Hail history for Altoona, Iowa
NOAA hail reports in and within about 5 km (3 miles) of Altoona since 1974, with preliminary reports to November 3, 2026.
Readout · Altoona
- Last hail
- May 19, 2025
- 0.88 in, nickel size
- Hail days, last 5 years
- 4
- since Nov 3, 2021 · 4 reports
- Largest ever
- 1.75 in
- golf ball · Jun 15, 2017
31 reports on 25 days since 1974 · #66 of 483 Iowa places
Hail map · Altoona
- Under 1 in
- 1–1.75 in
- 1.75–2.5 in
- 2.5–4 in
- 4 in +
- No size
For homeowners
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What the record says about Altoona
The latest hail report in and around Altoona is from May 19, 2025, 0.88 in (nickel size). Since November 3, 2021 there have been 4 separate hail days; the biggest stones in that time were 1.00 in on July 30, 2024.
Over the 20 years 2006–2025, Altoona logged 9 reports on 9 hail days, about 0.5 reports a year. That is about the same as the median Iowa town on this site (0.5 a year) and ranks #66 of 483 Iowa cities and towns on this site for all-time reports. Altoona accounts for 5% of the 677 reports filed in Polk County.
0% of reports with a size were 2 inches (hen egg) or larger, against 6% for the median Iowa town on this site. The largest hail on record here is 1.75 in (golf ball) on June 15, 2017 near 0.77 SSE Mitchellville.
Reports were up 100% in 2016–2025 (6) compared with 2006–2015 (3). The busiest year was 2002, with 6 reports on 3 days. Hail here peaks in June (29% of reports); 77% fall between April and June.
Reports a year 2006–2025 average
- Altoona 0.5
- Polk County 19.9
- Median Iowa town on this site 0.5
Hail days 2006–2025
- Altoona 9
- Polk County 102
- Median Iowa town on this site 7
Share 2 in or larger of sized reports
- Altoona 0%
- Polk County 6%
- Median Iowa town on this site 6%
Hail over time
| Year | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 2025 | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||
| 2024 | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||
| 2023 | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||
| 2022 | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||
| 2021 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 2020 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 2019 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 2018 | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||
| 2017 | 1 | 1 |
Hail days since Nov 3, 2021
| Date | Reports | Largest | Storm page |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 19, 2025 | 1 | 0.88 in | — |
| Jul 30, 2024 | 1 | 1.00 in | — |
| Apr 4, 2023 | 1 | 0.88 in | — |
| Mar 5, 2022 | 1 | 1.00 in | — |
Largest hail on record
| Date | Size | Location | County | Damage | Time · source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 15, 2017 | 1.75 ingolf ball | 0.77 SSE Mitchellville | Polk | — | 22:16 local · NCEI |
| Sep 8, 2005 | 1.75 ingolf ball | 2 W Elkhart | Polk | $10K | 12:00 local · NCEI |
| May 17, 2004 | 1.75 ingolf ball | 1 E Altoona | Polk | $10K | 17:42 local · NCEI |
| May 17, 2004 | 1.75 ingolf ball | 1 E Altoona | Polk | $10K | 17:26 local · NCEI |
| Apr 30, 2003 | 1.75 ingolf ball | Altoona | Polk | $10K | 19:39 local · NCEI |
Size of every report
- Under 1 in 12 39%
- 1–2 in 19 61%
- 2 in + 0 0%
Most recent reports
| Date | Size | Location | County | Damage | Time · source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 19, 2025 | 0.88 innickel | 1.24 SE Altoona | Polk | — | 15:47 local · NCEI |
| Jul 30, 2024 | 1.00 inquarter | 1.48 NNW Des Moines Ekman Arp | Polk | — | 14:25 local · NCEI |
| Apr 4, 2023 | 0.88 innickel | 0.86 NW Altoona | Polk | — | 19:22 local · NCEI |
| Mar 5, 2022 | 1.00 inquarter | 1.7 ESE Mitchellville | Polk | — | 17:57 local · NCEI |
| May 1, 2018 | 0.88 innickel | 1.85 WSW Altoona | Polk | — | 07:00 local · NCEI |
| Jun 15, 2017 | 1.75 ingolf ball | 0.77 SSE Mitchellville | Polk | — | 22:16 local · NCEI |
| May 6, 2012 | 0.88 innickel | 2.14 SSW Altoona | Polk | — | 07:35 local · NCEI |
| Mar 29, 2012 | 1.00 inquarter | 0.52 W Altoona | Polk | — | 20:53 local · NCEI |
| Apr 2, 2006 | 0.75 inpenny | 5 NW Centerville | Appanoose | — | 14:10 local · NCEI |
| Sep 8, 2005 | 1.75 ingolf ball | 2 W Elkhart | Polk | $10K | 12:00 local · NCEI |
| Mar 6, 2005 | 0.75 inpenny | 5 WNW Des Moines Ekman Arp | Polk | — | 21:50 local · NCEI |
| May 17, 2004 | 1.00 inquarter | Mitchellville | Polk | $3K | 17:50 local · NCEI |
Hail history near Altoona
- Bondurant 6 km · 15
- Ankeny 13 km · 79
- Des Moines 14 km · 227
- Carlisle 15 km · 17
- Runnells 18 km · 15
- Windsor Heights 20 km · 17
- Johnston 21 km · 61
- Prairie City 21 km · 22
Questions about hail in Altoona
How often does it hail in Altoona, Iowa?
31 hail reports have been logged in and within about 5 km (3 miles) of Altoona since 1974. Over the 20 years 2006–2025 that averages 0.5 reports a year. That ranks #66 of 483 Iowa places by number of reports.
When is hail season in Altoona?
Most reports come in June, May, April. June alone accounts for 29% of all reports.
What is the largest hail recorded in Altoona?
1.75 in (golf ball size) on June 15, 2017 near 0.77 SSE Mitchellville. 0% of reports here were 2 inches or larger.
When did it last hail in Altoona?
The most recent report in this data is from May 19, 2025 (0.88 in). Final NOAA data runs to July 31, 2026; preliminary NWS reports run to November 3, 2026.
How many hail storms has Altoona had in the last five years?
4 separate days with hail reports since November 3, 2021, adding up to 4 reports. The most recent was May 19, 2025.
Where does this hail data come from?
Hail reports come from the NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, which the National Weather Service compiles from spotter, public, law enforcement and media reports. Recent days use preliminary NWS Local Storm Reports via the Iowa Environmental Mesonet until NOAA publishes final data. Only reported hail is counted, so areas with fewer people tend to have fewer reports.