Hail History

Hail history for Storm Lake, Iowa

NOAA hail reports in and within about 5 km (3 miles) of Storm Lake since 1980, with preliminary reports to November 3, 2026.

Readout · Storm Lake

Last hail
Oct 8, 2026
1.00 in, quarter size · preliminary
Hail days, last 5 years
2
since Nov 3, 2021 · 2 reports
Largest ever
1.75 in
golf ball · Aug 13, 2008

26 reports on 19 days since 1980 · #101 of 483 Iowa places

Hail map · Storm Lake

Storm Lake Newell Aurelia Rembrandt Sioux Rapids Linn Grove 5 mi
  • Under 1 in
  • 1–1.75 in
  • 1.75–2.5 in
  • 2.5–4 in
  • 4 in +
  • No size
26 most recent reports with a location; Buena Vista 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 Storm Lake is from October 8, 2026. A local roofer can check and document it at no cost.

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What the record says about Storm Lake

The latest hail report in and around Storm Lake is from October 8, 2026, 1.00 in (quarter size). Since November 3, 2021 there have been 2 separate hail days; the biggest stones in that time were 1.00 in on October 8, 2026.

Over the 20 years 2006–2025, Storm Lake logged 15 reports on 9 hail days, about 0.8 reports a year. That is 67% more than the median Iowa town on this site (0.5 a year) and ranks #101 of 483 Iowa cities and towns on this site for all-time reports. Storm Lake accounts for 17% of the 155 reports filed in Buena Vista County.

0% 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 1.75 in (golf ball) on August 13, 2008 near Storm Lake.

Reports were down 64% in 2016–2025 (4) compared with 2006–2015 (11). The busiest year was 2010, with 4 reports on 1 day. Hail here peaks in June (50% of reports); 65% fall between April and June.

Reports a year 2006–2025 average

  • Storm Lake 0.8
  • Buena Vista County 3.6
  • Median Iowa town on this site 0.5

Hail days 2006–2025

  • Storm Lake 9
  • Buena Vista County 27
  • Median Iowa town on this site 7

Share 2 in or larger of sized reports

  • Storm Lake 0%
  • Buena Vista County 4%
  • Median Iowa town on this site 6%

Hail over time

01234 1980: 1 reports, largest 1.25 in 1980 1983: 1 reports, largest 1.75 in 1987: 1 reports, largest 1.75 in 1990 1996: 2 reports, largest 1.75 in 1998: 2 reports, largest 1.75 in 1999: 1 reports, largest 0.88 in 2000 2003: 1 reports, largest 1.00 in 2006: 1 reports, largest 0.75 in 2008: 4 reports, largest 1.75 in 2010: 4 reports, largest 1.00 in 2010 2014: 1 reports, largest 1.00 in 2015: 1 reports, largest 0.75 in 2016: 2 reports, largest 1.00 in 2020: 1 reports, largest 1.25 in 2020 2021: 1 reports, largest 1.00 in 2026: 2 reports, largest 1.00 in
Reports per year, 1980–2026. Bar colour shows the largest hail that year. Reporting grew sharply after the mid-1990s, so early decades undercount.
051015 Jan Feb Mar Apr May: 4 reports (15%) May June: 13 reports (50%) Jun July: 3 reports (12%) Jul August: 5 reports (19%) Aug Sep October: 1 reports (4%) Oct Nov Dec
All 26 reports by calendar month.
Reports per month, 2017–2026. Darker cells had more reports.
YearJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecTotal
2026 11 2
2025 0
2024 0
2023 0
2022 0
2021 1 1
2020 1 1
2019 0
2018 0
2017 0

Hail days since Nov 3, 2021

DateReportsLargestStorm page
Oct 8, 2026 1 1.00 in View
May 15, 2026 1 0.88 in —

Largest hail on record

Largest hail reports in Storm Lake
Date Size Location County Time · source
Aug 13, 2008 1.75 ingolf ball Storm Lake Buena Vista 19:05 local · NCEI
May 28, 1998 1.75 ingolf ball Storm Lake Buena Vista 18:45 local · NCEI
Jun 20, 1996 1.75 ingolf ball Storm Lake Buena Vista 17:40 local · NCEI
Jun 24, 1987 1.75 ingolf ball — Buena Vista 15:08 local · NCEI
Aug 21, 1983 1.75 ingolf ball — Buena Vista 18:40 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 Storm Lake
Date Size Location County Time · source
Oct 8, 2026 1.00 inquarter 3 NE Storm Lake Buena Vista 04:55 UTC · NWS prelim.
May 15, 2026 0.88 innickel 2.31 NNW Storm Lake Arpt Buena Vista 17:36 local · NCEI
Jun 16, 2021 1.00 inquarter 1.72 NW Storm Lake Arpt Buena Vista 20:05 local · NCEI
Jun 5, 2020 1.25 inhalf dollar 1.67 ESE Alta Buena Vista 01:04 local · NCEI
Jul 11, 2016 0.75 inpenny 0.69 N Lakeside Buena Vista 19:38 local · NCEI
Jul 11, 2016 1.00 inquarter 0.86 SE Storm Lake Buena Vista 19:33 local · NCEI
Jun 22, 2015 0.75 inpenny 0.69 N Lakeside Buena Vista 07:36 local · NCEI
Aug 31, 2014 1.00 inquarter 1.02 W Storm Lake Lake Buena Vista 17:48 local · NCEI
Jun 18, 2010 1.00 inquarter 1.47 NNE Juniata Buena Vista 11:47 local · NCEI
Jun 18, 2010 1.00 inquarter 1.47 NNE Juniata Buena Vista 11:38 local · NCEI
Jun 18, 2010 1.00 inquarter 1.23 SW Lakeside Buena Vista 11:30 local · NCEI
Jun 18, 2010 0.75 inpenny Storm Lake Buena Vista 10:15 local · NCEI

Hail history near Storm Lake

Questions about hail in Storm Lake

How often does it hail in Storm Lake, Iowa?

26 hail reports have been logged in and within about 5 km (3 miles) of Storm Lake since 1980. Over the 20 years 2006–2025 that averages 0.8 reports a year. That ranks #101 of 483 Iowa places by number of reports.

When is hail season in Storm Lake?

Most reports come in June, August, May. June alone accounts for 50% of all reports.

What is the largest hail recorded in Storm Lake?

1.75 in (golf ball size) on August 13, 2008 near Storm Lake. 0% of reports here were 2 inches or larger.

When did it last hail in Storm Lake?

The most recent report in this data is from October 8, 2026 (1.00 in). Final NOAA data runs to July 31, 2026; preliminary NWS reports run to November 3, 2026.

How many hail storms has Storm Lake 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 October 8, 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.