Raising Hail: What We Learned at HailTrace's 2026 Storm Season Kickoff

What Is the Raising Hail Tour?

The Raising Hail Tour is an annual nationwide event hosted by HailTrace, the number-one weather consulting company in the roofing industry. Founded by Derik Kline — a self-described weather nerd and veteran storm chaser from Oklahoma — HailTrace provides the most reliable and accurate severe weather data in the business, serving over 10,000 clients.

The tour hits six cities every year, and the Denton stop is always a big one for Texas contractors. The event follows a four-part structure that covers the full claims journey: from forecasting the storm to fighting for coverage in court. It's emceed by broadcast meteorologist Taylor Cox and packed with industry-leading speakers.

2025 Recap: The Quietest Hail Season in a Decade

One of the first things Derik covered was the 2025 season recap. If you felt like last year was quiet, you weren't imagining it — 2025 was the lightest hail season Texas has seen in the last 10 years.

But here's the thing most homeowners don't realize: a quiet hail year doesn't mean your roof is fine. If your home was hit in 2023 or 2024 — both of which were significantly more active — that damage is still there. Hail damage doesn't heal itself. Granule loss, bruised shingles, and compromised flashing from previous storms continue to degrade your roof every day.

2026 Forecast: Get Ready, Texas

This is the session everyone shows up for — Derik Kline's annual hail forecast. And the message for 2026 was clear: expect increased hail activity across Texas.

After the light 2025 season, atmospheric conditions are aligning for a more active severe weather year. The factors that suppressed storm development last year are shifting, and Central Texas sits right in the crosshairs. For homeowners in Austin, Round Rock, Georgetown, San Marcos, and the surrounding areas, the takeaway is simple: now is the time to prepare.

Building Airtight Claims with Weather Data

One of the most valuable sessions was presented by HailTrace and Orlo Forensics (led by Todd Stern). They demonstrated how pairing precise weather data with forensic causation inspections creates documentation that insurance companies can't argue with.

Here's why this matters: when you file an insurance claim, the burden of proof is on you. You need to show that the damage was caused by a specific weather event. Generic photos and a verbal “yeah, it hailed here” aren't enough anymore. Insurance companies are getting more sophisticated in their denials, and your documentation needs to match.

At Hive, we already use HailTrace data in our inspection process. This session reinforced that we're on the right track and gave us new techniques to make our claims documentation even stronger. When we inspect your roof, we don't just look at what's broken — we build the case for why it broke and when.

Fighting for Your Coverage

The final session featured Merlin Law Group, one of the top insurance policyholder law firms in the country. They broke down the latest trends in coverage denials, state-specific legal updates for Texas, and strategies for getting claims approved when insurance companies push back.

Some of the biggest takeaways for Texas homeowners:

Why This Matters: Hive Is Always Stacking Knowledge

I want to be straight with you: not every roofing company invests in this level of education. A lot of contractors show up after a storm, knock on your door, and move on to the next town. That's not us.

At Hive Roofing & Solar, we're consistently investing in our team's knowledge. We attend events like the Raising Hail Tour. We maintain our HAAG certification. We use the latest weather data and inspection technology. We stay current on insurance law and claims strategy. Because when we show up to inspect your roof, we want to give you the most complete, accurate picture possible.

You're only one storm away from needing a roofing company you can trust. When that day comes, you want someone who's already done the homework. Someone who knows the forecast, understands the claims process inside and out, and will advocate for you every step of the way.