Hail History

Hail history for Johnston, Iowa

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

Readout · Johnston

Last hail
Apr 4, 2023
0.88 in, nickel size
Hail days, last 5 years
2
since Nov 3, 2021 · 2 reports
Largest ever
3.00 in
teacup · Jul 14, 2009

61 reports on 31 days since 1981 · #23 of 483 Iowa places

Hail map · Johnston

Johnston Grimes Urbandale Polk City Windsor Heights Ankeny Granger Des Moines West Des Moines 10 mi
  • Under 1 in
  • 1–1.75 in
  • 1.75–2.5 in
  • 2.5–4 in
  • 4 in +
  • No size
61 most recent reports with a location; Polk County is shaded. Open street map

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What the record says about Johnston

The latest hail report in and around Johnston is from April 4, 2023, 0.88 in (nickel size). Since November 3, 2021 there have been 2 separate hail days; the biggest stones in that time were 1.00 in on September 17, 2022.

Over the 20 years 2006–2025, Johnston logged 44 reports on 21 hail days, about 2.2 reports a year. That is 4.9 times the median Iowa town on this site (0.5 a year) and ranks #23 of 483 Iowa cities and towns on this site for all-time reports. Johnston accounts for 9% of the 677 reports filed in Polk County.

13% 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 3.00 in (teacup) on July 14, 2009 near 2 N Johnston.

Reports held about level in 2016–2025 (22) compared with 2006–2015 (22). The busiest year was 2021, with 11 reports on 2 days. Hail here peaks in July (23% of reports); 57% fall between April and June.

Reports a year 2006–2025 average

  • Johnston 2.2
  • Polk County 19.9
  • Median Iowa town on this site 0.5

Hail days 2006–2025

  • Johnston 21
  • Polk County 102
  • Median Iowa town on this site 7

Share 2 in or larger of sized reports

  • Johnston 13%
  • Polk County 6%
  • Median Iowa town on this site 6%

Hail over time

051015 1981: 1 reports, largest 2.00 in 1986: 1 reports, largest 1.75 in 1990 1998: 3 reports, largest 1.75 in 2000: 1 reports, largest 1.00 in 2000 2001: 2 reports, largest 0.88 in 2002: 1 reports, largest 1.75 in 2004: 4 reports, largest 1.00 in 2005: 4 reports, largest 1.00 in 2007: 3 reports, largest 1.00 in 2008: 2 reports, largest 1.00 in 2009: 9 reports, largest 3.00 in 2010: 3 reports, largest 1.00 in 2010 2011: 3 reports, largest 1.25 in 2013: 1 reports, largest 0.75 in 2014: 1 reports, largest 1.00 in 2017: 4 reports, largest 1.00 in 2018: 5 reports, largest 2.00 in 2020 2021: 11 reports, largest 2.75 in 2022: 1 reports, largest 1.00 in 2023: 1 reports, largest 0.88 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.
051015 Jan February: 1 reports (2%) Feb March: 3 reports (5%) Mar April: 9 reports (15%) Apr May: 13 reports (21%) May June: 13 reports (21%) Jun July: 14 reports (23%) Jul August: 1 reports (2%) Aug September: 7 reports (11%) Sep Oct Nov Dec
All 61 reports by calendar month.
Reports per month, 2017–2026. Darker cells had more reports.
YearJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecTotal
2026 0
2025 0
2024 0
2023 1 1
2022 1 1
2021 38 11
2020 0
2019 0
2018 5 5
2017 22 4

Hail days since Nov 3, 2021

DateReportsLargestStorm page
Apr 4, 2023 1 0.88 in —
Sep 17, 2022 1 1.00 in —

Largest hail on record

Largest hail reports in Johnston
Date Size Location County Damage Time · source
Jul 14, 2009 3.00 inteacup 2 N Johnston Polk $50K 23:08 local · NCEI
Jul 14, 2009 3.00 inteacup 0.86 NE Johnston Polk $100K 23:00 local · NCEI
Jul 9, 2021 2.75 inbaseball 0.52 W Dodge Fld Arpt Polk — 13:03 local · NCEI
Jul 9, 2021 2.00 inhen egg 2.07 S Polk City Polk — 13:01 local · NCEI
Jul 9, 2021 2.00 inhen egg 0.52 W Lovington Polk — 13:01 local · NCEI

Size of every report

Most recent reports

Most recent hail reports in Johnston
Date Size Location County Time · source
Apr 4, 2023 0.88 innickel 2.07 S Polk City Polk 17:10 local · NCEI
Sep 17, 2022 1.00 inquarter 0.86 SW Dodge Fld Arpt Polk 19:00 local · NCEI
Jul 9, 2021 2.75 inbaseball 0.52 W Dodge Fld Arpt Polk 13:03 local · NCEI
Jul 9, 2021 2.00 inhen egg 2.07 S Polk City Polk 13:01 local · NCEI
Jul 9, 2021 2.00 inhen egg 0.52 W Lovington Polk 13:01 local · NCEI
Jul 9, 2021 1.50 inping pong ball 0.69 N Dodge Fld Arpt Polk 13:01 local · NCEI
Jul 9, 2021 1.75 ingolf ball 1.48 SSW Dodge Fld Arpt Polk 13:00 local · NCEI
Jul 9, 2021 1.75 ingolf ball 1.24 NE Rider Polk 12:59 local · NCEI
Jul 9, 2021 1.00 inquarter 0.69 N Dodge Fld Arpt Polk 12:58 local · NCEI
Jul 9, 2021 1.75 ingolf ball 1.72 NE Dodge Fld Arpt Polk 12:56 local · NCEI
Jun 22, 2021 1.50 inping pong ball 0.69 N Johnston Polk 16:48 local · NCEI
Jun 22, 2021 1.00 inquarter 1.72 SW Dodge Fld Arpt Polk 16:38 local · NCEI

Hail history near Johnston

Questions about hail in Johnston

How often does it hail in Johnston, Iowa?

61 hail reports have been logged in and within about 5 km (3 miles) of Johnston since 1981. Over the 20 years 2006–2025 that averages 2.2 reports a year. That ranks #23 of 483 Iowa places by number of reports.

When is hail season in Johnston?

Most reports come in July, May, June. July alone accounts for 23% of all reports.

What is the largest hail recorded in Johnston?

3.00 in (teacup size) on July 14, 2009 near 2 N Johnston. 13% of reports here were 2 inches or larger.

When did it last hail in Johnston?

The most recent report in this data is from April 4, 2023 (0.88 in). Final NOAA data runs to July 31, 2026; preliminary NWS reports run to November 3, 2026.

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

2 separate days with hail reports since November 3, 2021, adding up to 2 reports. The most recent was April 4, 2023.

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.