Hail History

Hail history for Elma, Iowa

NOAA hail reports in and within about 5 km (3 miles) of Elma since 1981, with preliminary reports to November 3, 2026.

Readout · Elma

Last hail
Apr 14, 2026
3.50 in, teacup size
Hail days, last 5 years
1
since Nov 3, 2021 · 1 report
Largest ever
3.50 in
teacup · Apr 14, 2026

11 reports on 9 days since 1981 · #404 of 483 Iowa places

Hail map · Elma

Elma Lime Springs Protivin Cresco 5 mi
  • Under 1 in
  • 1–1.75 in
  • 1.75–2.5 in
  • 2.5–4 in
  • 4 in +
  • No size
11 most recent reports with a location; Howard 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 Elma is from April 14, 2026. A local roofer can check and document it at no cost.

Phone line opening soon

What would a claim cost you? Try the hail claim calculator

Preview: this form is not connected yet. Nothing you enter is sent or stored.

Roofer? Get hail alerts for your area with StormScope

What the record says about Elma

The latest hail report in and around Elma is from April 14, 2026, 3.50 in (teacup size). Since November 3, 2021 there has been one hail day; the biggest stones in that time were 3.50 in on April 14, 2026.

Over the 20 years 2006–2025, Elma logged 6 reports on 4 hail days, about 0.3 reports a year. That is 33% less than the median Iowa town on this site (0.5 a year) and ranks #404 of 483 Iowa cities and towns on this site for all-time reports. Elma accounts for 11% of the 98 reports filed in Howard County.

9% 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 3.50 in (teacup) on April 14, 2026 near 0.85 SE Elma.

The busiest year was 2009, with 2 reports on 1 day. Hail here peaks in June (36% of reports); 82% fall between April and June.

Reports a year 2006–2025 average

  • Elma 0.3
  • Howard County 2.3
  • Median Iowa town on this site 0.5

Hail days 2006–2025

  • Elma 4
  • Howard County 20
  • Median Iowa town on this site 7

Share 2 in or larger of sized reports

  • Elma 9%
  • Howard County 4%
  • Median Iowa town on this site 6%

Hail over time

012 1981: 1 reports, largest 1.25 in 1990 2000 2002: 1 reports, largest 0.88 in 2003: 2 reports, largest 1.75 in 2006: 2 reports, largest 0.75 in 2009: 2 reports, largest 1.00 in 2010 2011: 1 reports, largest 0.75 in 2019: 1 reports, largest 0.88 in 2020 2026: 1 reports, largest 3.50 in
Reports per year, 1981–2026. Bar colour shows the largest hail that year. Reporting grew sharply after the mid-1990s, so early decades undercount.
01234 Jan Feb Mar April: 3 reports (27%) Apr May: 2 reports (18%) May June: 4 reports (36%) Jun July: 2 reports (18%) Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
All 11 reports by calendar month.
Reports per month, 2017–2026. Darker cells had more reports.
YearJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecTotal
2026 1 1
2025 0
2024 0
2023 0
2022 0
2021 0
2020 0
2019 1 1
2018 0
2017 0

Hail days since Nov 3, 2021

DateReportsLargestStorm page
Apr 14, 2026 1 3.50 in —

Largest hail on record

Largest hail reports in Elma
Date Size Location County Damage Time · source
Apr 14, 2026 3.50 inteacup 0.85 SE Elma Howard $250K 15:56 local · NCEI
Jul 31, 2003 1.75 ingolf ball Elma Howard $1K 14:50 local · NCEI
Apr 3, 1981 1.25 inhalf dollar — Howard — 16:25 local · NCEI
Jun 17, 2009 1.00 inquarter 0.5 E Elma Howard $5K 20:56 local · NCEI
Jun 27, 2019 0.88 innickel 0.85 SE Elma Howard — 11:35 local · NCEI

Sizes filed before 1996 are often rough estimates (round numbers like 7.00 or 8.00 in) without an exact spot; they are shown as NOAA filed them.

Size of every report

Most recent reports

Most recent hail reports in Elma
Date Size Location County Damage Time · source
Apr 14, 2026 3.50 inteacup 0.85 SE Elma Howard $250K 15:56 local · NCEI
Jun 27, 2019 0.88 innickel 0.85 SE Elma Howard — 11:35 local · NCEI
Apr 10, 2011 0.75 inpenny 0.5 ESE Elma Howard — 14:40 local · NCEI
Jun 17, 2009 1.00 inquarter 0.5 E Elma Howard $5K 20:56 local · NCEI
Jun 17, 2009 0.75 inpenny Elma Howard — 18:42 local · NCEI
May 29, 2006 0.75 inpenny Elma Howard — 16:50 local · NCEI
May 29, 2006 0.75 inpenny Elma Howard — 16:25 local · NCEI
Jul 31, 2003 1.75 ingolf ball Elma Howard $1K 14:50 local · NCEI
Jul 7, 2003 0.75 inpenny 4 SW Elma Howard — 02:40 local · NCEI
Jun 19, 2002 0.88 innickel Elma Howard $750 04:55 local · NCEI
Apr 3, 1981 1.25 inhalf dollar — Howard — 16:25 local · NCEI

Hail history near Elma

Questions about hail in Elma

How often does it hail in Elma, Iowa?

11 hail reports have been logged in and within about 5 km (3 miles) of Elma since 1981. Over the 20 years 2006–2025 that averages 0.3 reports a year. That ranks #404 of 483 Iowa places by number of reports.

When is hail season in Elma?

Most reports come in June, April, May. June alone accounts for 36% of all reports.

What is the largest hail recorded in Elma?

3.50 in (teacup size) on April 14, 2026 near 0.85 SE Elma. 9% of reports here were 2 inches or larger.

When did it last hail in Elma?

The most recent report in this data is from April 14, 2026 (3.50 in). Final NOAA data runs to July 31, 2026; preliminary NWS reports run to November 3, 2026.

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

1 separate days with hail reports since November 3, 2021, adding up to 1 reports. The most recent was April 14, 2026.

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.