Hail history for Black Hawk County, Iowa
Every NOAA hail report filed in Black Hawk County since 1960, with preliminary National Weather Service reports to November 3, 2026.
Readout · Black Hawk County
- Last hail
- Sep 16, 2025
- 1.00 in, quarter size
- Hail days, last 5 years
- 12
- since Nov 3, 2021 · 27 reports
- Largest ever
- 4.50 in
- softball · Jul 16, 2007
253 reports on 101 days since 1960 · #12 of 100 Iowa counties
Hail map · Black Hawk County
- Under 1 in
- 1–1.75 in
- 1.75–2.5 in
- 2.5–4 in
- 4 in +
- No size
For homeowners
Roof damage after hail? Get a free inspection
Hail bruises shingles and cracks seals in ways you can't see from the ground, and most insurers set a claim deadline after the storm. The latest hail report in Black Hawk County is from September 16, 2025. A local roofer can check and document it at no cost.
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What the record says about Black Hawk County
The latest hail report in Black Hawk County is from September 16, 2025, 1.00 in (quarter size). Since November 3, 2021 there have been 12 separate hail days; the biggest stones in that time were 3.00 in on June 24, 2023.
Over the 20 years 2006–2025, Black Hawk County logged 161 reports on 45 hail days, about 8.1 reports a year. That is about twice the median Iowa county (3.7 a year) and ranks #12 of 100 Iowa counties for all-time reports. Black Hawk County holds 2% of all 16,032 hail reports in Iowa.
13% of reports with a size were 2 inches (hen egg) or larger, against 7% for the median Iowa county. The largest hail on record here is 4.50 in (softball) on July 16, 2007 near 0.51 E Farmer.
Reports were down 42% in 2016–2025 (59) compared with 2006–2015 (102). The busiest year was 2017, with 23 reports on 4 days. Hail here peaks in May (25% of reports); 68% fall between April and June.
Reports a year 2006–2025 average
- Black Hawk County 8.1
- Median Iowa county 3.7
Hail days 2006–2025
- Black Hawk County 45
- Median Iowa county 39.5
Share 2 in or larger of sized reports
- Black Hawk County 13%
- Median Iowa county 7%
Hail over time
| Year | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 2025 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 8 | |||||||||
| 2024 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 5 | |||||||||
| 2023 | 11 | 11 | |||||||||||
| 2022 | 1 | 2 | 3 | ||||||||||
| 2021 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 2020 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 8 | |||||||||
| 2019 | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||
| 2018 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 2017 | 4 | 1 | 18 | 23 |
Hail days since Nov 3, 2021
| Date | Reports | Largest | Storm page |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 16, 2025 | 5 | 1.25 in | — |
| Sep 15, 2025 | 1 | 1.25 in | — |
| Apr 23, 2025 | 1 | 0.88 in | — |
| Mar 19, 2025 | 1 | 0.88 in | — |
| Oct 24, 2024 | 1 | 0.75 in | — |
| Jul 15, 2024 | 2 | 1.25 in | — |
| May 24, 2024 | 1 | 1.25 in | — |
| May 8, 2024 | 1 | 1.50 in | — |
| Jun 25, 2023 | 4 | 1.75 in | — |
| Jun 24, 2023 | 7 | 3.00 in | — |
| Sep 17, 2022 | 2 | 0.88 in | — |
| May 8, 2022 | 1 | 0.75 in | — |
Largest hail on record
| Date | Size | Location | Damage | Time · source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 16, 2007 | 4.50 insoftball | 0.51 E Farmer | $75K | 18:11 local · NCEI |
| May 25, 2008 | 4.25 ingrapefruit | 0.34 ESE Finchford | $50K | 16:20 local · NCEI |
| Jul 16, 2007 | 4.25 ingrapefruit | 4 N Hudson | $50K | 18:30 local · NCEI |
| May 25, 2008 | 4.00 ingrapefruit | 2.15 ENE Boies | $50K | 16:39 local · NCEI |
| Jul 16, 2007 | 4.00 ingrapefruit | Cedar Falls | $300K | 18:17 local · NCEI |
Size of every report
- Under 1 in 82 32%
- 1–2 in 139 55%
- 2 in + 32 13%
Most recent reports
| Date | Size | Location | Time · source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 16, 2025 | 1.00 inquarter | 4.31 WNW La Porte City Arpt | 16:00 local · NCEI |
| Sep 16, 2025 | 1.25 inhalf dollar | 2.31 SSE Waterloo | 14:58 local · NCEI |
| Sep 16, 2025 | 1.00 inquarter | 1.02 E Waterloo | 14:45 local · NCEI |
| Sep 16, 2025 | 1.00 inquarter | 1.72 SW Evansdale | 14:37 local · NCEI |
| Sep 16, 2025 | 0.88 innickel | 2.07 S Waterloo | 14:36 local · NCEI |
| Sep 15, 2025 | 1.25 inhalf dollar | 1.72 NW La Porte City Arpt | 17:29 local · NCEI |
| Apr 23, 2025 | 0.88 innickel | 1.23 SE Farmer | 20:47 local · NCEI |
| Mar 19, 2025 | 0.88 innickel | 0.86 SW Evansdale | 07:05 local · NCEI |
| Oct 24, 2024 | 0.75 inpenny | 0.51 W Evansdale | 15:37 local · NCEI |
| Jul 15, 2024 | 1.00 inquarter | 0.86 SE La Porte City | 15:35 local · NCEI |
| Jul 15, 2024 | 1.25 inhalf dollar | 4.31 WNW La Porte City Arpt | 15:35 local · NCEI |
| May 24, 2024 | 1.25 inhalf dollar | 0.51 E Casebeer Hgts | 03:49 local · NCEI |
Cities and towns in Black Hawk County
| Place | Reports | Largest |
|---|---|---|
| Waterloo | 98 | 4.75 in |
| Cedar Falls | 67 | 4.25 in |
| Hudson | 14 | 2.75 in |
| Washburn | 11 | 2.50 in |
| La Porte City | 10 | 4.00 in |
Smaller places with fewer than 10 reports
These places have too few reports for a page of their own, so their record lives here.
| Place | Reports | Hail days | Latest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dunkerton | 7 | 7 | Sep 5, 2020 |
| Elk Run Heights | 4 | 3 | May 24, 2024 |
| Evansdale | 3 | 3 | Jun 25, 2023 |
| Gilbertville | 3 | 3 | Jun 25, 2023 |
| Raymond | 3 | 3 | Jul 17, 2006 |
Questions about hail in Black Hawk County
How often does it hail in Black Hawk County, Iowa?
253 hail reports have been logged in Black Hawk County since 1960. Over the 20 years 2006–2025 that averages 8.1 reports a year. That ranks #12 of 100 Iowa counties by number of reports.
When is hail season in Black Hawk County?
Most reports come in May, April, June. May alone accounts for 25% of all reports.
What is the largest hail recorded in Black Hawk County?
4.50 in (softball size) on July 16, 2007 near 0.51 E Farmer. 13% of reports here were 2 inches or larger.
When did it last hail in Black Hawk County?
The most recent report in this data is from September 16, 2025 (1.00 in). Final NOAA data runs to July 31, 2026; preliminary NWS reports run to November 3, 2026.
How many hail storms has Black Hawk County had in the last five years?
12 separate days with hail reports since November 3, 2021, adding up to 27 reports. The most recent was September 16, 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.