Hail history for Custer, South Dakota
NOAA hail reports in and within about 5 km (3 miles) of Custer since 1968, with preliminary reports to November 3, 2026.
Readout · Custer
- Last hail
- Jul 31, 2026
- 1.00 in, quarter size
- Hail days, last 5 years
- 9
- since Nov 3, 2021 · 27 reports
- Largest ever
- 6.00 in
- softball · Jun 22, 1968
104 reports on 65 days since 1968 · #6 of 305 South Dakota places
Hail map · Custer
- 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 is from July 31, 2026. A local roofer can check and document it at no cost.
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What the record says about Custer
The latest hail report in and around Custer is from July 31, 2026, 1.00 in (quarter size). Since November 3, 2021 there have been 9 separate hail days; the biggest stones in that time were 2.75 in on May 31, 2023.
Over the 20 years 2006–2025, Custer logged 72 reports on 40 hail days, about 3.6 reports a year. That is 8.0 times the median South Dakota town on this site (0.5 a year) and ranks #6 of 305 South Dakota cities and towns on this site for all-time reports. Custer accounts for 15% of the 711 reports filed in Custer 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 6.00 in (softball) on June 22, 1968.
Reports held about level in 2016–2025 (36) compared with 2006–2015 (36). The busiest year was 2023, with 11 reports on 2 days. Hail here peaks in July (37% of reports); 39% fall between April and June.
Reports a year 2006–2025 average
- Custer 3.6
- Custer County 24.4
- Median South Dakota town on this site 0.5
Hail days 2006–2025
- Custer 40
- Custer County 217
- Median South Dakota town on this site 7
Share 2 in or larger of sized reports
- Custer 6%
- Custer County 10%
- 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 | 4 | 4 | |||||||||||
| 2025 | 2 | 2 | |||||||||||
| 2024 | 6 | 1 | 7 | ||||||||||
| 2023 | 6 | 5 | 11 | ||||||||||
| 2022 | 2 | 1 | 3 | ||||||||||
| 2021 | 2 | 2 | |||||||||||
| 2020 | 5 | 2 | 7 | ||||||||||
| 2019 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 2018 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 2017 | 1 | 1 |
Hail days since Nov 3, 2021
| Date | Reports | Largest | Storm page |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 31, 2026 | 1 | 1.00 in | — |
| Jul 3, 2026 | 3 | 1.25 in | — |
| Jun 29, 2025 | 2 | 1.00 in | — |
| Aug 26, 2024 | 1 | 1.00 in | — |
| Jul 15, 2024 | 6 | 1.75 in | — |
| Aug 12, 2023 | 5 | 1.50 in | — |
| May 31, 2023 | 6 | 2.75 in | — |
| Jun 4, 2022 | 1 | 1.00 in | — |
| Apr 22, 2022 | 2 | 2.00 in | — |
Largest hail on record
| Date | Size | Location | County | Time · source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 22, 1968 | 6.00 insoftball | — | Custer | 18:45 local · NCEI |
| May 31, 2023 | 2.75 inbaseball | 1 ENE Custer | Custer | 14:00 local · NCEI |
| Jul 22, 1981 | 2.75 inbaseball | — | Custer | 03:25 local · NCEI |
| Jul 22, 1981 | 2.75 inbaseball | — | Custer | 03:02 local · NCEI |
| Apr 22, 2022 | 2.00 inhen egg | 1 SSW Custer | Custer | 19:20 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 23 22%
- 1–2 in 75 72%
- 2 in + 6 6%
Most recent reports
| Date | Size | Location | County | Time · source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 31, 2026 | 1.00 inquarter | 0.69 N Custer Co Arpt | Custer | 15:25 local · NCEI |
| Jul 3, 2026 | 1.25 inhalf dollar | Custer | Custer | 16:36 local · NCEI |
| Jul 3, 2026 | 1.00 inquarter | 2.11 WNW Custer | Custer | 16:35 local · NCEI |
| Jul 3, 2026 | 1.00 inquarter | 1.65 WNW (Cut)custer Co Arpt | Custer | 16:34 local · NCEI |
| Jun 29, 2025 | 1.00 inquarter | 1.47 NNW (Cut)custer Co Arpt | Custer | 13:52 local · NCEI |
| Jun 29, 2025 | 1.00 inquarter | 1.7 SE Custer | Custer | 05:35 local · NCEI |
| Aug 26, 2024 | 1.00 inquarter | Custer | Custer | 14:13 local · NCEI |
| Jul 15, 2024 | 0.75 inpenny | 1 NW Custer | Custer | 19:19 local · NCEI |
| Jul 15, 2024 | 1.75 ingolf ball | 1 ENE Custer | Custer | 19:18 local · NCEI |
| Jul 15, 2024 | 1.00 inquarter | 1 WSW Custer | Custer | 19:16 local · NCEI |
| Jul 15, 2024 | 1.50 inping pong ball | Custer | Custer | 19:15 local · NCEI |
| Jul 15, 2024 | 1.00 inquarter | 2 WSW Custer | Custer | 19:12 local · NCEI |
Hail history near Custer
- Pringle 18 km · 30
- Hill City 19 km · 64
- Keystone 20 km · 117
- Fairburn 33 km · 15
- Hermosa 34 km · 71
- Colonial Pine Hills 36 km · 162
- Johnson Siding 38 km · 125
- Buffalo Gap 38 km · 20
Questions about hail in Custer
How often does it hail in Custer, South Dakota?
104 hail reports have been logged in and within about 5 km (3 miles) of Custer since 1968. Over the 20 years 2006–2025 that averages 3.6 reports a year. That ranks #6 of 305 South Dakota places by number of reports.
When is hail season in Custer?
Most reports come in July, June, August. July alone accounts for 37% of all reports.
What is the largest hail recorded in Custer?
6.00 in (softball size) on June 22, 1968. 6% of reports here were 2 inches or larger.
When did it last hail in Custer?
The most recent report in this data is from July 31, 2026 (1.00 in). Final NOAA data runs to July 31, 2026; preliminary NWS reports run to November 3, 2026.
How many hail storms has Custer had in the last five years?
9 separate days with hail reports since November 3, 2021, adding up to 27 reports. The most recent was July 31, 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.