Strong claim files are evidence systems. In Colorado, that starts with weather data discipline.
Baseline Risk Context for Colorado
NOAA NCEI’s Colorado summary shows severe storms as the dominant billion-dollar disaster category affecting the state over the long term, with a marked increase in recent years.
That does not prove damage to your roof, but it does justify a structured storm-validation workflow.
Date-of-Loss: Build a Defensible Window
Use a two-source method:
- Macro validation (state/region context)
- NOAA NCEI event timelines
- Local validation (metro/county context)
- NWS local event summaries
- NOAA Storm Events Database entries
Then tie your photo evidence and property observations to the best-supported window.
A Practical Data Stack for Homeowners
- NOAA NCEI billion-dollar events (context)
- NWS Denver/Boulder event summaries (local chronology)
- Storm Events Database (event-type granularity)
Minimum file standards
- Event links/PDFs saved to claim folder
- UTC/local timestamp notes on all storm evidence
- One-page chronology from storm date to inspection date
Why Adjusters Care About This
Claims teams evaluate causation and timing. A clear meteorological chain helps reduce ambiguity around:
- Which storm is being claimed
- Whether damage pattern aligns with event type
- Why specific collateral indicators are expected
Hail Severity vs Damage Expectations
Not every hail report supports a full-roof replacement. Damage response depends on:
- Hail size and density
- Wind component and impact angle
- Roof age and existing condition
- Material class and installation quality
Use data to guide inspection depth, not to pre-judge final scope.
High-Value Output: The Storm Packet
Create a concise storm packet before adjuster inspection:
- Candidate storm dates with source links
- Property location and orientation map
- Slope-by-slope photo index
- Collateral evidence index
- Short technical narrative of observed mechanisms
This improves meeting efficiency and reduces post-inspection email churn.
Common Data Mistakes
- Pulling only social-media weather screenshots
- No distinction between report date and loss date
- Ignoring local NWS office summaries
- Failing to archive source versions used in the claim
Sources
Educational guidance only. Final claim determinations depend on policy terms and property-specific evidence.