Independence, MO · Jackson County
Roof inspections in Independence.
Census Bureau estimates for 2020–2024 put the median year Independence housing units were built at 1967.
The short answer
The City of Independence says a permit is required to re-roof any home. The National Weather Service confirmed an EF-1 tornado in Independence on June 3, 2025, and 1.5-inch hail was reported nearby on August 19, 2026.
Enter your address to see how many significant storms are on record near your home. Being near a storm isn’t the same as roof damage. If you want a closer look, one local roofing partner can inspect your roof for free, with no obligation.
The city, the hometown of Harry S. Truman, sits near the south bank of the Missouri River.
Independence storm records include a confirmed tornado in June 2025 and hail reports in August 2026, each tied to specific spots in and around the city. Check how many significant storms are on record at or near your own address, then decide whether you want a free inspection from one local roofing partner.
Storm record for Independence since 2016
Since 2016, National Weather Service storm reports show hail 1 inch or larger within 5 miles of central Independence on 16 days, and wind gusts of 58 mph or more on 29 days, through November 10, 2026.
The largest hail reported in that area was 2.0 in (hen egg) on March 6, 2017.
These are records for the wider area, not for your address. A storm on record doesn’t mean your roof was damaged, and it doesn’t mean your insurance company will accept that storm or date. That’s why an inspection is worth having: a roofing professional looks at the roof itself.
- Hail-report days
- 16
- 1 in+, since 2016
- Wind-report days
- 29
- 58 mph+, since 2016
- Radar hail days
- 5
- 1 in+, since 2021
Severe-weather days per year
- Days with hail 1 in+
- Days with only wind 58 mph+
* Year to date, through November 10, 2026.
See the numbers by year
| Year | Hail days | Wind days | Radar days |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 2 | 3 | — |
| 2017 | 1 | 4 | — |
| 2018 | 1 | 1 | — |
| 2019 | 3 | 2 | — |
| 2020 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 2021 | 1 | 4 | 2 |
| 2022 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2023 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2024 | 1 | 6 | 1 |
| 2025 | 2 | 6 | 0 |
| 2026to Nov 10preliminary | 3 | 1 | 2 |
Hail days: Weather Service reports of 1 inch or larger. Wind days: gusts of 58 mph or more. Radar days: radar estimates of 1 inch or larger, from 2021.
Biggest storm days within 5 miles of central Independence
Ranked by the largest hail reported, then the strongest wind.
March 6, 2017
Hail 2.0 in (hen egg)6 severe reports
August 18, 2026(preliminary)
Hail 1.75 in (golf ball)8 severe reports
May 26, 2016
Hail 1.5 in (ping pong ball)5 severe reports
July 19, 2018
Hail 1.5 in (ping pong ball)2 severe reports
April 1, 2025
Hail 1.25 in (half dollar)2 severe reports
How we count. A hail day is a day with at least one National Weather Service hail report of 1 inch or larger within 5 miles of central Independence; a wind day has a measured or estimated gust of 58 mph or more. Data through November 10, 2026.
The full method and source
Several reports on the same day count once.
Our storm records come from NOAA radar estimates and National Weather Service reports. Radar can miss or misjudge hail, and a report marks a single spot, so records can be incomplete. Treat them as a starting point, not a verdict about your roof.
Radar hail days use NOAA’s radar estimates (MRMS) of 1 inch or larger over the same area, counted only when the Weather Service also logged hail within 15 miles that day. 2026 numbers come from preliminary reports and can change.
Source: NOAA / National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center storm reports and NOAA MRMS radar hail estimates, retrieved November 11, 2026. Data through November 10, 2026; 2026 reports are preliminary and can still change. Compiled by Roof Inspectors from public-domain NOAA data. How storm data works.
On our hail-by-place comparison (5-mile circles, 2016–2025), Independence is in the higher band.
Your own street can differ. Check the storm history for your address or see Kansas City hail history by year.
Was hail recorded near your street?
Hail falls in narrow swaths — see what the records show at or near your address.
- Doesn’t file an insurance claim
- One local partner, never a pile-on
Storms in and around Independence
- SPC storm reports, Aug. 18–19, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
In the early hours of August 19, 2026, preliminary Storm Prediction Center reports included 1.5-inch hail 1 mile southwest and 4 miles east of Independence, half-dollar-size (1.25-inch) hail in Independence, and quarter-size hail 1 mile east.
Most of these reports came from photos or posts shared on social media, with times estimated from radar.
- NWS Kansas City: June 3, 2025 tornadoes (opens in a new tab)
The National Weather Service confirmed two tornadoes from eastern Kansas City through Independence on the afternoon of June 3, 2025. The second, through Independence, snapped several healthy trees and was rated EF-1, with winds up to 100 mph.
The NWS noted other damage points south of the circulation that were consistent with straight-line winds.
- NWS Kansas City: March 6, 2017 outbreak (opens in a new tab)
During the March 6, 2017 tornado outbreak, the National Weather Service logged a public report of hail estimated at 2 inches in Independence, plus golf ball–size hail at Highway 291 and Salisbury Road.
The outbreak’s most significant tornadoes were an EF-3 that hit Oak Grove and an EF-2 in the Smithville Lake area.
Storms we’ve written up near Independence
- August 18–19, 2026: Damaging winds and golf ball hail in Kansas City, Kansas
7 reports on the storm page’s map fall within 5 miles of central Independence; the closest is less than a mile away.
- May 31–June 1, 2026: An 82 mph gust in Kansas City, downburst damage in North Kansas City and hail up to 2 inches
3 reports on the storm page’s map fall within 5 miles of central Independence; the closest is about 1 mile away.
- April 26–27, 2026: Hail up to 2.5 inches in Cass County, golf-ball hail near Olathe and Shawnee, and four brief tornadoes
1 report on the storm page’s map is about 4 miles from central Independence.
- April 17, 2026: Golf-ball hail near downtown Kansas City, 70 mph winds and an EF1 tornado from Belton to Raymore
4 reports on the storm page’s map fall within 5 miles of central Independence; the closest is about 3 miles away.
Before you hire a roofer in Independence
- Missouri doesn’t license roofers statewide, so licensing, registration, and permit rules are set by each city. That makes it worth asking a roofer which city requirements apply to your project. MO
- The City of Independence says a permit is required to re-roof any home. Its building permits page lists 816-325-7401 for building permit and building code questions. MO
- The city’s re-roofing guide says inspections happen at two stages to verify code compliance. It notes that plank decking, found in a lot of older homes, needs ship-lap or tongue-and-groove installation; otherwise it must be sheathed over or replaced with structural panel sheathing. MO
- Independence’s contractor license FAQ says anyone hired to complete work that needs a permit in the city needs a city contractor license, and that licenses expire every December 31. Ask your roofer for their current Independence license before work begins. MO
- City of Independence — Building permits & inspections (opens in a new tab)MO
- City of Independence — Asphalt shingle re-roofing guide (PDF) (opens in a new tab)MO
- City of Independence — Contractor license FAQ (Word file) (opens in a new tab)MO
Rules change; confirm current requirements with the city before work begins. This isn’t legal advice.
ZIP codes we serve in Independence
- 64050
- 64052
- 64053
- 64055
- 64056
- 64057
Not listed? Enter your address — we confirm service for your exact location.
Independence roof inspection questions
Do I need a permit to re-roof a house in Independence?
Does my roofer need an Independence contractor license?
Did the August 2026 hail reach my part of Independence?
If you file a claim, even after an inspection, your insurance company decides what’s covered and what it pays. Roof Inspectors and our roofing partners can’t make that decision or promise an outcome.
Nearby communities
Independence is in our service area, which covers homes within about 60 miles of Overland Park, Kansas. For every community we serve in Kansas and Missouri, see roof inspection in the Kansas City area.
See the storms on record near your Independence home.
Start with a free storm count for your address. It takes about 30 seconds.
Checking storm history doesn’t file an insurance claim, and no roofer gets your details unless you book an inspection.