Published by Regenesis Roofing | Cedar Park & Leander, TX
Data sources: NOAA Storm Events Database, NCEI Billion-Dollar Disasters, NWS Austin/San Antonio (EWX), U.S. Census ACS, Point2Homes, IBHS, KVUE, KXAN
Key Findings
- The September 24, 2023 hailstorm caused $300 million in damage to Williamson County alone — the most expensive storm ever to hit the Austin region, according to the National Weather Service.
- State Farm was working 6,700 home and auto claims from the Round Rock area just 48 hours after that storm.
- Cedar Park’s median home construction year is 2004. More than 34% of its housing stock was built between 2000 and 2009 — meaning tens of thousands of roofs are now 15 to 25 years old and squarely in the replacement window.
- In Leander, 75% of all housing units were built after 2000. As the fastest-growing city in the United States between 2018 and 2019, much of that construction happened rapidly and in an era before impact-resistant shingles became standard practice.
- Williamson County has been hit by damaging hail at least 7 times in the past 10 years, with hailstones ranging from quarter-size to softball-size.
- March 25 is statistically Austin’s most hail-active single date, with three separate major storms recorded on that date in 1993, 2005, and 2009.
- Texas averages 667 hail events per year — more than any other state — and the I-35 corridor regularly sees hail over 2 inches in diameter.
Introduction: Why Your Roof Has Been Through More Than You Think
Most Cedar Park and Leander homeowners bought their house knowing it sat in a fast-growing suburb north of Austin. A great school district. A manageable commute. Good neighbors. What most of them did not factor in was the weather.
The Austin metro sits in the northern reach of a region meteorologists call “Hail Alley” — a corridor stretching from Central Texas through the Great Plains where warm Gulf air collides with cold fronts in a way that produces hail with unusual frequency and size. Along the I-35 corridor specifically, hailstones over 2 inches in diameter are now a regular occurrence.
This is not a new problem. But it has gotten worse. And for homeowners in Cedar Park and Leander specifically, the timing has created a serious risk: an enormous wave of homes built quickly during a growth boom are now aging into a period when their original roofing systems face the most weather stress they will ever see.
This report pulls together a decade of storm event data, Census housing age records, and insurance claims information to paint a clear picture of what that means for your roof.
Part 1: The Storms That Have Hit the Austin Metro Since 2014
The NOAA Storm Events Database, maintained by the National Centers for Environmental Information, tracks hail events by county using reports from NWS offices, trained SKYWARN spotters, law enforcement, and emergency managers. The Austin/San Antonio NWS office (call sign EWX) covers Williamson, Travis, Hays, and surrounding Central Texas counties.
The following is a record of the most significant hail events affecting the Cedar Park, Leander, and broader Williamson County area over the past decade.
The September 24, 2023 Storm: A Record That Still Stands
No storm in the past decade comes close to September 24, 2023.
Beginning in Williamson County and tracking south into Travis County, the storm produced baseball-sized to softball-sized hail across Round Rock, Cedar Park, Pflugerville, and North Austin. Hailstones of 2.75 inches in diameter were confirmed near South Round Rock. Reports from Leander Road in the Cedar Park area documented quarter-to-golf-ball-sized hail moving through at high velocity.
The National Weather Service in New Braunfels calculated the total property damage at approximately $600 million across Travis and Williamson counties combined — roughly $300 million per county. The NWS called it the most expensive storm ever to hit the Austin region.
State Farm Insurance was working 6,700 home and auto claims from Round Rock alone within 48 hours. The City of Round Rock reported over 200 vehicles with windshield or body damage. Round Rock car dealerships reported an estimated $27 million in vehicle inventory damage on their own.
Round Rock resident Tanya VanMeter, who lived through it, described her neighborhood afterward: “It’s the worst I’ve ever seen. I’ve lived here my whole life, and I’ve never seen hail like this before, ever in my life. The whole neighborhood was a war zone. Literally, it looked like bombs have gone off.”
Despite the scale of damage, Williamson County did not issue a formal disaster declaration — a decision that left many homeowners without access to government recovery resources and navigating insurance claims entirely on their own.
What this means for Cedar Park and Leander roofs: Many homes in these cities received direct or near-direct hits in September 2023. Impact damage to asphalt shingles is not always visible from the ground. A roof that appears intact from the street can have fractured fiberglass mats, stripped granules, and compromised seals that will not show as active leaks for another 12 to 24 months. Homes that were not professionally inspected after September 2023 may be sitting on undisclosed damage that voids their remaining warranty and increases their vulnerability in the next storm.
Other Major Events in the Past Decade
April 28 to May 1, 2021: Record Hail, Wind, and Tornado Events
The NWS Austin/San Antonio office designated this multi-day outbreak one of the most significant weather events in the region’s recent history. Williamson County recorded ping pong ball-sized hail (1.5 inches) and experienced tornado-producing supercells. This event triggered widespread roof damage across the county.
April 30, 2022
Quarter to golf ball-sized hail (1.25 inches) hit the Hutto and southeast Williamson County corridor. NWS spotter reports confirmed damage to rooftop surfaces across the eastern portion of the county.
October 24, 2022
While primarily a high-wind event, this storm produced shingles blown off roofs across the Cedar Park and Leander area. NWS EWX documented wind gusts sufficient to strip unsealed or aging shingles from multiple neighborhoods northwest of Georgetown.
April 28, 2023
Ping pong ball-sized hail (1.5 inches) was confirmed 8 miles northeast of Williamson County’s center. The storm tracked through portions of northern Williamson County.
September 24, 2023
See detailed section above.
May 30, 2024
Golf ball-sized hail (2.5 inches) hit Williamson County, confirmed by NWS EWX. Travis County ranked in the top 10 Texas counties for insurance hail claims that year, reflecting the continued frequency of damaging storms in the immediate metro area.
April 9, 2024
City of Hutto Emergency Management confirmed quarter-sized hail across southeastern Williamson County. Multiple NWS reports logged from this event.
April 22, 2025
The most recent confirmed damaging hail event for the area, with quarter-sized (1 inch) hail confirmed 7 miles southwest of Cedar Park, along the Leander Road corridor.
The Recurring “Hail Day”: March 25
Austin has a documented pattern that no other city in Texas shares: three separate catastrophic hailstorms have struck on exactly March 25 across different years.
- March 25, 1993: Hen egg-sized hail caused over $125 million in damage to the Austin area.
- March 25, 2005: A second major storm caused $100 million in damage.
- March 25, 2009: The most destructive of the three, with hail ranging from golf ball to softball size. NWS rated it the worst March 25 storm in Austin history at the time.
This pattern does not mean a storm will hit every March 25 — weather does not work that way. But it does confirm that Central Texas’s atmospheric setup in late March is a well-established driver of severe hail events. If you own a home with an aging roof in the Cedar Park or Leander area, late March through early June is your highest-risk window.
Part 2: When Hail Season Hits
Texas hail is not randomly distributed across the calendar. It follows a pattern that Cedar Park and Leander homeowners should understand.
Primary hail season: March through June. This is the period when Gulf moisture and cold fronts interact most frequently along the I-35 corridor. April is historically the most active single month. The region experiences the most hail events, and the largest hailstones, during this window.
Secondary risk window: September through November. The September 2023 storm proved this window can produce the most destructive events in the record. Late summer heating creates atmospheric instability that can generate severe supercells. Do not assume the risk drops off when summer ends.
Lower risk: December through February. This is the best window for roof inspections, deferred maintenance, and replacement planning. Contractor schedules are more open, material lead times are shorter, and you have time to address issues before the next primary season begins.
The Austin area has been under severe weather warnings 47 times in the past 12 months and Doppler radar has detected hail at or near Austin on 122 separate occasions. Cedar Park specifically has recorded 64 radar-detected hail events. These are not rare occurrences. They are a persistent feature of life in Central Texas.
Part 3: The Housing Age Problem
Storm frequency alone does not determine risk. Roof age determines how much damage any given storm causes.
Here is the problem Cedar Park and Leander are sitting on.
Cedar Park
According to U.S. Census data analyzed by Point2Homes, Cedar Park’s housing stock breaks down as follows:
- Median home construction year: 2004
- Homes built 2000 to 2009: 34.2% of all housing units
- Homes built 2010 to 2019: 28.6% of all housing units
Cedar Park has approximately 29,220 housing units. That means roughly 10,000 homes were built between 2000 and 2009, and those homes are now between 15 and 25 years old. Standard 3-tab and architectural asphalt shingles in Central Texas — where summer UV intensity accelerates granule loss — typically last 18 to 22 years. That places a large portion of Cedar Park’s housing stock at or past the point where a single severe hail event moves a roof from “worn but functional” to “needs replacement.”
An additional 8,350 homes were built between 2010 and 2019, putting them in the 6-to-15-year range. These roofs are not at end-of-life yet, but many were installed before impact-resistant shingles became standard in the region, and they have already been through the September 2023 event and the 2021 outbreak.
Leander
Leander’s situation is even more concentrated. According to census data, 75.1% of all housing units in Leander were built after the year 2000 — approximately 12,600 homes. Leander was the fastest-growing city in the United States between 2018 and 2019. That growth happened quickly, with large-scale subdivisions built in rapid succession, often using the same roofing materials and installation crews.
The city’s population has grown 847% since 2000. The roofs installed during that growth surge are now aging together, at roughly the same rate, in the same climate, under the same storm exposure. When you combine that housing age profile with the documented history of hail events above, the implication is clear: Leander is heading toward a significant wave of roof replacements, and the next major storm could accelerate that timeline substantially.
Williamson County by the Numbers
Williamson County had 237,680 total housing units as of the 2020 Census. Using Cedar Park’s construction-year distribution as a proxy for the broader county (supported by the region’s well-documented 2000s growth boom), the picture that emerges is striking:
Roughly 80,000 to 100,000 homes across the county were built during the period when today’s standard 3-tab and architectural shingles were installed. At the 18-to-22-year lifespan mark in Central Texas conditions, a substantial portion of those roofs are currently in or near the replacement window — and they have been through at least two significant hail events since 2021.
Part 4: What the Numbers Mean for Your Roof
Age and Hail Damage: How They Interact
A brand-new asphalt shingle roof rated for standard wind and hail will absorb most moderate hail events with minimal damage. But asphalt shingles age. Granules — the mineral surface that protects the asphalt layer beneath — wear off gradually over time. UV radiation in Central Texas accelerates this process faster than in northern climates. A 20-year-old roof in Cedar Park has experienced two decades of Texas summers. Its granule coverage is thinner. Its fiberglass mat is more brittle. Its adhesive strips may have lost their seal.
When a 2.75-inch hailstone strikes that roof versus a new one, the outcome is different. The new roof may sustain cosmetic damage. The 20-year-old roof may sustain functional damage — cracks in the fiberglass mat, fractures along the ridge cap, broken seals that allow water infiltration. The damage may not show as an active leak for 12 to 18 months, but the structural integrity of the roof has been compromised.
This is why age and storm exposure compound each other. It is not enough to know a storm hit. You need to know how old your roof was when it did.
The Inspection Gap
After the September 2023 storm, thousands of Cedar Park and Leander homeowners filed insurance claims. But thousands more did not — either because they saw no obvious damage, because they assumed their insurer would reach out, or because door-knocking contractors from out of state showed up immediately and created distrust of the whole process.
Insurance claims for storm damage in Texas have a filing window. Policies vary, but many require written notice within 2 years of the event date. For homeowners who experienced the September 2023 storm, that window has already closed under many standard Texas policies. Any damage from that event is now a personal expense.
For the April 2021 and 2022 events, those windows closed some time ago.
This is the inspection gap: the space between what actually happened to a roof and what a homeowner knows happened to their roof. It is filled by time, by deferred maintenance, and by the quiet process of water finding its way into places it should not be.
The I-35 Corridor Risk
Meteorologists have specifically identified the I-35 corridor — which runs directly through Round Rock, Cedar Park, and the eastern edge of Leander — as a zone that now regularly receives hail over 2 inches in diameter. Multiple major carriers have issued non-renewals in Williamson and Travis counties as a direct result of hail loss exposure.
The insurance market is repricing this risk in real time. Homeowners who haven’t repriced their understanding of their own roof should.
Part 5: What to Do With This Information
If Your Roof Was Built Between 2000 and 2009
Your roof is between 15 and 25 years old. In Central Texas climate conditions, that places it in or past the normal lifespan range for standard asphalt shingles. You should schedule a professional inspection before the next primary hail season (March through June). The inspection should assess granule coverage, the integrity of the fiberglass mat, the condition of ridge cap and drip edge, and the status of all penetrations (pipes, vents, skylights, HVAC equipment).
If Your Roof Was Built Between 2010 and 2015
Your roof is 10 to 15 years old. It is not at end-of-life, but it has been through the 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025 storm seasons in Central Texas. At a minimum, schedule a post-storm inspection after any event that produces quarter-sized hail or larger in your ZIP code. Document the inspection with photos. Keep a written record.
If You Received No Professional Inspection After the September 2023 Storm
This is the highest-priority action item in this report. The September 24, 2023 storm caused $300 million in Williamson County damage. If your home was in the path of that storm and you have not had a professional roofer inspect it since then, you may be living on a roof with undocumented functional damage. Schedule an inspection now. A licensed roofing contractor can assess the current condition of your shingles and document any storm-related damage that is still present.
If You Are Planning to Stay in Your Home for Another 10 to 15 Years
Consider the cost-of-ownership case for Class 4 impact-resistant shingles at your next replacement. Texas buys 43% of all impact-resistant shingles sold nationally. Most Texas insurers offer premium discounts for Class 4 rated roofs, and some carriers in high-risk counties require them for new coverage. An impact-resistant roof costs more upfront but weathers hail events with significantly less functional damage, reducing the likelihood of a major claim and extending the time between replacements.
Methodology and Data Sources
NOAA Storm Events Database — ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents
Hail event records for Williamson, Travis, and Hays counties, filtered by event type (Hail), 2014 to 2025.
NOAA NCEI: Billion-Dollar Disasters — ncei.noaa.gov/access/billions/state-summary/TX
Texas-specific data on confirmed weather and climate disaster events exceeding $1 billion in losses, 1980 to 2024.
NWS Austin/San Antonio (EWX) Past Weather Events — weather.gov/ewx/wxevents
Chronological listing of significant weather events in the EWX coverage area.
KVUE and KXAN Reporting — Primary news sources for the September 24, 2023 storm event, including NWS damage estimates and State Farm claims data.
U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey — data.census.gov, Table B25034 (Year Structure Built), Cedar Park city and Williamson County geographies, 2023 5-year estimates.
Point2Homes Housing Age Analysis — Cedar Park construction year distribution data (34.2% built 2000–2009; 28.6% built 2010–2019).
IBHS and Roofing Contractor Magazine — Texas major hail event data 2015–2024. Texas #1 ranking for hail events nationally.
Interactive Hail Maps / HailTrace — Cedar Park radar detection frequency (64 events), Austin severe weather warning data.
LOA Construction — March 25 “Hail Day” historical record: 1993, 2005, 2009.
About Regenesis Roofing
Regenesis Roofing is a locally owned and operated roofing contractor serving Cedar Park, Leander, and the greater Austin metro area. We specialize in residential roof replacement and storm damage repair for Central Texas homeowners.
We compiled this data report because we believe homeowners in this area deserve a clear, factual picture of their hail exposure. If you have questions about the condition of your roof or want to schedule a free inspection, contact our team at (512) 674-5979 or reach us online.
We do not knock on doors after storms. We do not waive deductibles (that is illegal in Texas). We provide detailed inspection reports with photos, work directly with your insurance company, and stand behind our work with written warranties.
Last updated: March 2026. Storm event data reflects records available through early 2026. Housing age data reflects 2023 5-year ACS estimates. For the most current NOAA storm event data, visit ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often does Cedar Park get damaging hail?
Doppler radar has detected hail at or near Cedar Park, Texas on 64 separate occasions. Trained spotters have confirmed 12 on-the-ground hail events in the area. The Cedar Park metro has been under severe weather warnings 28 times in the past 12 months alone.
What was the worst hailstorm to ever hit the Austin area?
The September 24, 2023 hailstorm was the most expensive storm in Austin area history, according to the National Weather Service. It produced baseball-to-softball-sized hail across Williamson and Travis counties and caused an estimated $600 million in combined property damage, approximately $300 million in each county.
How old does a roof need to be before hail damage becomes a serious concern?
In Central Texas, standard asphalt shingles typically last 18 to 22 years. A roof that is 15 years or older has experienced significant UV exposure and granule wear. After that point, even moderate hail (quarter to golf ball size) can cause functional damage to the shingles’ fiberglass mat, which may not show as an active leak for 12 to 24 months but compromises the roof’s integrity.
Is Cedar Park in a high-risk area for hail?
Yes. Cedar Park sits in the northern Austin metro along the I-35 corridor, which meteorologists have specifically identified as an area that regularly receives hail over 2 inches in diameter. The area has experienced multiple storm events exceeding $100 million in regional damage since 2021.
What percentage of Cedar Park homes have roofs that are 15 years or older?
Based on U.S. Census housing age data, approximately 34.2% of Cedar Park’s housing stock was built between 2000 and 2009. With a median construction year of 2004, a large portion of Cedar Park’s roughly 29,220 housing units now have roofs that are between 15 and 25 years old.
What is the filing deadline for a hail damage insurance claim in Texas?
Texas insurance policies vary, but many standard homeowner policies require written notice of a claim within 2 years of the date of the storm. If you experienced damage in the September 2023 storm and have not filed, consult your policy or contact your insurer to determine whether the window remains open.
What are Class 4 impact-resistant shingles and are they worth it in Central Texas?
Class 4 is the highest rating from UL for impact resistance. These shingles are tested with a 2-inch steel ball drop and must show no cracking. Texas buys 43% of all impact-resistant shingles sold in the United States. Most Texas insurers offer meaningful premium discounts for Class 4 rated roofs. In a high-hail area like Cedar Park or Leander, the insurance savings over 10 to 20 years typically offset the higher upfront cost.
When is the best time to schedule a roof inspection in Central Texas?
December through February is the lowest hail risk period and the best time to schedule a proactive inspection or replacement. Contractor availability is higher, material lead times are shorter, and you will have a documented baseline going into the primary hail season that begins in March.