Hail History

Hail history for Plains, Kansas

NOAA hail reports in and within about 5 km (3 miles) of Plains since 1958, with preliminary reports to November 3, 2026.

Readout · Plains

Last hail
May 23, 2020
1.00 in, quarter size
Hail days, last 5 years
0
since Nov 3, 2021 · 0 reports
Largest ever
2.75 in
baseball · Jul 4, 2004

44 reports on 31 days since 1958 · #145 of 612 Kansas places

Hail map · Plains

Plains Kismet Meade Sublette Fowler 10 mi
  • Under 1 in
  • 1–1.75 in
  • 1.75–2.5 in
  • 2.5–4 in
  • 4 in +
  • No size
44 most recent reports with a location; Meade 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 Plains is from May 23, 2020. A local roofer can check and document it at no cost.

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What the record says about Plains

The latest hail report in and around Plains is from May 23, 2020, 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, Plains logged 10 reports on 6 hail days, about 0.5 reports a year. That is 23% less than the median Kansas town on this site (0.7 a year) and ranks #145 of 612 Kansas cities and towns on this site for all-time reports. Plains accounts for 9% of the 482 reports filed in Meade County.

9% of reports with a size were 2 inches (hen egg) or larger, against 7% for the median Kansas town on this site. The largest hail on record here is 2.75 in (baseball) on July 4, 2004 near Plains.

Reports held about level in 2016–2025 (5) compared with 2006–2015 (5). The busiest year was 2004, with 9 reports on 4 days. Hail here peaks in June (32% of reports); 66% fall between April and June.

Reports a year 2006–2025 average

  • Plains 0.5
  • Meade County 9.6
  • Median Kansas town on this site 0.7

Hail days 2006–2025

  • Plains 6
  • Meade County 95
  • Median Kansas town on this site 10

Share 2 in or larger of sized reports

  • Plains 9%
  • Meade County 8%
  • Median Kansas town on this site 7%

Hail over time

0369 1958: 2 reports, largest 1.75 in 1960 1961: 1 reports, largest 2.00 in 1967: 1 reports, largest 1.00 in 1970 1980 1981: 2 reports, largest 2.75 in 1987: 1 reports, largest 1.75 in 1990 1991: 1 reports, largest 1.00 in 1992: 2 reports, largest 0.75 in 1996: 2 reports, largest 0.75 in 1997: 1 reports, largest 1.00 in 1998: 3 reports, largest 1.75 in 1999: 5 reports, largest 2.75 in 2000 2001: 1 reports, largest 1.00 in 2002: 2 reports, largest 0.75 in 2003: 1 reports, largest 1.00 in 2004: 9 reports, largest 2.75 in 2006: 1 reports, largest 0.88 in 2010 2013: 3 reports, largest 0.88 in 2014: 1 reports, largest 1.50 in 2018: 2 reports, largest 1.50 in 2019: 1 reports, largest 0.75 in 2020: 2 reports, largest 1.00 in 2020
Reports per year, 1958–2026. Bar colour shows the largest hail that year. Reporting grew sharply after the mid-1990s, so early decades undercount.
051015 Jan Feb March: 1 reports (2%) Mar April: 2 reports (5%) Apr May: 13 reports (30%) May June: 14 reports (32%) Jun July: 9 reports (20%) Jul August: 5 reports (11%) Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
All 44 reports by calendar month.
Reports per month, 2017–2026. Darker cells had more reports.
YearJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecTotal
2026 0
2025 0
2024 0
2023 0
2022 0
2021 0
2020 2 2
2019 1 1
2018 2 2
2017 0

Largest hail on record

Largest hail reports in Plains
Date Size Location County Time · source
Jul 4, 2004 2.75 inbaseball Plains Meade 17:30 local · NCEI
May 31, 1999 2.75 inbaseball 4 ENE Plains Meade 17:15 local · NCEI
May 7, 1981 2.75 inbaseball — Meade 17:43 local · NCEI
Jul 13, 1961 2.00 inhen egg — Meade 15:00 local · NCEI
Jul 4, 2004 1.75 ingolf ball Plains Meade 17:24 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 Plains
Date Size Location County Time · source
May 23, 2020 1.00 inquarter 2.15 SW Collano Meade 18:51 local · NCEI
May 23, 2020 0.75 inpenny 0.69 S Plains Meade 18:49 local · NCEI
Jun 3, 2019 0.75 inpenny 0.88 SE Plains Meade 19:59 local · NCEI
May 18, 2018 1.50 inping pong ball 0.88 SE Plains Meade 17:55 local · NCEI
May 18, 2018 1.50 inping pong ball 0.88 SE Plains Meade 17:20 local · NCEI
Jun 6, 2014 1.50 inping pong ball 0.88 SE Plains Meade 19:24 local · NCEI
Aug 17, 2013 0.88 innickel 0.88 SE Plains Meade 04:55 local · NCEI
Aug 17, 2013 0.75 inpenny 0.88 SE Plains Meade 04:36 local · NCEI
Aug 17, 2013 0.88 innickel 0.88 SE Plains Meade 04:30 local · NCEI
Apr 1, 2006 0.88 innickel Mullinville Kiowa 18:12 local · NCEI
Jul 4, 2004 0.75 inpenny Plains Meade 22:00 local · NCEI
Jul 4, 2004 2.75 inbaseball Plains Meade 17:30 local · NCEI

Hail history near Plains

Questions about hail in Plains

How often does it hail in Plains, Kansas?

44 hail reports have been logged in and within about 5 km (3 miles) of Plains since 1958. Over the 20 years 2006–2025 that averages 0.5 reports a year. That ranks #145 of 612 Kansas places by number of reports.

When is hail season in Plains?

Most reports come in June, May, July. June alone accounts for 32% of all reports.

What is the largest hail recorded in Plains?

2.75 in (baseball size) on July 4, 2004 near Plains. 9% of reports here were 2 inches or larger.

When did it last hail in Plains?

The most recent report in this data is from May 23, 2020 (1.00 in). Final NOAA data runs to July 31, 2026; preliminary NWS reports run to November 3, 2026.

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

None: there has been no hail report in and within about 5 km (3 miles) of Plains since November 3, 2021. The last one was on May 23, 2020.

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.