Hail History

Hail history for Fort Thompson, South Dakota

NOAA hail reports in and within about 5 km (3 miles) of Fort Thompson since 1973, with preliminary reports to November 3, 2026.

Readout · Fort Thompson

Last hail
Jun 13, 2017
1.00 in, quarter size
Hail days, last 5 years
0
since Nov 3, 2021 · 0 reports
Largest ever
4.00 in
grapefruit · Jul 28, 1986

15 reports on 14 days since 1973 · #190 of 305 South Dakota places

Hail map · Fort Thompson

Fort Thompson Lower Brule 5 mi
  • Under 1 in
  • 1–1.75 in
  • 1.75–2.5 in
  • 2.5–4 in
  • 4 in +
  • No size
15 most recent reports with a location; Buffalo County is shaded. Open street map

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What the record says about Fort Thompson

The latest hail report in and around Fort Thompson is from June 13, 2017, 1.00 in (quarter size). There has been no hail report here in the five years since November 3, 2021.

Over the 20 years 2006–2025, Fort Thompson logged 4 reports on 3 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 #190 of 305 South Dakota cities and towns on this site for all-time reports. Fort Thompson accounts for 18% of the 85 reports filed in Buffalo County.

20% 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 4.00 in (grapefruit) on July 28, 1986.

The busiest year was 2016, with 2 reports on 1 day. Hail here peaks in July (40% of reports); 47% fall between April and June.

Reports a year 2006–2025 average

  • Fort Thompson 0.2
  • Buffalo County 2.0
  • Median South Dakota town on this site 0.5

Hail days 2006–2025

  • Fort Thompson 3
  • Buffalo County 25
  • Median South Dakota town on this site 7

Share 2 in or larger of sized reports

  • Fort Thompson 20%
  • Buffalo County 8%
  • Median South Dakota town on this site 7%

Hail over time

012 1973: 1 reports, largest 1.75 in 1980 1985: 1 reports, largest 1.75 in 1986: 1 reports, largest 4.00 in 1987: 1 reports, largest 2.50 in 1988: 1 reports, largest 1.75 in 1990 1992: 1 reports, largest 2.75 in 2000: 2 reports, largest 0.75 in 2000 2002: 1 reports, largest 0.75 in 2004: 2 reports, largest 0.75 in 2010 2012: 1 reports, largest 1.50 in 2016: 2 reports, largest 1.00 in 2017: 1 reports, largest 1.00 in 2020
Reports per year, 1973–2026. Bar colour shows the largest hail that year. Reporting grew sharply after the mid-1990s, so early decades undercount.
0246 Jan Feb Mar Apr May: 4 reports (27%) May June: 3 reports (20%) Jun July: 6 reports (40%) Jul August: 2 reports (13%) Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
All 15 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 1 1

Largest hail on record

Largest hail reports in Fort Thompson
Date Size Location County Time · source
Jul 28, 1986 4.00 ingrapefruit — Buffalo 15:30 local · NCEI
Jun 16, 1992 2.75 inbaseball — Buffalo 16:15 local · NCEI
Jul 6, 1987 2.50 intennis ball — Buffalo 20:50 local · NCEI
May 25, 1988 1.75 ingolf ball — Buffalo 19:00 local · NCEI
Aug 29, 1985 1.75 ingolf ball — Buffalo 07:40 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 Fort Thompson
Date Size Location County Time · source
Jun 13, 2017 1.00 inquarter 1.21 NW Ft Thompson Buffalo 16:14 local · NCEI
May 26, 2016 1.00 inquarter 1.99 W Ft Thompson Buffalo 20:05 local · NCEI
May 26, 2016 1.00 inquarter 5.38 ESE Lower Brule Lyman 20:05 local · NCEI
Jul 20, 2012 1.50 inping pong ball 3.97 E Ft Thompson Buffalo 19:40 local · NCEI
Aug 2, 2004 0.75 inpenny Ft Thompson Buffalo 20:02 local · NCEI
Jul 27, 2004 0.75 inpenny 4 SE Ft Thompson Buffalo 18:50 local · NCEI
Jun 22, 2002 0.75 inpenny 3 NW Ft Thompson Buffalo 19:35 local · NCEI
Jul 9, 2000 0.75 inpenny Ft Thompson Buffalo 14:50 local · NCEI
May 29, 2000 0.75 inpenny 5 NE Ft Thompson Buffalo 03:05 local · NCEI
Jun 16, 1992 2.75 inbaseball — Buffalo 16:15 local · NCEI
May 25, 1988 1.75 ingolf ball — Buffalo 19:00 local · NCEI
Jul 6, 1987 2.50 intennis ball — Buffalo 20:50 local · NCEI

Hail history near Fort Thompson

Questions about hail in Fort Thompson

How often does it hail in Fort Thompson, South Dakota?

15 hail reports have been logged in and within about 5 km (3 miles) of Fort Thompson since 1973. Over the 20 years 2006–2025 that averages 0.2 reports a year. That ranks #190 of 305 South Dakota places by number of reports.

When is hail season in Fort Thompson?

Most reports come in July, May, June. July alone accounts for 40% of all reports.

What is the largest hail recorded in Fort Thompson?

4.00 in (grapefruit size) on July 28, 1986. 20% of reports here were 2 inches or larger.

When did it last hail in Fort Thompson?

The most recent report in this data is from June 13, 2017 (1.00 in). Final NOAA data runs to July 31, 2026; preliminary NWS reports run to November 3, 2026.

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

None: there has been no hail report in and within about 5 km (3 miles) of Fort Thompson since November 3, 2021. The last one was on June 13, 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.