Hail history for Rock Rapids, Iowa
NOAA hail reports in and within about 5 km (3 miles) of Rock Rapids since 1968, with preliminary reports to November 3, 2026.
Readout · Rock Rapids
- Last hail
- Apr 5, 2021
- 1.25 in, half dollar size
- Hail days, last 5 years
- 0
- since Nov 3, 2021 · 0 reports
- Largest ever
- 2.75 in
- baseball · Sep 22, 2010
29 reports on 24 days since 1968 · #85 of 483 Iowa places
Hail map · Rock Rapids
- 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 Rock Rapids is from April 5, 2021. A local roofer can check and document it at no cost.
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What the record says about Rock Rapids
The latest hail report in and around Rock Rapids is from April 5, 2021, 1.25 in (half dollar size). There has been no hail report here in the five years since November 3, 2021.
Over the 20 years 2006–2025, Rock Rapids logged 16 reports on 14 hail days, about 0.8 reports a year. That is 78% more than the median Iowa town on this site (0.5 a year) and ranks #85 of 483 Iowa cities and towns on this site for all-time reports. Rock Rapids accounts for 16% of the 176 reports filed in Lyon County.
10% 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 September 22, 2010 near 0.5 E Rock Rapids.
Reports were down 55% in 2016–2025 (5) compared with 2006–2015 (11). The busiest year was 2001, with 3 reports on 1 day. Hail here peaks in August (24% of reports); 45% fall between April and June.
Reports a year 2006–2025 average
- Rock Rapids 0.8
- Lyon County 4.7
- Median Iowa town on this site 0.5
Hail days 2006–2025
- Rock Rapids 14
- Lyon County 46
- Median Iowa town on this site 7
Share 2 in or larger of sized reports
- Rock Rapids 10%
- Lyon County 9%
- 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 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 2025 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 2024 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 2023 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 2022 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 2021 | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||
| 2020 | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||
| 2019 | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||
| 2018 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 2017 | 1 | 1 |
Largest hail on record
| Date | Size | Location | County | Time · source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 22, 2010 | 2.75 inbaseball | 0.5 E Rock Rapids | Lyon | 15:22 local · NCEI |
| May 29, 1980 | 2.75 inbaseball | — | Lyon | 11:00 local · NCEI |
| Aug 24, 1998 | 2.00 inhen egg | Rock Rapids | Lyon | 08:32 local · NCEI |
| Sep 9, 2015 | 1.75 ingolf ball | 1.47 NNW Edna | Lyon | 15:42 local · NCEI |
| May 25, 2015 | 1.75 ingolf ball | 0.85 SE Rock Rapids Muni Arp | Lyon | 16:35 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 12 41%
- 1–2 in 14 48%
- 2 in + 3 10%
Most recent reports
| Date | Size | Location | County | Time · source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 5, 2021 | 1.25 inhalf dollar | 0.85 SE Rock Rapids | Lyon | 21:02 local · NCEI |
| Aug 10, 2020 | 1.00 inquarter | 0.85 SE Rock Rapids | Lyon | 04:53 local · NCEI |
| Jun 24, 2019 | 1.00 inquarter | 0.5 E Rock Rapids | Lyon | 12:42 local · NCEI |
| Aug 21, 2017 | 1.00 inquarter | 0.5 E Rock Rapids | Lyon | 10:48 local · NCEI |
| May 30, 2016 | 0.75 inpenny | 0.5 E Rock Rapids | Lyon | 20:33 local · NCEI |
| Sep 9, 2015 | 1.75 ingolf ball | 1.47 NNW Edna | Lyon | 15:42 local · NCEI |
| May 25, 2015 | 1.75 ingolf ball | 0.85 SE Rock Rapids Muni Arp | Lyon | 16:35 local · NCEI |
| Aug 18, 2014 | 1.75 ingolf ball | 3.09 ENE Rock Rapids Muni Arp | Lyon | 16:56 local · NCEI |
| May 30, 2014 | 0.88 innickel | 3.09 WSW Rock Rapids | Lyon | 20:05 local · NCEI |
| Aug 22, 2011 | 1.00 inquarter | 0.5 E Rock Rapids | Lyon | 23:10 local · NCEI |
| Sep 22, 2010 | 1.00 inquarter | 0.5 E Rock Rapids | Lyon | 15:25 local · NCEI |
| Sep 22, 2010 | 2.75 inbaseball | 0.5 E Rock Rapids | Lyon | 15:22 local · NCEI |
Hail history near Rock Rapids
- Lester 13 km · 16
- George 16 km · 17
- Doon 17 km · 17
- Larchwood 22 km · 19
- Little Rock 23 km · 22
- Inwood 25 km · 13
- Rock Valley 27 km · 34
- Hull 27 km · 12
Questions about hail in Rock Rapids
How often does it hail in Rock Rapids, Iowa?
29 hail reports have been logged in and within about 5 km (3 miles) of Rock Rapids since 1968. Over the 20 years 2006–2025 that averages 0.8 reports a year. That ranks #85 of 483 Iowa places by number of reports.
When is hail season in Rock Rapids?
Most reports come in August, September, May. August alone accounts for 24% of all reports.
What is the largest hail recorded in Rock Rapids?
2.75 in (baseball size) on September 22, 2010 near 0.5 E Rock Rapids. 10% of reports here were 2 inches or larger.
When did it last hail in Rock Rapids?
The most recent report in this data is from April 5, 2021 (1.25 in). Final NOAA data runs to July 31, 2026; preliminary NWS reports run to November 3, 2026.
How many hail storms has Rock Rapids had in the last five years?
None: there has been no hail report in and within about 5 km (3 miles) of Rock Rapids since November 3, 2021. The last one was on April 5, 2021.
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.