Hail Damage at Dane County Airport Leaves Travelers with Costly Repairs

Cars in the economy lot suffered broken windows and dented roofs after severe storms.

Apr. 16, 2026 at 2:37am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A sweeping, atmospheric landscape painting in muted blues and grays, depicting a massive hailstorm obscuring the Dane County Regional Airport in the distance, with only the faint outlines of buildings and cars visible through the whiteout conditions.A severe hailstorm leaves travelers at Dane County Regional Airport facing costly vehicle repairs, exposing the vulnerability of infrastructure to extreme weather.Madison Today

Travelers returning to Dane County Regional Airport this week are dealing with significant damage to their vehicles left in the economy parking lot during a hailstorm on Tuesday. Many cars have broken windows, dented roofs, and other costly repairs needed, forcing some travelers to make alternative transportation plans.

Why it matters

The extensive hail damage at the airport is expected to lead to a surge in repair shop business and insurance claims, potentially causing delays and increased costs for affected drivers.

The details

Jalal, a traveler, found his car undrivable with a shattered windshield and sunroof damage that allowed water to seep in. Zeb Riedesel, a collision repair worker, estimated the total damage could reach $10 million, with around 1,000 cars in the lots suffering an average of $5,000 in repairs each.

  • The severe hailstorm occurred on Tuesday evening.
  • Travelers began returning to the airport and discovering the damage on Wednesday.

The players

Jalal

A traveler who returned to find his car with a shattered windshield and sunroof damage, leaving it undrivable.

Zeb Riedesel

A collision repair worker who came to the airport to check on a coworker's vehicle and estimated the total damage could reach $10 million.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Yesterday in the evening, I got a message from a few friends about the general hailstorm and the size of the hails that were sort of happening. But I obviously was concerned because I knew my car was parked outside. So, I mean, finding it out at the end was a bit shocking to me, honestly, to say the least.”

— Jalal, Traveler

“It's pretty bad. We'll be busy for a couple months at least.”

— Zeb Riedesel, Collision Repair Worker

“The average car is probably around 5000, and there's probably 1000 cars up here at least. And then they've got the back lot and the front lot.”

— Zeb Riedesel, Collision Repair Worker

“10 million, probably, at least. I mean, it's a lot. There's a lot of damage. They should go to their insurance company and file a claim. Because you don't want to pay out of pocket for this one.”

— Zeb Riedesel, Collision Repair Worker

What’s next

Travelers with damaged vehicles will need to file insurance claims quickly to start the repair process, which is expected to overwhelm local collision shops for the next couple of months.

The takeaway

This hailstorm has left a significant financial burden on travelers who parked at the Dane County Regional Airport, with the total repair costs potentially reaching into the millions. It serves as a reminder of the importance of being prepared for severe weather events when traveling.