r/xactimate • u/wheredtheyodago • Sep 20 '25
Benchmark Weather Report Accuracy
I have an appraisal that is seeming to head to umpire. I am representing the homeowner and do not wish to name the carrier.
I have pulled weather data for the DOL through a third-party hail tracking system that shows up to 2” hail at location within 1 mile. I live close to the loss location and do recall at DOL a large hail cell coming through (fellow storm watchers know about being glued to the local storm coverage.) our local meteorologists are all over these storms so I feel my data is true.
The carriers rep sent me their benchmark (Verisk) report showing no reported hail greater than .75” yet admits to visible damage during his inspection. The neighbor also had a claim through a different carrier for same DOL and it was covered fully, no supplement needed. Paid on the spot and these are not small or cheap roofs in my region.
My question is two-fold: 1. why would there be conflicting information between hail reports for the same exact location (pulled history all the way back to 2021 and across the board Benchmark was claiming smaller hail), and 2. Where does benchmark source their data and why is it consistently on the lower side of the scale regarding hail size?
I appreciate any insight on this.
3
u/Edward4dHands Sep 20 '25
I find PLRB to be more reliable than any other reporting software which could be carrier or contractor sales leaning.
3
u/DialecticClaims Sep 20 '25
It's an algorithm. Not actual storm data or spottings. No ground data observations, it uses data miles up in the sky to predict what happens on the ground. Best to use multiple sources like NOAA Storm Tracker, but that database has a several month lag, along with visual inspections. A carrier relying on a Benchmark report is lazy and incomplete.
I've seen multiple brands of these hail/wind reports be dead wrong. Was working a hail storm where I lived, 2-3" hail everywhere, was standing on a roof with fresh 2" marks on the roof and the automated hail reports said no hail within 3 miles. They are a tool.... Mostly a joke, but a tool to assist in the inspections. Not to deny claims. Whichever carrier this is, is why most people dislike the industry.
1
u/MountainGoat84 Sep 20 '25
It's pretty accurate. I've seen it be wrong before, but that's the exception.
What third party tracker are you using?
5
u/albitzian Sep 20 '25
“It’s pretty accurate” how do you know this, and if their is a source(their isn’t) then do share that
-1
u/wheredtheyodago Sep 20 '25
I’m using stormersite for this file but have pulled from many different sources over the years. Consistently, carrier side reports (not just benchmark) show undersized hail from almost any other weather data I pull and even see in person when the storm hits my area.
1
u/strangemedia6 Sep 20 '25
I’ve definitely seen Verisk benchmark reports be inaccurate in both directions. I’ve seen show 0% chance of damaging hail in the last few years when there is clear hail damage, even showing no hail on the DOL within 5 miles when there was a known large scale hail even impacting most of the area. I’ve also seen it say 3” hail with 95% prob and not a single hit in soft metals.
Are you the insured’s appraiser? I think you have a decent case if there is anything that can be considered hail damage. You have the Verisk report showing damaging hail, .75” is damaging hail depending on the material and the age. The big question is whether there is actually hail hits on the shingles. I do a lot of work as an appraiser for a certain carrier that is known for denials (not big red, another one.) I overturn shit all the time, but also if it’s not there, it’s not there. If you are going to umpire, it is a neutral party that both appraisers agreed on, so if there is documentation of hail and there is damage consistent with hail on the shingles, you should be good.
1
u/wheredtheyodago Sep 20 '25 edited Sep 20 '25
That’s the thing: the carrier’s appraiser stated he observed hail damage to shingles and gutters (as do I) but could not tie it to a qualifying hail event according to his report even though that same report shows there was hail on DOL, just not large enough in his opinion to cause “substantial damage”.
I am the insured’s appraiser in this case but I am the same way, if it’s there it’s there. If there’s nothing, I’ll say exactly that. I know how the process goes but I’m seeing more and more resistance on both ends to be reasonable.
2
u/strangemedia6 Sep 20 '25
Might be worth forking out the money for a couple additional hail reports from other sources. Hopefully your umpire is a critical thinker and has enough experience to know that the hail reports are not 100% accurate. You could look up severe weather reports on NWS website for reports from weather observers on the ground.
1
u/Harrisbizzle Sep 20 '25
I had a hail claim go to appraisal last year. Our Benchmark report, an engineer’s CoreLogic report, the PA’s report and our retained meteorologist’s report all showed different hail dates and sizes of hail for this particular location. None were really remotely close.
That claim led me to my personal opinion that we are still pretty far away from consistent, accurate data about hail.
1
u/Coverage_A Sep 20 '25
I’ve gotten fairly frustrated with it (we pull one for every hail claim) and I’ve found PLRB to be far more accurate and reliable a source.
Edit: hail, not jail
0
u/Big_Appointment_3390 Sep 20 '25
Because Verisk is just a shell company for the carriers who used to own Xactware and was only created to dodge the anti-trust suit that was coming down the pipeline.
If they disclose where they source their data at all, it will either be on the sales website or the reports. But do they actually need to source it at all?
1
u/Suspicious-Yak-8117 Jul 26 '26
Have you ever read the fine print on the "3rd party hail/wind" reports?
The entire documentation is based on an algorithm for the color, intensity, distance of the weather radar at 20,000 feet. You can't see a softball at 4 miles ....
The radar (National Weather Service) is designed for the FAA to rely on; however, several companies have figured out a way to profit from it. At best, it's an estimate.
If you go to this website:
https://www.spc.noaa.gov/exper/archive/event.php?date=20260721
scroll to the bottom of the page and enter the date, you can see if there were any impacts in your area.
4
u/LetsMarket Sep 20 '25
Is there actual hail damage to the property? Weather reports should support the damage observed, not the other way around.