Hail History

Hail history for Independence, Iowa

NOAA hail reports in and within about 5 km (3 miles) of Independence since 1962, with preliminary reports to November 3, 2026.

Readout · Independence

Last hail
Apr 14, 2026
1.25 in, half dollar size
Hail days, last 5 years
3
since Nov 3, 2021 · 6 reports
Largest ever
3.25 in
teacup · Apr 14, 2026

55 reports on 30 days since 1962 · #26 of 483 Iowa places

Hail map · Independence

Independence Jesup Fairbank Aurora Lamont La Porte City 5 mi
  • Under 1 in
  • 1–1.75 in
  • 1.75–2.5 in
  • 2.5–4 in
  • 4 in +
  • No size
55 most recent reports with a location; Buchanan County is shaded. Open street map

For homeowners

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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 Independence is from April 14, 2026. A local roofer can check and document it at no cost.

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What the record says about Independence

The latest hail report in and around Independence is from April 14, 2026, 1.25 in (half dollar size). Since November 3, 2021 there have been 3 separate hail days; the biggest stones in that time were 3.25 in on April 14, 2026.

Over the 20 years 2006–2025, Independence logged 39 reports on 17 hail days, about 1.9 reports a year. That is 4.3 times the median Iowa town on this site (0.5 a year) and ranks #26 of 483 Iowa cities and towns on this site for all-time reports. Independence accounts for 33% of the 166 reports filed in Buchanan County.

4% 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 3.25 in (teacup) on April 14, 2026 near 3.35 ENE Otterville.

Reports held about level in 2016–2025 (20) compared with 2006–2015 (19). The busiest year was 2020, with 9 reports on 2 days. Hail here peaks in June (27% of reports); 64% fall between April and June.

Reports a year 2006–2025 average

  • Independence 1.9
  • Buchanan County 5.0
  • Median Iowa town on this site 0.5

Hail days 2006–2025

  • Independence 17
  • Buchanan County 41
  • Median Iowa town on this site 7

Share 2 in or larger of sized reports

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

Hail over time

0369 1962: 1 reports, largest 1.00 in 1970 1972: 1 reports, largest 1.75 in 1973: 1 reports, largest 1.75 in 1980 1987: 1 reports, largest 2.50 in 1990 1991: 1 reports, largest 1.75 in 1992: 1 reports, largest 0.75 in 1998: 1 reports, largest 0.75 in 1999: 1 reports, largest 0.75 in 2000: 2 reports, largest 1.75 in 2000 2002: 1 reports, largest 0.88 in 2003: 2 reports, largest 1.75 in 2006: 3 reports, largest 1.00 in 2008: 1 reports, largest 0.75 in 2009: 7 reports, largest 1.75 in 2010: 3 reports, largest 0.88 in 2010 2013: 2 reports, largest 1.75 in 2014: 2 reports, largest 1.00 in 2015: 1 reports, largest 0.75 in 2016: 1 reports, largest 0.75 in 2017: 4 reports, largest 1.00 in 2018: 3 reports, largest 1.00 in 2020: 9 reports, largest 1.75 in 2020 2023: 1 reports, largest 1.75 in 2024: 2 reports, largest 1.00 in 2026: 3 reports, largest 3.25 in
Reports per year, 1962–2026. Bar colour shows the largest hail that year. Reporting grew sharply after the mid-1990s, so early decades undercount.
051015 Jan Feb March: 1 reports (2%) Mar April: 10 reports (18%) Apr May: 10 reports (18%) May June: 15 reports (27%) Jun July: 14 reports (25%) Jul August: 3 reports (5%) Aug September: 2 reports (4%) Sep Oct Nov Dec
All 55 reports by calendar month.
Reports per month, 2017–2026. Darker cells had more reports.
YearJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecTotal
2026 3 3
2025 0
2024 2 2
2023 1 1
2022 0
2021 0
2020 18 9
2019 0
2018 3 3
2017 4 4

Hail days since Nov 3, 2021

DateReportsLargestStorm page
Apr 14, 2026 3 3.25 in —
May 7, 2024 2 1.00 in —
Apr 4, 2023 1 1.75 in —

Largest hail on record

Largest hail reports in Independence
Date Size Location County Time · source
Apr 14, 2026 3.25 inteacup 3.35 ENE Otterville Buchanan 16:02 local · NCEI
Aug 21, 1987 2.50 intennis ball — Buchanan 00:45 local · NCEI
Apr 14, 2026 1.75 ingolf ball 1.47 NNW Independence Buchanan 16:05 local · NCEI
Apr 4, 2023 1.75 ingolf ball 1.02 W Independence Buchanan 21:54 local · NCEI
Jul 11, 2020 1.75 ingolf ball 0.51 W Independence Buchanan 08:50 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 Independence
Date Size Location County Time · source
Apr 14, 2026 1.25 inhalf dollar 1.47 NNE Independence Buchanan 16:09 local · NCEI
Apr 14, 2026 1.75 ingolf ball 1.47 NNW Independence Buchanan 16:05 local · NCEI
Apr 14, 2026 3.25 inteacup 3.35 ENE Otterville Buchanan 16:02 local · NCEI
May 7, 2024 1.00 inquarter 2.13 NNW Independence Buchanan 15:13 local · NCEI
May 7, 2024 1.00 inquarter 1.53 W Independence Buchanan 15:09 local · NCEI
Apr 4, 2023 1.75 ingolf ball 1.02 W Independence Buchanan 21:54 local · NCEI
Jul 11, 2020 1.50 inping pong ball 1.23 SW Independence Buchanan 08:50 local · NCEI
Jul 11, 2020 1.75 ingolf ball 0.51 W Independence Buchanan 08:50 local · NCEI
Jul 11, 2020 1.50 inping pong ball 0.51 E Independence Buchanan 08:49 local · NCEI
Jul 11, 2020 1.00 inquarter Independence Buchanan 08:47 local · NCEI
Jul 11, 2020 1.25 inhalf dollar 1.53 W Independence Buchanan 08:47 local · NCEI
Jul 11, 2020 1.00 inquarter 0.86 NW Independence Buchanan 08:47 local · NCEI

Hail history near Independence

Questions about hail in Independence

How often does it hail in Independence, Iowa?

55 hail reports have been logged in and within about 5 km (3 miles) of Independence since 1962. Over the 20 years 2006–2025 that averages 1.9 reports a year. That ranks #26 of 483 Iowa places by number of reports.

When is hail season in Independence?

Most reports come in June, July, April. June alone accounts for 27% of all reports.

What is the largest hail recorded in Independence?

3.25 in (teacup size) on April 14, 2026 near 3.35 ENE Otterville. 4% of reports here were 2 inches or larger.

When did it last hail in Independence?

The most recent report in this data is from April 14, 2026 (1.25 in). Final NOAA data runs to July 31, 2026; preliminary NWS reports run to November 3, 2026.

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

3 separate days with hail reports since November 3, 2021, adding up to 6 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.