Hail History

Hail history for Defiance, Iowa

NOAA hail reports in and within about 5 km (3 miles) of Defiance since 1999, with preliminary reports to November 3, 2026.

Readout · Defiance

Last hail
Apr 19, 2017
1.75 in, golf ball size
Hail days, last 5 years
0
since Nov 3, 2021 · 0 reports
Largest ever
1.75 in
golf ball · Apr 19, 2017

12 reports on 11 days since 1999 · #358 of 483 Iowa places

Hail map · Defiance

Defiance Irwin Panama Harlan Dunlap 10 mi
  • Under 1 in
  • 1–1.75 in
  • 1.75–2.5 in
  • 2.5–4 in
  • 4 in +
  • No size
12 most recent reports with a location; Shelby County is shaded. Open street map

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 Defiance is from April 19, 2017. A local roofer can check and document it at no cost.

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What the record says about Defiance

The latest hail report in and around Defiance is from April 19, 2017, 1.75 in (golf ball size). There has been no hail report here in the five years since November 3, 2021.

Over the 20 years 2006–2025, Defiance logged 7 reports on 7 hail days, about 0.3 reports a year. That is 22% less than the median Iowa town on this site (0.5 a year) and ranks #358 of 483 Iowa cities and towns on this site for all-time reports. Defiance accounts for 9% of the 134 reports filed in Shelby 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 April 19, 2017 near 3.49 S Defiance.

The busiest year was 2008, with 2 reports on 2 days. Hail here peaks in April (33% of reports); 67% fall between April and June.

Reports a year 2006–2025 average

  • Defiance 0.3
  • Shelby County 3.0
  • Median Iowa town on this site 0.5

Hail days 2006–2025

  • Defiance 7
  • Shelby County 38
  • Median Iowa town on this site 7

Share 2 in or larger of sized reports

  • Defiance 0%
  • Shelby County 4%
  • Median Iowa town on this site 6%

Hail over time

012 1999: 1 reports, largest 1.00 in 2000 2003: 2 reports, largest 1.25 in 2005: 2 reports, largest 1.75 in 2005 2007: 1 reports, largest 0.75 in 2008: 2 reports, largest 1.00 in 2010: 1 reports, largest 1.00 in 2010 2011: 1 reports, largest 1.00 in 2013: 1 reports, largest 0.75 in 2015 2017: 1 reports, largest 1.75 in 2020 2025
Reports per year, 1999–2026. Bar colour shows the largest hail that year. Reporting grew sharply after the mid-1990s, so early decades undercount.
01234 Jan Feb Mar April: 4 reports (33%) Apr May: 2 reports (17%) May June: 2 reports (17%) Jun July: 1 reports (8%) Jul August: 1 reports (8%) Aug September: 1 reports (8%) Sep Oct November: 1 reports (8%) Nov Dec
All 12 reports by calendar month.
Reports per month, 2017–2026. Darker cells had more reports.
YearJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecTotal
2026 0
2025 0
2024 0
2023 0
2022 0
2021 0
2020 0
2019 0
2018 0
2017 1 1

Largest hail on record

Largest hail reports in Defiance
Date Size Location County Time · source
Apr 19, 2017 1.75 ingolf ball 3.49 S Defiance Shelby 18:48 local · NCEI
May 10, 2005 1.75 ingolf ball Defiance Shelby 18:15 local · NCEI
Apr 29, 2003 1.25 inhalf dollar Defiance Shelby 20:36 local · NCEI
May 21, 2011 1.00 inquarter 3.49 S Defiance Shelby 19:27 local · NCEI
Sep 18, 2010 1.00 inquarter Defiance Shelby 10:25 local · NCEI

Size of every report

Most recent reports

Most recent hail reports in Defiance
Date Size Location County Time · source
Apr 19, 2017 1.75 ingolf ball 3.49 S Defiance Shelby 18:48 local · NCEI
Jun 25, 2013 0.75 inpenny 1.47 NNE Defiance Shelby 04:58 local · NCEI
May 21, 2011 1.00 inquarter 3.49 S Defiance Shelby 19:27 local · NCEI
Sep 18, 2010 1.00 inquarter Defiance Shelby 10:25 local · NCEI
Jun 11, 2008 0.75 inpenny 2.57 W Defiance Shelby 05:30 local · NCEI
Apr 24, 2008 1.00 inquarter 0.51 E Defiance Shelby 17:32 local · NCEI
Aug 20, 2007 0.75 inpenny 2 SE Defiance Shelby 10:20 local · NCEI
Nov 12, 2005 1.00 inquarter 1 N Defiance Shelby 14:50 local · NCEI
May 10, 2005 1.75 ingolf ball Defiance Shelby 18:15 local · NCEI
Apr 29, 2003 1.25 inhalf dollar Defiance Shelby 20:36 local · NCEI
Apr 29, 2003 0.88 innickel 2 N Defiance Shelby 20:33 local · NCEI
Jul 2, 1999 1.00 inquarter Defiance Shelby 12:10 local · NCEI

Hail history near Defiance

Questions about hail in Defiance

How often does it hail in Defiance, Iowa?

12 hail reports have been logged in and within about 5 km (3 miles) of Defiance since 1999. Over the 20 years 2006–2025 that averages 0.3 reports a year. That ranks #358 of 483 Iowa places by number of reports.

When is hail season in Defiance?

Most reports come in April, May, June. April alone accounts for 33% of all reports.

What is the largest hail recorded in Defiance?

1.75 in (golf ball size) on April 19, 2017 near 3.49 S Defiance. 0% of reports here were 2 inches or larger.

When did it last hail in Defiance?

The most recent report in this data is from April 19, 2017 (1.75 in). Final NOAA data runs to July 31, 2026; preliminary NWS reports run to November 3, 2026.

How many hail storms has Defiance had in the last five years?

None: there has been no hail report in and within about 5 km (3 miles) of Defiance since November 3, 2021. The last one was on April 19, 2017.

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.