Hail history for Custer County, South Dakota
Every NOAA hail report filed in Custer County since 1955, with preliminary National Weather Service reports to November 3, 2026.
Readout · Custer County
- Last hail
- Aug 23, 2026
- 1.50 in, ping pong ball size · preliminary
- Hail days, last 5 years
- 45
- since Nov 3, 2021 · 128 reports
- Largest ever
- 6.00 in
- softball · Jun 22, 1968
711 reports on 338 days since 1955 · #3 of 67 South Dakota counties
Hail map · Custer County
- 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 Custer County is from August 23, 2026. A local roofer can check and document it at no cost.
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What the record says about Custer County
The latest hail report in Custer County is from August 23, 2026, 1.50 in (ping pong ball size). Since November 3, 2021 there have been 45 separate hail days; the biggest stones in that time were 3.60 in on August 11, 2026.
Over the 20 years 2006–2025, Custer County logged 489 reports on 217 hail days, about 24.4 reports a year. That is 4.4 times the median South Dakota county (5.5 a year) and ranks #3 of 67 South Dakota counties for all-time reports. Custer County holds 4% of all 17,223 hail reports in South Dakota.
10% of reports with a size were 2 inches (hen egg) or larger, against 8% for the median South Dakota county. The largest hail on record here is 6.00 in (softball) on June 22, 1968.
Reports held about level in 2016–2025 (231) compared with 2006–2015 (258). The busiest year was 2013, with 55 reports on 16 days. Hail here peaks in July (39% of reports); 35% fall between April and June.
Reports a year 2006–2025 average
- Custer County 24.4
- Median South Dakota county 5.5
Hail days 2006–2025
- Custer County 217
- Median South Dakota county 54
Share 2 in or larger of sized reports
- Custer County 10%
- Median South Dakota county 8%
Hail over time
| Year | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 14 | 14 | 29 | |||||||||
| 2025 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 10 | |||||||||
| 2024 | 3 | 4 | 17 | 7 | 2 | 33 | |||||||
| 2023 | 8 | 7 | 10 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 38 | ||||||
| 2022 | 8 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 18 | ||||||||
| 2021 | 2 | 3 | 12 | 8 | 25 | ||||||||
| 2020 | 1 | 6 | 17 | 5 | 29 | ||||||||
| 2019 | 10 | 6 | 5 | 21 | |||||||||
| 2018 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 8 | 1 | 20 | |||||||
| 2017 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 11 |
Hail days since Nov 3, 2021
| Date | Reports | Largest | Storm page |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 23, 2026 | 3 | 1.75 in | View |
| Aug 11, 2026 | 11 | 3.60 in | View |
| Jul 31, 2026 | 6 | 1.75 in | — |
| Jul 4, 2026 | 3 | 2.25 in | — |
| Jul 3, 2026 | 5 | 1.25 in | — |
| Jun 22, 2026 | 1 | 1.00 in | — |
| Aug 13, 2025 | 1 | 0.75 in | — |
| Jul 6, 2025 | 1 | 1.00 in | — |
| Jul 1, 2025 | 4 | 1.00 in | — |
| Jun 29, 2025 | 4 | 1.25 in | — |
| Sep 15, 2024 | 2 | 0.88 in | — |
| Aug 26, 2024 | 4 | 2.00 in | — |
| Aug 19, 2024 | 2 | 0.88 in | — |
| Aug 11, 2024 | 1 | 1.00 in | — |
| Jul 28, 2024 | 6 | 2.25 in | — |
| Jul 17, 2024 | 2 | 1.75 in | — |
| Jul 15, 2024 | 6 | 1.75 in | — |
| Jul 3, 2024 | 3 | 1.50 in | — |
| May 26, 2024 | 3 | 1.50 in | — |
| May 19, 2024 | 1 | 0.75 in | — |
| Apr 25, 2024 | 3 | 1.75 in | — |
| Oct 2, 2023 | 1 | 1.00 in | — |
| Sep 13, 2023 | 1 | 1.75 in | — |
| Aug 12, 2023 | 10 | 2.00 in | — |
| Aug 8, 2023 | 1 | 1.00 in | — |
| Jul 30, 2023 | 1 | 1.00 in | — |
| Jul 21, 2023 | 1 | 1.75 in | — |
| Jul 18, 2023 | 1 | 1.00 in | — |
| Jul 17, 2023 | 2 | 1.50 in | — |
| Jul 10, 2023 | 1 | 1.00 in | — |
| Jul 3, 2023 | 4 | 1.75 in | — |
| Jun 28, 2023 | 2 | 1.75 in | — |
| Jun 27, 2023 | 1 | 1.00 in | — |
| Jun 23, 2023 | 2 | 1.00 in | — |
| Jun 21, 2023 | 2 | 1.75 in | — |
| May 31, 2023 | 6 | 2.75 in | — |
| May 29, 2023 | 2 | 1.00 in | — |
| Aug 24, 2022 | 1 | 1.50 in | — |
| Jul 29, 2022 | 1 | 1.75 in | — |
| Jun 24, 2022 | 2 | 1.75 in | — |
| Jun 13, 2022 | 1 | 1.75 in | — |
| Jun 11, 2022 | 2 | 1.75 in | — |
| Jun 6, 2022 | 1 | 1.00 in | — |
| Jun 4, 2022 | 2 | 1.00 in | — |
| Apr 22, 2022 | 8 | 2.00 in | — |
Largest hail on record
| Date | Size | Location | Damage | Time · source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 22, 1968 | 6.00 insoftball | — | — | 18:45 local · NCEI |
| Jun 21, 2013 | 4.25 ingrapefruit | 12.48 ESE Fairburn | $25K | 06:05 local · NCEI |
| Jun 1, 2008 | 4.25 ingrapefruit | 8 S Hermosa | — | 13:50 local · NCEI |
| May 24, 2010 | 4.00 ingrapefruit | 2 NW Buffalo Gap | $75K | 12:00 local · NCEI |
| Aug 11, 2026 | 3.60 inteacup | 2 SSW Hermosa | — | 21:35 UTC · NWS prelim. |
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 166 23%
- 1–2 in 476 67%
- 2 in + 69 10%
Most recent reports
| Date | Size | Location | Time · source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 23, 2026 | 1.50 inping pong ball | 7 ESE Fairburn | 22:21 UTC · NWS prelim. |
| Aug 23, 2026 | 1.75 ingolf ball | 7 ESE Fairburn | 22:21 UTC · NWS prelim. |
| Aug 23, 2026 | 1.00 inquarter | Hermosa | 21:18 UTC · NWS prelim. |
| Aug 11, 2026 | 3.00 inteacup | 13 E Buffalo Gap | 23:16 UTC · NWS prelim. |
| Aug 11, 2026 | 0.88 innickel | 6 SE Fairburn | 22:55 UTC · NWS prelim. |
| Aug 11, 2026 | 2.75 inbaseball | 4 WSW Fairburn | 22:37 UTC · NWS prelim. |
| Aug 11, 2026 | 3.00 inteacup | 7 W Hermosa | 22:10 UTC · NWS prelim. |
| Aug 11, 2026 | 3.40 inteacup | 3 SSW Hermosa | 21:35 UTC · NWS prelim. |
| Aug 11, 2026 | 3.60 inteacup | 2 SSW Hermosa | 21:35 UTC · NWS prelim. |
| Aug 11, 2026 | 2.75 inbaseball | 1 WNW Hermosa | 21:28 UTC · NWS prelim. |
| Aug 11, 2026 | 1.50 inping pong ball | 3 ESE Hermosa | 21:27 UTC · NWS prelim. |
| Aug 11, 2026 | 2.75 inbaseball | 5 WNW Hermosa | 21:26 UTC · NWS prelim. |
Cities and towns in Custer County
| Place | Reports | Largest |
|---|---|---|
| Custer | 104 | 6.00 in |
| Hermosa | 71 | 3.60 in |
| Pringle | 30 | 1.75 in |
| Buffalo Gap | 20 | 4.00 in |
| Fairburn | 15 | 4.25 in |
Questions about hail in Custer County
How often does it hail in Custer County, South Dakota?
711 hail reports have been logged in Custer County since 1955. Over the 20 years 2006–2025 that averages 24.4 reports a year. That ranks #3 of 67 South Dakota counties by number of reports.
When is hail season in Custer County?
Most reports come in July, June, August. July alone accounts for 39% of all reports.
What is the largest hail recorded in Custer County?
6.00 in (softball size) on June 22, 1968. 10% of reports here were 2 inches or larger.
When did it last hail in Custer County?
The most recent report in this data is from August 23, 2026 (1.50 in). Final NOAA data runs to July 31, 2026; preliminary NWS reports run to November 3, 2026.
How many hail storms has Custer County had in the last five years?
45 separate days with hail reports since November 3, 2021, adding up to 128 reports. The most recent was August 23, 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.