a cluster of severe storms crossed Tarrant and Dallas counties. The National Weather Service Fort Worth summary says the storms caused an estimated $2 billion in damages and calls the event one of the costliest hail storms in history.

The same summary says the storms struck the Mayfest festival at 7:10 pm. More than 10,000 people were in the open. Hail up to the size of softballs fell, and more than 400 people were injured. The agency also says more than 350 cars sustained weather-related damage.

The lesson for a homeowner is simple. Large hail is not a rare idea in this region. Your home is a place where glass, frames and seals take the first hit.

What should you do after hail damages your windows?

File your insurance claim as soon as you can, then protect the house from more damage. The Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) gives a short list. The table below restates it in plain words. Read the full TDI page for your own claim.

Step	What TDI says to do	Why it matters for windows
File early	File an insurance claim as soon as you can.	Early filing starts the process while you protect the house.
Document	Take pictures and video. List damage inside and outside.	Broken glass, dented frames and wet trim all count.
Keep items	Do not throw damaged items away until the insurer says so.	An adjuster may want to see a cracked unit.
Stop more damage	Remove standing water. Cover broken windows and holes. Save receipts.	Your policy may pay for temporary repairs.
Be there	Be available when the adjuster visits.	You can point out every damaged window.
Track calls	Keep a list of everyone you talk to at the insurer.	You will have a record if details change.

TDI also notes that if you cannot stay in your house after a storm, most policies cover some related costs. Keep those receipts too.

How do you avoid repair fraud after a storm?

Get more than one estimate and never pay in full up front. TDI warns that storms bring contractors who knock on doors. Its advice is to compare bids, check references, and call the Better Business Bureau to see if a contractor has complaints.

Three more rules from TDI are worth printing:

1. Do not make your final payment until the work is done.
2. Avoid any contractor who offers to waive your deductible. TDI says it is illegal under state law to do this.
3. Never sign a contract that has blank spaces.

A custom window or door has a long lead time, so ask each bidder to put the schedule and the scope in writing. We do not publish lead times for any product here. The maker sets them, and they change.

What can you plan for when you replace windows after hail?

Plan the glass, the frame and the opening together. Glass type affects how a window handles impact. Our glossary explains impact-resistant glass, laminated glass and tempered glass in plain terms. It also explains the insulating glass unit that most modern windows use.

Be careful with any “hail-proof” claim. We do not make one. Jada, for example, publishes no impact ratings on its product pages. So the honest path is to ask each manufacturer for written test data and read the results side by side.

Questions worth asking before you order:

• Which glass build do you recommend for my exposure, and why?
• Do you have written test results for this exact window or door?
• Who handles removal, opening repair and flashing?
• What does the schedule look like from order to install?

Honey Rock works with Jada, Bertrand and Sun Windows, and describes its work as running “From the initial design process to the final installation.” Hail repairs often turn into upgrades. If you are already opening walls, read our guide on planning a window and door project and the page on window replacement in Dallas.

Permits and historic rules still apply after a storm. Some neighborhoods have design rules for windows. See our post on the M Streets window rules for one example, and confirm what applies to your address with the city.

What should you check on your windows after a storm?

Check the glass first, then the frames and seals. This is a practical checklist, not a rule from a weather agency. After a storm, walk the house in daylight and look for cracks, chips, bent frames, torn screens and stains around the trim.

A short check list:

• Cracks or chips in glass, including the inner pane.
• Dents or bent corners on frames.
• Water marks on the sill, jamb or drywall.
• Seals that look pulled away.
• Doors that stick or no longer close squarely.

Photograph each one with a date. Mark the window on a simple floor plan. An adjuster and a contractor will both use it.

What this post cannot tell you

This post does not replace your policy, your adjuster or an engineer. Insurance terms vary. TDI’s page covers general steps and does not decide your claim. Call TDI at the number on its page if you have a question about your rights.

Rules and agency pages change. We read the sources below in November 2026. Check them again before you act.

Next step

If hail has damaged your windows or doors, or you want stronger glass in a new build, tell us about your project at /contact-us or call (214) 484-9982. For how we think about replacement, see window replacement in Dallas.