Hail history for Benson, Minnesota
NOAA hail reports in and within about 5 km (3 miles) of Benson since 1959, with preliminary reports to November 3, 2026.
Readout · Benson
- Last hail
- Jul 9, 2017
- 1.75 in, golf ball size
- Hail days, last 5 years
- 0
- since Nov 3, 2021 · 0 reports
- Largest ever
- 1.75 in
- golf ball · Jul 9, 2017
18 reports on 15 days since 1959 · #179 of 451 Minnesota places
Hail map · Benson
- 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 Benson is from July 9, 2017. A local roofer can check and document it at no cost.
Phone line opening soon
What the record says about Benson
The latest hail report in and around Benson is from July 9, 2017, 1.75 in (golf ball size). There has been no hail report here in the five years since November 3, 2021.
Over the 20 years 2006–2025, Benson logged 5 reports on 5 hail days, about 0.3 reports a year. That is 44% less than the median Minnesota town on this site (0.5 a year) and ranks #179 of 451 Minnesota cities and towns on this site for all-time reports. Benson accounts for 19% of the 97 reports filed in Swift County.
0% of reports with a size were 2 inches (hen egg) or larger, against 6% for the median Minnesota town on this site. The largest hail on record here is 1.75 in (golf ball) on July 9, 2017 near 1.86 N Benson.
The busiest year was 2005, with 4 reports on 2 days. Hail here peaks in June (33% of reports); 56% fall between April and June.
Reports a year 2006–2025 average
- Benson 0.3
- Swift County 1.8
- Median Minnesota town on this site 0.5
Hail days 2006–2025
- Benson 5
- Swift County 24
- Median Minnesota town on this site 7
Share 2 in or larger of sized reports
- Benson 0%
- Swift County 9%
- Median Minnesota 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 | Time · source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 9, 2017 | 1.75 ingolf ball | 1.86 N Benson | Swift | 19:55 local · NCEI |
| Sep 2, 1975 | 1.50 inping pong ball | — | Swift | 18:15 local · NCEI |
| Jun 19, 2016 | 1.25 inhalf dollar | 0.84 SE Benson | Swift | 18:55 local · NCEI |
| Sep 16, 2006 | 1.25 inhalf dollar | Benson | Swift | 16:35 local · NCEI |
| Jul 4, 2016 | 1.00 inquarter | 3.47 ESE Benson | Swift | 23:16 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 8 44%
- 1–2 in 10 56%
- 2 in + 0 0%
Most recent reports
| Date | Size | Location | County | Time · source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 9, 2017 | 1.75 ingolf ball | 1.86 N Benson | Swift | 19:55 local · NCEI |
| Jul 4, 2016 | 1.00 inquarter | 3.47 ESE Benson | Swift | 23:16 local · NCEI |
| Jun 19, 2016 | 1.25 inhalf dollar | 0.84 SE Benson | Swift | 18:55 local · NCEI |
| May 21, 2011 | 0.88 innickel | Benson | Swift | 16:54 local · NCEI |
| Sep 16, 2006 | 1.25 inhalf dollar | Benson | Swift | 16:35 local · NCEI |
| Jun 7, 2005 | 1.00 inquarter | Hader | Goodhue | 17:51 local · NCEI |
| Jun 7, 2005 | 0.88 innickel | 3 S Winnebago | Faribault | 17:23 local · NCEI |
| Jun 7, 2005 | 0.75 inpenny | Benson | Swift | 03:30 local · NCEI |
| Apr 5, 2005 | 0.75 inpenny | Benson | Swift | 19:43 local · NCEI |
| Jun 8, 2004 | 0.75 inpenny | Albany | Stearns | 06:30 local · NCEI |
| Oct 26, 1996 | 1.00 inquarter | 2 N Benson | Swift | 15:00 local · NCEI |
| Oct 26, 1996 | 1.00 inquarter | Benson | Swift | 14:00 local · NCEI |
Hail history near Benson
- Starbuck 33 km · 21
- Milan 33 km · 13
- Appleton 35 km · 10
- Morris 38 km · 29
- Montevideo 42 km · 42
- Glenwood 42 km · 27
- Clara City 44 km · 12
- Lowry 44 km · 12
Questions about hail in Benson
How often does it hail in Benson, Minnesota?
18 hail reports have been logged in and within about 5 km (3 miles) of Benson since 1959. Over the 20 years 2006–2025 that averages 0.3 reports a year. That ranks #179 of 451 Minnesota places by number of reports.
When is hail season in Benson?
Most reports come in June, May, July. June alone accounts for 33% of all reports.
What is the largest hail recorded in Benson?
1.75 in (golf ball size) on July 9, 2017 near 1.86 N Benson. 0% of reports here were 2 inches or larger.
When did it last hail in Benson?
The most recent report in this data is from July 9, 2017 (1.75 in). Final NOAA data runs to July 31, 2026; preliminary NWS reports run to November 3, 2026.
How many hail storms has Benson had in the last five years?
None: there has been no hail report in and within about 5 km (3 miles) of Benson since November 3, 2021. The last one was on July 9, 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.