There’s a 15% to 29% chance that severe hail will fall on Seattle on Wednesday evening, and the National Weather Service says there’s even a potential for hailstones bigger than 2 inches in diameter.

Keep yourself safe first; cover your head, get inside and stay away from windows. But you might be wondering about your poor car and roofing that could be left exposed to the elements.

Hail forms when raindrops are updrafted into extremely cold areas of the atmosphere by thunderstorms and then freeze. The hailstones formed then collide with water drops that build their surface area. Once the thunderstorm’s updraft can’t hold the weight of the hailstones, they begin to fall.

You’re not going to be able to change the weather, but there are a few things you can do to mitigate and remedy any damage it causes.

When hail pelts the roof of a home, the damage it causes can vary greatly depending on the stone size and the force of the wind, but hailstones can ding up asphalt shingles, aluminum siding and gutters and crack vinyl siding and wood shakes, according to Travelers insurance.

Before the storm arrives, you can take some protective measures by closing drapes and blinds to minimize the chance of debris and broken glass from shattered windows entering your home, recommends Ready.gov. You can also close the shutters, if you have them, on windows, skylights and sliding glass doors, advised Flash.com.

But you’re not going to be able to put a bubble around your home, so make sure to inspect any possible damage once the thunderstorm runs its course. Look for dents on patio covers, screens, aluminum vents, and split shingles. Keep an eye out for drips or water stains on walls or ceilings from water seepage, according to roofing repair company Miller Storm. Bent, detached or damaged flashings could fail to direct water away from areas where it could collect.

Cover any broken windows or holes to prevent water from coming inside, and take pictures of everything. Documenting damage will make it a lot easier to file a claim with your insurance company, advised nationalhomeimprovement.com. Then, call your insurance agent to discuss next steps.

Same goes for any possible damage to your vehicle. But first, get it under structured parking or inside a garage if possible. 

Locations of public parking garages in Seattle can be found with Parkopoedia or Google Maps, but make sure you’re aware of parking fees and garage closing times. 

If you can’t find a shelter for your vehicle, and street parking is all you’ve got, throw a blanket over it, tuck in the mirrors and beware of trees that could fall and cause even more damage, recommended Foremost, of Farmers Insurance.

Do not drive when it begins to hail, advises Geico Insurance. If you’re on the road, try to park in a covered shelter, but if you can’t, pull over to the side of the road and wait out the storm inside it. Do not get out.

If a car window is broken by the hail, cover it with plastic or another material to prevent further damage to the car’s interior, Geico Insurance continued. Then, it’s time to speak to your insurance agent and file a claim.

The thunderstorm is expected to pass overnight, though rain will persist on Thursday.

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