Hail history for Buffalo, South Dakota
NOAA hail reports in and within about 5 km (3 miles) of Buffalo since 1968, with preliminary reports to November 3, 2026.
Readout · Buffalo
- Last hail
- Jul 9, 2025
- 0.75 in, penny size
- Hail days, last 5 years
- 3
- since Nov 3, 2021 · 3 reports
- Largest ever
- 1.75 in
- golf ball · Jul 23, 2020
15 reports on 14 days since 1968 · #185 of 305 South Dakota places
Hail map · Buffalo
- Under 1 in
- 1–1.75 in
- 1.75–2.5 in
- 2.5–4 in
- 4 in +
- No size
For homeowners
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What the record says about Buffalo
The latest hail report in and around Buffalo is from July 9, 2025, 0.75 in (penny size). Since November 3, 2021 there have been 3 separate hail days; the biggest stones in that time were 1.00 in on June 15, 2024.
Over the 20 years 2006–2025, Buffalo logged 8 reports on 8 hail days, about 0.4 reports a year. That is 11% less than the median South Dakota town on this site (0.5 a year) and ranks #185 of 305 South Dakota cities and towns on this site for all-time reports. Buffalo accounts for 4% of the 375 reports filed in Harding County.
0% of reports with a size were 2 inches (hen egg) or larger, against 7% for the median South Dakota town on this site. The largest hail on record here is 1.75 in (golf ball) on July 23, 2020 near 3 ENE Buffalo.
Reports held about level in 2016–2025 (4) compared with 2006–2015 (4). The busiest year was 1996, with 2 reports on 1 day. Hail here peaks in July (53% of reports); 40% fall between April and June.
Reports a year 2006–2025 average
- Buffalo 0.4
- Harding County 11.9
- Median South Dakota town on this site 0.5
Hail days 2006–2025
- Buffalo 8
- Harding County 100
- Median South Dakota town on this site 7
Share 2 in or larger of sized reports
- Buffalo 0%
- Harding County 12%
- Median South Dakota town on this site 7%
Hail over time
| Year | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 2025 | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||
| 2024 | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||
| 2023 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 2022 | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||
| 2021 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 2020 | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||
| 2019 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 2018 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 2017 | 0 |
Hail days since Nov 3, 2021
| Date | Reports | Largest | Storm page |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 9, 2025 | 1 | 0.75 in | — |
| Jun 15, 2024 | 1 | 1.00 in | — |
| Jun 19, 2022 | 1 | 1.00 in | — |
Largest hail on record
| Date | Size | Location | County | Damage | Time · source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 23, 2020 | 1.75 ingolf ball | 3 ENE Buffalo | Harding | — | 15:20 local · NCEI |
| Jul 26, 2015 | 1.75 ingolf ball | Buffalo | Harding | — | 19:15 local · NCEI |
| Jul 31, 1996 | 1.75 ingolf ball | Buffalo | Harding | — | 14:15 local · NCEI |
| Jul 16, 2012 | 1.50 inping pong ball | 1.43 S Buffalo | Harding | $25K | 15:07 local · NCEI |
| Jul 17, 1968 | 1.50 inping pong ball | — | Harding | — | 15:00 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 33%
- 1–2 in 10 67%
- 2 in + 0 0%
Most recent reports
| Date | Size | Location | County | Damage | Time · source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 9, 2025 | 0.75 inpenny | Buffalo | Harding | — | 12:16 local · NCEI |
| Jun 15, 2024 | 1.00 inquarter | Buffalo | Harding | — | 17:06 local · NCEI |
| Jun 19, 2022 | 1.00 inquarter | Buffalo | Harding | — | 18:40 local · NCEI |
| Jul 23, 2020 | 1.75 ingolf ball | 3 ENE Buffalo | Harding | — | 15:20 local · NCEI |
| Jul 26, 2015 | 1.75 ingolf ball | Buffalo | Harding | — | 19:15 local · NCEI |
| Jul 16, 2012 | 1.50 inping pong ball | 1.43 S Buffalo | Harding | $25K | 15:07 local · NCEI |
| Aug 11, 2011 | 1.00 inquarter | Buffalo | Harding | — | 19:20 local · NCEI |
| Jul 18, 2008 | 1.00 inquarter | 2 S Buffalo | Harding | — | 16:35 local · NCEI |
| Jun 26, 2005 | 0.75 inpenny | Buffalo | Harding | — | 17:00 local · NCEI |
| Jun 8, 2002 | 1.00 inquarter | Buffalo | Harding | — | 21:11 local · NCEI |
| Jun 9, 2000 | 0.75 inpenny | Buffalo | Harding | — | 17:44 local · NCEI |
| Jul 31, 1996 | 0.75 inpenny | Buffalo | Harding | — | 15:59 local · NCEI |
Hail history near Buffalo
- Camp Crook 34 km · 10
- Prairie City 57 km · 11
Questions about hail in Buffalo
How often does it hail in Buffalo, South Dakota?
15 hail reports have been logged in and within about 5 km (3 miles) of Buffalo since 1968. Over the 20 years 2006–2025 that averages 0.4 reports a year. That ranks #185 of 305 South Dakota places by number of reports.
When is hail season in Buffalo?
Most reports come in July, June, August. July alone accounts for 53% of all reports.
What is the largest hail recorded in Buffalo?
1.75 in (golf ball size) on July 23, 2020 near 3 ENE Buffalo. 0% of reports here were 2 inches or larger.
When did it last hail in Buffalo?
The most recent report in this data is from July 9, 2025 (0.75 in). Final NOAA data runs to July 31, 2026; preliminary NWS reports run to November 3, 2026.
How many hail storms has Buffalo had in the last five years?
3 separate days with hail reports since November 3, 2021, adding up to 3 reports. The most recent was July 9, 2025.
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.