Check for windshield hail damage in Auburndale as soon as the storm has passed and you can reach the vehicle safely. A star break, bullseye, spreading line, or edge crack can call for replacement. If damage blocks the driver's view or the glass appears unstable, leave the car parked.
A hail break that needs new glass does not require driving the car away from its safe parking spot. For an Auburndale home, workplace, or another suitable site, choose our mobile Windshield Replacement service. Bang AutoGlass replaces the damaged windshield; we do not fill or repair chips and cracks.
Golf Ball-Size Hail Has Hit Near Auburndale
NWS Tampa Bay local storm reports for May 13, 2024 recorded golf ball-size hail in Lake Alfred and Haines City at about 4:30 p.m. The reports identified hail measuring 1.75 inches based on social media photos, with the report times estimated from radar.
At about 8:25 p.m. on April 26, 2023, another set of NWS Tampa Bay storm reports recorded 1.75-inch hail between Lake Alfred and Haines City. A separate report recorded 1-inch hail near US 27 and Lucerne Park Road.
Those reports document nearby hail, not a confirmed hail strike in Auburndale or damage to any particular vehicle. Storm paths and hail size can change across short distances. Lake Alfred hail reports are a reason to inspect if your car was parked or driven near there, while the vehicle's location during the storm and the physical marks on its glass are the evidence that matters.
The City of Auburndale places the city between Lakeland, Polk City, and Winter Haven and identifies I-4, Polk Parkway, Berkley Road, CR 559, and US 92 as major roads. Drivers who find windshield hail damage in Auburndale can confirm our mobile service area for Auburndale without driving damaged glass elsewhere.
When Polk County Hail Is Most Likely
The NWS Tampa Bay thunderstorm climatology gives May 25 through October 10 as the West Central Florida rainy season. It says persistent dew points above 70°F accompany lows in the 70s to around 80 and highs ranging from the upper 80s to the middle 90s.
NWS Tampa Bay identifies late May through June as the phase when severe storms are most likely and says hail and damaging winds are common during that period. Both nearby golf ball-size reports, April 26 and May 13, came before that May 25 start, so inspect the glass after any strong spring storm too.
Wait until the weather threat has passed, then inspect the glass in dry conditions and good light. Rainwater can hide fine fracture lines, so check again the next morning if the first inspection happens at night. Photograph the vehicle before cleaning the windshield or driving it.
How to Check Windshield Hail Damage in Auburndale
For a hail-damaged windshield in Auburndale, FL, use the same order each time. It keeps small edge cracks and multiple impact points from getting lost among water spots, leaves, and road film.
- Start with wide photos. Photograph the front, both sides, rear, and roof before touching the vehicle. These images preserve the overall condition and show where the vehicle was parked. Write down the storm date, approximate time, and location separately.
- View the windshield from several angles. Stand outside and look across the glass at a shallow angle, then inspect from the front seats. Move your head rather than pressing on the glass. A flashlight held to the side can reveal fine lines without loading the damaged area.
- Separate debris from damage. Photograph each suspicious spot before cleaning it gently with glass cleaner and a microfiber cloth. Do not scrape at a mark with metal or press a fingernail into it. A spot that disappears was contamination; a fracture line remains visible from different angles.
- Identify the impact pattern. A pit is a small loss at the outer surface. A bullseye has a rounded fracture pattern, while a star break from hail on a windshield has lines radiating from a central point. A combination break contains more than one of these patterns.
- Inspect the perimeter. Follow the black ceramic border around the windshield and look beneath the wiper area. The border can make a starting point difficult to see. A line that touches the edge needs prompt assessment because normal glass and body movement can load the fracture.
- Check the driver's view and camera area. Sit in the normal driving position and find any damage that crosses your sightline. Inspect the area around the camera housing behind the rearview mirror without removing its cover. Include that housing in your photos.
- Look beyond the windshield. Photograph the wipers, cowl, roof, and painted panels. Inspect the sunroof, door glass, and rear glass for separate damage. These pieces can use different glass construction and do not receive the windshield-only treatment in Florida's deductible statute.
- Take close and reference photos. Capture each mark close up, then take another image showing its position on the full windshield. Place a ruler near the damage without pressing it against the glass. Photograph separate impacts rather than assuming they are one break.
White or dark fracture lines, branching points, concentric rings, and lines that grow between inspections deserve attention. Do not flex the glass to make a faint line easier to see.
If your windshield cracked after a storm in Auburndale, do not assign the cause from a hail map alone. Match the timing and parking location, retain the original photos, and document the actual impact points.
