Hail history for Shellsburg, Iowa
NOAA hail reports in and within about 5 km (3 miles) of Shellsburg since 1971, with preliminary reports to November 3, 2026.
Readout · Shellsburg
- Last hail
- Apr 15, 2017
- 1.00 in, quarter size
- Hail days, last 5 years
- 0
- since Nov 3, 2021 · 0 reports
- Largest ever
- 2.00 in
- hen egg · Jun 6, 1971
17 reports on 12 days since 1971 · #232 of 483 Iowa places
Hail map · Shellsburg
- 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 Shellsburg is from April 15, 2017. A local roofer can check and document it at no cost.
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What the record says about Shellsburg
The latest hail report in and around Shellsburg is from April 15, 2017, 1.00 in (quarter size). There has been no hail report here in the five years since November 3, 2021.
Over the 20 years 2006–2025, Shellsburg logged 10 reports on 6 hail days, about 0.5 reports a year. That is 11% more than the median Iowa town on this site (0.5 a year) and ranks #232 of 483 Iowa cities and towns on this site for all-time reports. Shellsburg accounts for 6% of the 278 reports filed in Benton County.
6% 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 June 6, 1971.
Reports were down 89% in 2016–2025 (1) compared with 2006–2015 (9). The busiest year was 2004, with 3 reports on 2 days. Hail here peaks in June (53% of reports); 88% fall between April and June.
Reports a year 2006–2025 average
- Shellsburg 0.5
- Benton County 8.9
- Median Iowa town on this site 0.5
Hail days 2006–2025
- Shellsburg 6
- Benton County 75
- Median Iowa town on this site 7
Share 2 in or larger of sized reports
- Shellsburg 6%
- Benton County 4%
- 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 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 2020 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 2019 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 2018 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 2017 | 1 | 1 |
Largest hail on record
| Date | Size | Location | County | Damage | Time · source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 6, 1971 | 2.00 inhen egg | — | Benton | — | 01:20 local · NCEI |
| May 7, 2004 | 1.75 ingolf ball | Robins | Linn | $20K | 10:10 local · NCEI |
| Jun 18, 1998 | 1.75 ingolf ball | Shellsburg | Benton | — | 15:05 local · NCEI |
| May 18, 1997 | 1.75 ingolf ball | Shellsburg | Benton | — | 15:05 local · NCEI |
| Apr 15, 2017 | 1.00 inquarter | 0.69 N Shellsburg | Benton | — | 19:13 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 5 29%
- 1–2 in 11 65%
- 2 in + 1 6%
Most recent reports
| Date | Size | Location | County | Damage | Time · source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 15, 2017 | 1.00 inquarter | 0.69 N Shellsburg | Benton | — | 19:13 local · NCEI |
| Jun 24, 2015 | 1.00 inquarter | 0.69 S Shellsburg | Benton | — | 21:19 local · NCEI |
| Jun 24, 2015 | 0.88 innickel | 0.86 NW Shellsburg | Benton | — | 21:15 local · NCEI |
| May 29, 2013 | 0.88 innickel | 1.72 NW Shellsburg | Benton | — | 16:36 local · NCEI |
| May 29, 2013 | 0.88 innickel | 1.38 N Shellsburg | Benton | — | 16:34 local · NCEI |
| Mar 31, 2012 | 1.00 inquarter | 0.69 S Shellsburg | Benton | — | 20:17 local · NCEI |
| Jun 8, 2011 | 1.00 inquarter | 1.38 N Shellsburg | Benton | — | 18:34 local · NCEI |
| Jun 8, 2011 | 1.00 inquarter | 2.47 NW Shellsburg | Benton | — | 18:30 local · NCEI |
| Jun 21, 2007 | 0.88 innickel | 0.69 S Shellsburg | Benton | — | 18:02 local · NCEI |
| Jun 21, 2007 | 0.75 inpenny | 0.69 S Shellsburg | Benton | — | 17:41 local · NCEI |
| Oct 22, 2004 | 1.00 inquarter | 3 S Shellsburg | Benton | $3K | 08:48 local · NCEI |
| May 7, 2004 | 1.75 ingolf ball | Robins | Linn | $20K | 10:10 local · NCEI |
Hail history near Shellsburg
Questions about hail in Shellsburg
How often does it hail in Shellsburg, Iowa?
17 hail reports have been logged in and within about 5 km (3 miles) of Shellsburg since 1971. Over the 20 years 2006–2025 that averages 0.5 reports a year. That ranks #232 of 483 Iowa places by number of reports.
When is hail season in Shellsburg?
Most reports come in June, May, March. June alone accounts for 53% of all reports.
What is the largest hail recorded in Shellsburg?
2.00 in (hen egg size) on June 6, 1971. 6% of reports here were 2 inches or larger.
When did it last hail in Shellsburg?
The most recent report in this data is from April 15, 2017 (1.00 in). Final NOAA data runs to July 31, 2026; preliminary NWS reports run to November 3, 2026.
How many hail storms has Shellsburg had in the last five years?
None: there has been no hail report in and within about 5 km (3 miles) of Shellsburg since November 3, 2021. The last one was on April 15, 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.