Hail in Jefferson County, New York

Several social media reports of large hail up to 1 inch in diameter relayed by a trained spotter. Location approximate, time based on radar.

On June 25, 2026, into the early morning of June 26, the NWS Buffalo region transitioned into an unsettled convective pattern as a warm front lifting across the lower Great Lakes was closely followed by a cold front tied to a mid-level trough. According to NWS Buffalo Area Forecast Discussions, early morning low stratus and patchy river valley fog'particularly across the Western Southern Tier'cleared through the day, allowing boundary layer destabilization with 500 to 1,000 J/kg of MUCAPE (and localized pockets up to 1,500 J/kg). The Storm Prediction Center placed the region under a Marginal Risk for severe weather, emphasizing that 30 to 40 knots of 0'6 km bulk shear combined with steepening low-level lapse rates would support multi-cell storm clusters capable of localized damaging wind gusts. Simultaneously, atmospheric precipitable water levels surged toward 1.4 inches, prompting Weather Prediction Center highlights for localized heavy downpours capable of minor urban and small-stream flooding. As the cold front swept eastward Thursday evening and convective intensity waned, cool cyclonic flow over the warm lake waters initiated lake-enhanced rain showers and localized low clouds across Western New York into the early morning of June 26. One very strong thunderstorm developed over Lake Ontario in the early morning hours of June 26, and produced large hail over the eastern shore of Lake Ontario.