Hail history for Emerson, Iowa
NOAA hail reports in and within about 5 km (3 miles) of Emerson since 1990, with preliminary reports to November 3, 2026.
Readout · Emerson
- Last hail
- May 15, 2026
- 1.00 in, quarter size
- Hail days, last 5 years
- 3
- since Nov 3, 2021 · 3 reports
- Largest ever
- 2.00 in
- hen egg · May 9, 1990
13 reports on 12 days since 1990 · #318 of 483 Iowa places
Hail map · Emerson
- 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 Emerson is from May 15, 2026. A local roofer can check and document it at no cost.
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What the record says about Emerson
The latest hail report in and around Emerson is from May 15, 2026, 1.00 in (quarter size). Since November 3, 2021 there have been 3 separate hail days; the biggest stones in that time were 1.00 in on May 15, 2026.
Over the 20 years 2006–2025, Emerson logged 6 reports on 6 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 #318 of 483 Iowa cities and towns on this site for all-time reports. Emerson accounts for 9% of the 148 reports filed in Mills County.
8% 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 2.00 in (hen egg) on May 9, 1990.
The busiest year was 2026, with 2 reports on 2 days. Hail here peaks in May (46% of reports); 69% fall between April and June.
Reports a year 2006–2025 average
- Emerson 0.3
- Mills County 3.9
- Median Iowa town on this site 0.5
Hail days 2006–2025
- Emerson 6
- Mills County 46
- Median Iowa town on this site 7
Share 2 in or larger of sized reports
- Emerson 8%
- Mills County 8%
- 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 | 1 | 1 | 2 | ||||||||||
| 2025 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 2024 | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||
| 2023 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 2022 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 2021 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 2020 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 2019 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 2018 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 2017 | 0 |
Hail days since Nov 3, 2021
| Date | Reports | Largest | Storm page |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 15, 2026 | 1 | 1.00 in | — |
| Mar 6, 2026 | 1 | 1.00 in | — |
| May 21, 2024 | 1 | 1.00 in | — |
Largest hail on record
| Date | Size | Location | County | Time · source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 9, 1990 | 2.00 inhen egg | — | Mills | 03:16 local · NCEI |
| May 17, 2004 | 1.25 inhalf dollar | 9 W Red Oak | Montgomery | 16:17 local · NCEI |
| May 17, 2004 | 1.25 inhalf dollar | 1 N Emerson | Mills | 16:15 local · NCEI |
| May 15, 2026 | 1.00 inquarter | 0.87 NE Emerson | Mills | 17:43 local · NCEI |
| Mar 6, 2026 | 1.00 inquarter | 2.14 SSE Emerson | Mills | 17:52 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
- Under 1 in 6 46%
- 1–2 in 6 46%
- 2 in + 1 8%
Most recent reports
| Date | Size | Location | County | Time · source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 15, 2026 | 1.00 inquarter | 0.87 NE Emerson | Mills | 17:43 local · NCEI |
| Mar 6, 2026 | 1.00 inquarter | 2.14 SSE Emerson | Mills | 17:52 local · NCEI |
| May 21, 2024 | 1.00 inquarter | 11.57 NNE Imogene | Fremont | 13:16 local · NCEI |
| May 7, 2015 | 0.88 innickel | Emerson | Mills | 13:59 local · NCEI |
| Mar 22, 2011 | 0.88 innickel | 3 SSW Emerson | Mills | 15:40 local · NCEI |
| Apr 29, 2010 | 0.88 innickel | 0.69 N Emerson | Mills | 19:13 local · NCEI |
| Sep 23, 2008 | 0.75 inpenny | Emerson | Mills | 21:10 local · NCEI |
| Jun 4, 2008 | 0.88 innickel | Emerson | Mills | 17:52 local · NCEI |
| May 17, 2004 | 1.25 inhalf dollar | 9 W Red Oak | Montgomery | 16:17 local · NCEI |
| May 17, 2004 | 1.25 inhalf dollar | 1 N Emerson | Mills | 16:15 local · NCEI |
| Jun 23, 2000 | 1.00 inquarter | Emerson | Mills | 16:40 local · NCEI |
| Sep 7, 1999 | 0.75 inpenny | Emerson | Mills | 16:49 local · NCEI |
Hail history near Emerson
Questions about hail in Emerson
How often does it hail in Emerson, Iowa?
13 hail reports have been logged in and within about 5 km (3 miles) of Emerson since 1990. Over the 20 years 2006–2025 that averages 0.3 reports a year. That ranks #318 of 483 Iowa places by number of reports.
When is hail season in Emerson?
Most reports come in May, March, June. May alone accounts for 46% of all reports.
What is the largest hail recorded in Emerson?
2.00 in (hen egg size) on May 9, 1990. 8% of reports here were 2 inches or larger.
When did it last hail in Emerson?
The most recent report in this data is from May 15, 2026 (1.00 in). Final NOAA data runs to July 31, 2026; preliminary NWS reports run to November 3, 2026.
How many hail storms has Emerson had in the last five years?
3 separate days with hail reports since November 3, 2021, adding up to 3 reports. The most recent was May 15, 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.