Missouri is home to some of the most severe inland storms in the United States, and storm preparedness is a key part of home ownership in the region. Missouri residents know to stay aware of weather alerts and warnings and to avoid being outside when severe weather is in the forecast. The St. Louis area alone averages 12-14 tornado warnings every year.
Why does Missouri get such severe storms?
Missouri has quickly become one of the most storm-struck states in the country in recent years. The main reason is its geographical location and the clash of warm, wet Gulf air that collides with colder Canadian winds, creating the severe thunderstorms that generate the state’s main damaging threat: widespread hail storms.
What are the most dangerous storms in Missouri?
Hailstorms, along with derechos and other severe straight-line windstorms, are the most dangerous storms in Missouri. The patterns these storms follow mean that homes across a large area can be damaged in almost no time.
Missouri also saw a new state record of 120 tornadoes touch down in 2025. These high levels of storm activity are the driving factor behind the higher risk levels placed on homes in the state.
How can I protect my Missouri home before storm season?
Awareness is the first step in protecting your home from storm damage. First, be aware of the health and status of your roof. The roof of your home will take the majority of the damage from storms, and it is a smart move to confirm that your physical structure is intact before wind and hail season hits.
Commission a roofing report from a trusted local roofing company to get confirmation that there are no missing shingles, leaks, or other damage that you might not be able to see from the ground. Save any photos from a roofing report for later use. They can serve as proof of your home’s status pre-storm for a later claim. A strong roof can result in lower insurance costs and other benefits.
If you learn of weaknesses in your roof, or if it is simply reaching an age at which depreciation will become a factor (usually 10-15 years after installation) you can also consider installing an impact-resistant (also known as a Class 4 impact-rated) roof. By using superior roofing materials and building practices to match an established standard such as the FORTIFIED Program, you can add value to your home, save on insurance costs, and be more secure in your preparation for future storm seasons.
Second, educate yourself on the details of your home insurance policy. Understanding what types of perils are covered and which ones might be excluded are important for any homeowner. When you have a complete picture of your coverage, you can make adjustments where necessary to keep your family safe from financial loss following a severe weather event.
What kind of home insurance do I need in Missouri?
Homeowners in Missouri should be fully aware of what their home insurance policies cover and what may be excluded. Homeowners insurance policies generally include a wind and hail damage provision, but that coverage can be excluded in higher-risk states. Based on the rates of hailstorms seen in Missouri, hail should always be a priority of homeowners seeking coverage. Confirm that sufficient coverage for wind and hail damage is included in any policy you consider.
A 2001 hailstorm that struck central Missouri in April of 2001 was one of the most expensive in U.S. history, with damages totaling over $1 billion.
Is home insurance required in Missouri?
Homeowners insurance is not mandatory by law in the U.S., but is required by the mortgage lenders that finance home purchases. If you buy a home in Missouri, you will need to keep an insurance policy ‘in force,’ or active, for the time that you own the home. This serves to cover you against financial damage and to satisfy the conditions of your mortgage or loan used for the purchase.
What are my home insurance options in Missouri?
Standard homeowners insurance, also known as HO-3 insurance, generally includes wind and hail coverage in the state of Missouri. There may be a separate wind/hail deductible called out from the base policy, and those deductibles are more often calculated as a percentage of the value of the home being insured.
In cases where wind and hail has its own deductible, your monthly or annual homeowners insurance premium would include your home’s complete coverage. If you needed to file a claim, though, you would discover that the amount owed as your deductible would vary with the cause for the damage. If the damage was caused by verifiable wind or hail that occurred at your home, the deductible owed would likely be significantly higher than the deductible listed for the base policy.
The table below compares the cost of filing a claim with a flat-rate deductible to the cost under a policy with a 3% percentage deductible.
Flat-rate Deductible ($1000) | Percentage Deductible (3% of home value) | |
Home Value | $300,000 | $300,000 |
Deductible owed after a claim | $1,000 | $9,000 |
Why are Missouri insurance deductibles rising?
Home insurance deductibles, and especially wind and hail deductibles, continue to rise in Missouri thanks to changing weather patterns that bring more Severe Convective Storm (SCS) activity each year. High construction materials costs and rising labor costs across the region also result in a push for higher deductibles, as insurance companies adjust these prices to help cover the larger potential payouts that may come with severe weather in the future.
Adding a standalone insurance policy written specifically to cover a higher wind and hail deductible is one smart option for protecting yourself from the significant financial stress of a weather disaster. Sola Insurance offers a policy that can be written by your local independent insurance agent to provide coverage for up to $25,000 in the event of a home insurance claim.
With a little planning and no need to change your existing home coverage, a Sola policy can be helpful in negotiating lower home premiums, can help cover the cost of your home deductible, or can be used to cover a gap in coverage on a depreciated roof.
Contact your local agent to learn more about how Sola Wind & Hail can help keep you, your family, and your Missouri home safe for years to come.
Last Updated: July 07, 2026
Frequently Asked Questions:
Does homeowners insurance include wind and hail coverage in Missouri?
Yes, most home insurance policies in Missouri will include wind/hail coverage, but the deductible for that coverage may be separate and higher than the base policy’s deductible.
Does home insurance pay full replacement cost for an older roof?
If your homeowners policy includes RCV or Replacement Cost Value coverage, you’re covered. When you make a claim and pay the deductible, your insurance company will provide the rest of the cost to replace your roof as a payout. If your policy has been changed to Actual Cash Value coverage or ACV, your payout will only cover the depreciated value of your roof, as calculated by the insurer. A standalone roof insurance policy can help you cover this gap and avoid making a large payment out of pocket.
Sources:
Lynn, Stacy. “Missouri leads the country in tornado warnings this year” Spectrum News, May 22, 2025, https://spectrumlocalnews.com/mo/st-louis/news/2025/05/22/missouri-leads-the-country-in-tornado-warnings-this-year-
Lynn, Stacy. “Tornadoes by the numbers and intensities in Missouri” Spectrum News, Mar. 05, 2024 https://spectrumlocalnews.com/mo/st-louis/weather/2024/03/06/tornadoes-by-the-numbers-and-intensities-in-missouri
H. Gregory. “Missouri’s Weather and Climate” Missouri’s Natural Heritage, Jan. 06, 2020, https://sites.wustl.edu/monh/missouris-weather-and-climate/
“Severe Thunderstorms” Missouri Dept. of Public Safety, https://sema.dps.mo.gov/plan_and_prepare/severe_thunderstorms.php
Gray is the Senior Content Specialist at Sola Insurance, working with the Sales and Marketing teams to provide helpful, valuable content for homeowners and agents. Gray has worked previously in finance, logistics, and advertising.
