Hail History

Hail history for Fairbank, Iowa

NOAA hail reports in and within about 5 km (3 miles) of Fairbank since 1998, with preliminary reports to November 3, 2026.

Readout · Fairbank

Last hail
Mar 23, 2017
1.75 in, golf ball size
Hail days, last 5 years
0
since Nov 3, 2021 · 0 reports
Largest ever
2.00 in
hen egg · Mar 23, 2017

19 reports on 11 days since 1998 · #177 of 483 Iowa places

Hail map · Fairbank

Fairbank Oelwein Readlyn Jesup Independence Aurora 10 mi
  • Under 1 in
  • 1–1.75 in
  • 1.75–2.5 in
  • 2.5–4 in
  • 4 in +
  • No size
19 most recent reports with a location; Buchanan County is shaded. Open street map

For homeowners

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What the record says about Fairbank

The latest hail report in and around Fairbank is from March 23, 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, Fairbank logged 9 reports on 6 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 #177 of 483 Iowa cities and towns on this site for all-time reports. Fairbank accounts for 11% of the 166 reports filed in Buchanan County.

5% 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 March 23, 2017 near 1.47 SSE Oran.

Reports were down 50% in 2016–2025 (3) compared with 2006–2015 (6). The busiest year was 1999, with 5 reports on 1 day. Hail here peaks in May (58% of reports); 74% fall between April and June.

Reports a year 2006–2025 average

  • Fairbank 0.5
  • Buchanan County 5.0
  • Median Iowa town on this site 0.5

Hail days 2006–2025

  • Fairbank 6
  • Buchanan County 41
  • Median Iowa town on this site 7

Share 2 in or larger of sized reports

  • Fairbank 5%
  • Buchanan County 4%
  • Median Iowa town on this site 6%

Hail over time

0246 1998: 2 reports, largest 1.75 in 1999: 5 reports, largest 1.75 in 2000: 1 reports, largest 1.75 in 2000 2003: 1 reports, largest 0.75 in 2004: 1 reports, largest 0.75 in 2005 2006: 1 reports, largest 1.00 in 2007: 1 reports, largest 0.75 in 2008: 3 reports, largest 1.75 in 2010 2014: 1 reports, largest 0.88 in 2015 2017: 3 reports, largest 2.00 in 2020 2025
Reports per year, 1998–2026. Bar colour shows the largest hail that year. Reporting grew sharply after the mid-1990s, so early decades undercount.
051015 Jan Feb March: 5 reports (26%) Mar April: 1 reports (5%) Apr May: 11 reports (58%) May June: 2 reports (11%) Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
All 19 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 3 3

Largest hail on record

Largest hail reports in Fairbank
Date Size Location County Time · source
Mar 23, 2017 2.00 inhen egg 1.47 SSE Oran Fayette 14:45 local · NCEI
Mar 23, 2017 1.75 ingolf ball 1.72 SE Oran Fayette 14:45 local · NCEI
Jun 14, 2008 1.75 ingolf ball 0.69 N Fairbank Buchanan 14:02 local · NCEI
May 11, 2000 1.75 ingolf ball Fairbank Buchanan 18:52 local · NCEI
May 16, 1999 1.75 ingolf ball Fairbank Buchanan 18:07 local · NCEI

Size of every report

Most recent reports

Most recent hail reports in Fairbank
Date Size Location County Damage Time · source
Mar 23, 2017 1.75 ingolf ball 1.72 SE Oran Fayette — 14:45 local · NCEI
Mar 23, 2017 2.00 inhen egg 1.47 SSE Oran Fayette — 14:45 local · NCEI
Mar 23, 2017 1.50 inping pong ball 1.14 NNE Fairbank Fayette $12K 14:40 local · NCEI
Apr 12, 2014 0.88 innickel 0.69 S Fairbank Buchanan — 20:07 local · NCEI
Jun 14, 2008 1.75 ingolf ball 0.69 N Fairbank Buchanan — 14:02 local · NCEI
May 25, 2008 0.88 innickel 1.16 WNW Fairbank Buchanan — 16:50 local · NCEI
May 25, 2008 1.00 inquarter 1 NNE Fairbank Fayette $4K 16:45 local · NCEI
Mar 31, 2007 0.75 inpenny 0.69 N Fairbank Fayette — 14:32 local · NCEI
Mar 13, 2006 1.00 inquarter Fairbank Buchanan $5K 01:21 local · NCEI
May 8, 2004 0.75 inpenny Fairbank Fayette — 16:18 local · NCEI
Jun 4, 2003 0.75 inpenny Fairbank Buchanan — 11:00 local · NCEI
May 11, 2000 1.75 ingolf ball Fairbank Buchanan — 18:52 local · NCEI

Hail history near Fairbank

Questions about hail in Fairbank

How often does it hail in Fairbank, Iowa?

19 hail reports have been logged in and within about 5 km (3 miles) of Fairbank since 1998. Over the 20 years 2006–2025 that averages 0.5 reports a year. That ranks #177 of 483 Iowa places by number of reports.

When is hail season in Fairbank?

Most reports come in May, March, June. May alone accounts for 58% of all reports.

What is the largest hail recorded in Fairbank?

2.00 in (hen egg size) on March 23, 2017 near 1.47 SSE Oran. 5% of reports here were 2 inches or larger.

When did it last hail in Fairbank?

The most recent report in this data is from March 23, 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 Fairbank had in the last five years?

None: there has been no hail report in and within about 5 km (3 miles) of Fairbank since November 3, 2021. The last one was on March 23, 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.