Hail History

Hail history for Iowa City, Iowa

NOAA hail reports in and within about 5 km (3 miles) of Iowa City since 1968, with preliminary reports to November 3, 2026.

Readout · Iowa City

Last hail
Apr 14, 2026
1.25 in, half dollar size
Hail days, last 5 years
8
since Nov 3, 2021 · 22 reports
Largest ever
2.75 in
baseball · Jun 18, 1998

80 reports on 44 days since 1968 · #8 of 483 Iowa places

Hail map · Iowa City

Iowa City Coralville Hills North Liberty Tiffin West Branch Solon Riverside West Liberty 10 mi
  • Under 1 in
  • 1–1.75 in
  • 1.75–2.5 in
  • 2.5–4 in
  • 4 in +
  • No size
80 most recent reports with a location; Johnson 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 Iowa City 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 Iowa City

The latest hail report in and around Iowa City is from April 14, 2026, 1.25 in (half dollar size). Since November 3, 2021 there have been 8 separate hail days; the biggest stones in that time were 2.50 in on March 10, 2026.

Over the 20 years 2006–2025, Iowa City logged 49 reports on 27 hail days, about 2.5 reports a year. That is 5.4 times the median Iowa town on this site (0.5 a year) and ranks #8 of 483 Iowa cities and towns on this site for all-time reports. Iowa City accounts for 35% of the 229 reports filed in Johnson 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 2.75 in (baseball) on June 18, 1998 near Iowa City.

Reports were down 42% in 2016–2025 (18) compared with 2006–2015 (31). The busiest year was 2026, with 17 reports on 4 days. Hail here peaks in May (21% of reports); 57% fall between April and June.

Reports a year 2006–2025 average

  • Iowa City 2.5
  • Johnson County 8.0
  • Median Iowa town on this site 0.5

Hail days 2006–2025

  • Iowa City 27
  • Johnson County 65
  • Median Iowa town on this site 7

Share 2 in or larger of sized reports

  • Iowa City 8%
  • Johnson County 6%
  • Median Iowa town on this site 6%

Hail over time

05101520 1968: 1 reports, largest 2.75 in 1970 1971: 1 reports, largest 2.00 in 1975: 1 reports, largest 2.75 in 1979: 2 reports, largest 1.75 in 1980: 1 reports, largest 1.00 in 1980 1981: 1 reports, largest 1.50 in 1985: 1 reports, largest 0.75 in 1990 1997: 1 reports, largest 2.75 in 1998: 1 reports, largest 2.75 in 2000 2003: 1 reports, largest 1.00 in 2004: 3 reports, largest 1.00 in 2006: 5 reports, largest 1.75 in 2007: 1 reports, largest 0.75 in 2008: 3 reports, largest 0.88 in 2009: 1 reports, largest 0.88 in 2010: 2 reports, largest 1.00 in 2010 2011: 6 reports, largest 1.75 in 2013: 2 reports, largest 0.88 in 2014: 9 reports, largest 1.75 in 2015: 2 reports, largest 0.75 in 2017: 9 reports, largest 1.25 in 2018: 1 reports, largest 0.88 in 2020: 3 reports, largest 1.50 in 2020 2023: 3 reports, largest 1.00 in 2025: 2 reports, largest 1.00 in 2026: 17 reports, largest 2.50 in
Reports per year, 1968–2026. Bar colour shows the largest hail that year. Reporting grew sharply after the mid-1990s, so early decades undercount.
05101520 Jan February: 7 reports (9%) Feb March: 12 reports (15%) Mar April: 15 reports (19%) Apr May: 17 reports (21%) May June: 14 reports (18%) Jun July: 10 reports (13%) Jul August: 3 reports (4%) Aug September: 1 reports (1%) Sep Oct November: 1 reports (1%) Nov Dec
All 80 reports by calendar month.
Reports per month, 2017–2026. Darker cells had more reports.
YearJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecTotal
2026 116 17
2025 2 2
2024 0
2023 12 3
2022 0
2021 0
2020 3 3
2019 0
2018 1 1
2017 72 9

Hail days since Nov 3, 2021

DateReportsLargestStorm page
Apr 14, 2026 5 1.50 in —
Apr 2, 2026 1 1.75 in —
Mar 31, 2026 1 0.88 in —
Mar 10, 2026 10 2.50 in —
Jul 10, 2025 2 1.00 in —
May 13, 2023 1 1.00 in —
May 7, 2023 1 1.00 in —
Apr 5, 2023 1 1.00 in —

Largest hail on record

Largest hail reports in Iowa City
Date Size Location County Damage Time · source
Jun 18, 1998 2.75 inbaseball Iowa City Johnson — 15:30 local · NCEI
May 18, 1997 2.75 inbaseball Iowa City Johnson $40.0 million 17:45 local · NCEI
May 11, 1975 2.75 inbaseball — Johnson — 13:00 local · NCEI
May 15, 1968 2.75 inbaseball — Johnson — 09:35 local · NCEI
Mar 10, 2026 2.50 intennis ball 2.49 SW University Hgts Johnson — 18:04 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 Iowa City
Date Size Location County Time · source
Apr 14, 2026 1.25 inhalf dollar 0.69 S Iowa City Johnson 17:12 local · NCEI
Apr 14, 2026 1.00 inquarter 0.69 N Iowa City Johnson 17:12 local · NCEI
Apr 14, 2026 1.00 inquarter 1.03 E Iowa City Johnson 17:11 local · NCEI
Apr 14, 2026 1.25 inhalf dollar 0.69 S Iowa City Johnson 17:10 local · NCEI
Apr 14, 2026 1.50 inping pong ball 0.86 SE Iowa City Johnson 17:08 local · NCEI
Apr 2, 2026 1.75 ingolf ball 1.03 E Iowa City Muni Arpt Johnson 15:31 local · NCEI
Mar 31, 2026 0.88 innickel 0.69 S University Hgts Johnson 01:01 local · NCEI
Mar 10, 2026 1.00 inquarter 2.18 ESE Iowa City Johnson 18:21 local · NCEI
Mar 10, 2026 1.25 inhalf dollar 2.67 ENE Iowa City Muni Arpt Johnson 18:16 local · NCEI
Mar 10, 2026 1.00 inquarter 2.67 ENE Iowa City Muni Arpt Johnson 18:15 local · NCEI
Mar 10, 2026 1.50 inping pong ball 2.18 ENE Iowa City Muni Arpt Johnson 18:15 local · NCEI
Mar 10, 2026 1.25 inhalf dollar 2.18 ENE Iowa City Muni Arpt Johnson 18:13 local · NCEI

Hail history near Iowa City

Questions about hail in Iowa City

How often does it hail in Iowa City, Iowa?

80 hail reports have been logged in and within about 5 km (3 miles) of Iowa City since 1968. Over the 20 years 2006–2025 that averages 2.5 reports a year. That ranks #8 of 483 Iowa places by number of reports.

When is hail season in Iowa City?

Most reports come in May, April, June. May alone accounts for 21% of all reports.

What is the largest hail recorded in Iowa City?

2.75 in (baseball size) on June 18, 1998 near Iowa City. 8% of reports here were 2 inches or larger.

When did it last hail in Iowa City?

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 Iowa City had in the last five years?

8 separate days with hail reports since November 3, 2021, adding up to 22 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.