On April 13, 2026, southern Minnesota was hit by a major severe weather outbreak, bringing baseball-sized hail, damaging winds, and tornado activity across the Mankato region.

Early reports confirm 70+ hail reports statewide, with some stones reaching up to 3+ inches in diameter, causing widespread concern for roof damage, siding damage, and gutter damage.

For homeowners in southern Minnesota, this was not just another storm—this was a high-impact hail event capable of causing serious roofing damage.

Below are the most heavily impacted cities near Mankato, now including Faribault, Lake Crystal and St. Peter, which saw some of the largest hail in the entire storm.

Top Areas Impacted by Hail Near Mankato

1. St. Peter, MN (One of the Hardest Hit)

St. Peter was one of the most severely impacted locations during the storm.

Reports of baseball-sized hail (2.75 inches)
Multiple hail sizes from ping pong ball to tennis ball and larger
Severe thunderstorm warnings with 60 mph winds

This level of hail is highly destructive to asphalt shingles, often causing:

Immediate granule loss
Bruising and cracking
Very serious damage

2. Lake Crystal, MN

Lake Crystal saw significant hail activity just southwest of Mankato.

Confirmed reports of golf ball-sized hail (~1.75 inches)
Direct impact zone within Blue Earth County storm path

Hail of this size is known to cause:

Soft spots in shingles
Accelerated roof aging
Hidden leaks that appear months later

3. Faribault, MN

Faribault saw heavy hail accumulation and large stones, with reports of hail piling up in some areas.

This kind of impact often leads to:

Severe shingle bruising
Gutter and siding dents
Roof systems compromised beyond visible damage

4. Cleveland, MN

Storms intensified between Mankato and Cleveland, putting this area directly in the hail corridor.

Homeowners here should be especially aware of:

Insurance-qualifying damage
Long-term roof deterioration

Why Homeowners Trust Schmidt Brothers Roofing

At Schmidt Brothers Roofing, we are a local southern Minnesota roofing company with a 5-star reputation, built on helping homeowners recover after storms just like this.

We’ve handled major hail events before, including the Springfield, MN 2023 storm, where we helped homeowners:

Full Roof replacements
Complex claims
Restore their homes quickly and correctly

5 Critical Steps Homeowners Should Take After a Hail Storm

1. Get a Professional Roof Inspection ASAP

Hail damage is often invisible from the ground. Waiting can make things worse.

2. Take Photos Immediately

Capture:

Hailstones
Dents on gutters, siding, or vehicles
Any visible roof debris

3. Call Schmidt Brothers Roofing. 🙂

Work with a trusted company like Schmidt Brothers Roofing that will be here long-term.

4. Don’t Assume “No Leaks = No Damage”

Most hail damage takes time to show—by then it’s often more expensive.

Free Storm Damage Inspections Now Available

If you live in:
St. Peter, Lake Crystal, Mankato, Faribault, Owatonna, Northfield, Cannon Falls, St. James, Truman or surrounding areas…

👉 Your home was likely in the impact zone
👉 Damage may not be visible yet

Schmidt Brothers Roofing is already performing inspections in these areas.

Free, no-obligation inspections
Fast scheduling