Hail History

Hail history for Chester, South Dakota

NOAA hail reports in and within about 5 km (3 miles) of Chester since 1974, with preliminary reports to November 3, 2026.

Readout · Chester

Last hail
Jun 29, 2012
1.75 in, golf ball size
Hail days, last 5 years
0
since Nov 3, 2021 · 0 reports
Largest ever
2.75 in
baseball · Jun 27, 1990

16 reports on 14 days since 1974 · #169 of 305 South Dakota places

Hail map · Chester

Chester Colman Madison 10 mi
  • Under 1 in
  • 1–1.75 in
  • 1.75–2.5 in
  • 2.5–4 in
  • 4 in +
  • No size
16 most recent reports with a location; Lake 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 Chester is from June 29, 2012. A local roofer can check and document it at no cost.

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What the record says about Chester

The latest hail report in and around Chester is from June 29, 2012, 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, Chester logged 4 reports on 4 hail days, about 0.2 reports a year. That is about half the median South Dakota town on this site (0.5 a year) and ranks #169 of 305 South Dakota cities and towns on this site for all-time reports. Chester accounts for 11% of the 151 reports filed in Lake County.

6% 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 2.75 in (baseball) on June 27, 1990.

The busiest year was 2002, with 3 reports on 2 days. Hail here peaks in April (25% of reports); 69% fall between April and June.

Reports a year 2006–2025 average

  • Chester 0.2
  • Lake County 3.9
  • Median South Dakota town on this site 0.5

Hail days 2006–2025

  • Chester 4
  • Lake County 40
  • Median South Dakota town on this site 7

Share 2 in or larger of sized reports

  • Chester 6%
  • Lake County 4%
  • Median South Dakota town on this site 7%

Hail over time

0123 1974: 1 reports, largest 0.75 in 1979: 3 reports, largest 1.25 in 1980 1990: 1 reports, largest 2.75 in 1990 2000 2001: 1 reports, largest 0.75 in 2002: 3 reports, largest 1.75 in 2004: 2 reports, largest 0.75 in 2005: 1 reports, largest 0.88 in 2006: 1 reports, largest 0.88 in 2007: 1 reports, largest 0.75 in 2010 2012: 2 reports, largest 1.75 in 2020
Reports per year, 1974–2026. Bar colour shows the largest hail that year. Reporting grew sharply after the mid-1990s, so early decades undercount.
01234 Jan Feb Mar April: 4 reports (25%) Apr May: 4 reports (25%) May June: 3 reports (19%) Jun July: 1 reports (6%) Jul August: 3 reports (19%) Aug September: 1 reports (6%) Sep Oct Nov Dec
All 16 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 0
2019 0
2018 0
2017 0

Largest hail on record

Largest hail reports in Chester
Date Size Location County Damage Time · source
Jun 27, 1990 2.75 inbaseball — Lake — 21:55 local · NCEI
Jun 29, 2012 1.75 ingolf ball 0.69 S Chester Lake — 15:55 local · NCEI
May 5, 2002 1.75 ingolf ball 2 SW Chester Lake — 17:25 local · NCEI
Apr 16, 2002 1.75 ingolf ball Chester Lake $50K 16:55 local · NCEI
Jul 20, 1979 1.25 inhalf dollar — Lake — 16:10 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 Chester
Date Size Location County Damage Time · source
Jun 29, 2012 1.75 ingolf ball 0.69 S Chester Lake — 15:55 local · NCEI
May 5, 2012 1.00 inquarter 0.69 S Chester Lake — 09:07 local · NCEI
Jun 16, 2007 0.75 inpenny 8 SSW Colman Moody — 14:20 local · NCEI
Sep 16, 2006 0.88 innickel 1 S Chester Lake — 15:43 local · NCEI
May 7, 2005 0.88 innickel 7 SW Colman Moody — 00:45 local · NCEI
Apr 17, 2004 0.75 inpenny Chester Lake — 23:21 local · NCEI
Apr 17, 2004 0.75 inpenny Chester Lake — 23:01 local · NCEI
May 5, 2002 1.75 ingolf ball 2 SW Chester Lake — 17:25 local · NCEI
Apr 16, 2002 1.75 ingolf ball Chester Lake $50K 16:55 local · NCEI
Apr 16, 2002 0.75 inpenny Chester Lake — 16:25 local · NCEI
Aug 29, 2001 0.75 inpenny Chester Lake — 18:15 local · NCEI
Jun 27, 1990 2.75 inbaseball — Lake — 21:55 local · NCEI

Hail history near Chester

Questions about hail in Chester

How often does it hail in Chester, South Dakota?

16 hail reports have been logged in and within about 5 km (3 miles) of Chester since 1974. Over the 20 years 2006–2025 that averages 0.2 reports a year. That ranks #169 of 305 South Dakota places by number of reports.

When is hail season in Chester?

Most reports come in April, May, June. April alone accounts for 25% of all reports.

What is the largest hail recorded in Chester?

2.75 in (baseball size) on June 27, 1990. 6% of reports here were 2 inches or larger.

When did it last hail in Chester?

The most recent report in this data is from June 29, 2012 (1.75 in). Final NOAA data runs to July 31, 2026; preliminary NWS reports run to November 3, 2026.

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

None: there has been no hail report in and within about 5 km (3 miles) of Chester since November 3, 2021. The last one was on June 29, 2012.

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.