Hail history for Lake Preston, South Dakota
NOAA hail reports in and within about 5 km (3 miles) of Lake Preston since 1978, with preliminary reports to November 3, 2026.
Readout · Lake Preston
- Last hail
- Aug 5, 2025
- 0.88 in, nickel size
- Hail days, last 5 years
- 2
- since Nov 3, 2021 · 3 reports
- Largest ever
- 4.50 in
- softball · Jul 28, 2002
17 reports on 13 days since 1978 · #159 of 305 South Dakota places
Hail map · Lake Preston
- 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 Lake Preston
The latest hail report in and around Lake Preston is from August 5, 2025, 0.88 in (nickel size). Since November 3, 2021 there have been 2 separate hail days; the biggest stones in that time were 0.88 in on August 5, 2025.
Over the 20 years 2006–2025, Lake Preston logged 7 reports on 5 hail days, about 0.3 reports a year. That is 22% less than the median South Dakota town on this site (0.5 a year) and ranks #159 of 305 South Dakota cities and towns on this site for all-time reports. Lake Preston accounts for 9% of the 187 reports filed in Kingsbury County.
29% 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 4.50 in (softball) on July 28, 2002 near 4 S Lake Preston.
The busiest year was 2010, with 3 reports on 2 days. Hail here peaks in July (35% of reports); 47% fall between April and June.
Reports a year 2006–2025 average
- Lake Preston 0.3
- Kingsbury County 4.0
- Median South Dakota town on this site 0.5
Hail days 2006–2025
- Lake Preston 5
- Kingsbury County 44
- Median South Dakota town on this site 7
Share 2 in or larger of sized reports
- Lake Preston 29%
- Kingsbury County 9%
- 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 | 2 | 2 | |||||||||||
| 2024 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 2023 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 2022 | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||
| 2021 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 2020 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 2019 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 2018 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 2017 | 0 |
Hail days since Nov 3, 2021
| Date | Reports | Largest | Storm page |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 5, 2025 | 2 | 0.88 in | — |
| May 30, 2022 | 1 | 0.88 in | — |
Largest hail on record
| Date | Size | Location | County | Damage | Time · source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 28, 2002 | 4.50 insoftball | 4 S Lake Preston | Kingsbury | $100K | 12:40 local · NCEI |
| Jun 26, 2010 | 2.75 inbaseball | 1.63 ENE Lake Preston | Kingsbury | — | 12:48 local · NCEI |
| Jun 11, 1978 | 2.50 intennis ball | — | Kingsbury | — | 00:15 local · NCEI |
| May 21, 1989 | 2.00 inhen egg | — | Kingsbury | — | 19:50 local · NCEI |
| Jul 15, 1980 | 2.00 inhen egg | — | Kingsbury | — | 12:15 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 29%
- 1–2 in 7 41%
- 2 in + 5 29%
Most recent reports
| Date | Size | Location | County | Damage | Time · source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 5, 2025 | 0.88 innickel | 0.69 S Lake Preston Arpt | Kingsbury | — | 23:23 local · NCEI |
| Aug 5, 2025 | 0.88 innickel | 0.69 S Lake Preston Arpt | Kingsbury | — | 19:58 local · NCEI |
| May 30, 2022 | 0.88 innickel | 0.69 S Lake Preston Arpt | Kingsbury | — | 11:16 local · NCEI |
| Jun 18, 2012 | 1.00 inquarter | 1.63 ENE Lake Preston | Kingsbury | — | 23:07 local · NCEI |
| Jul 6, 2010 | 0.88 innickel | 1.47 SSW Lake Preston Arpt | Kingsbury | — | 22:50 local · NCEI |
| Jul 6, 2010 | 1.00 inquarter | 1.38 S Lake Preston | Kingsbury | — | 22:50 local · NCEI |
| Jun 26, 2010 | 2.75 inbaseball | 1.63 ENE Lake Preston | Kingsbury | — | 12:48 local · NCEI |
| Jul 28, 2002 | 1.00 inquarter | Lake Preston | Kingsbury | — | 12:45 local · NCEI |
| Jul 28, 2002 | 4.50 insoftball | 4 S Lake Preston | Kingsbury | $100K | 12:40 local · NCEI |
| May 17, 2000 | 1.75 ingolf ball | Lake Preston | Kingsbury | $2.0 million | 09:55 local · NCEI |
| Sep 8, 1997 | 0.75 inpenny | 7 SW Erwin | Kingsbury | — | 11:50 local · NCEI |
| Jun 19, 1991 | 1.75 ingolf ball | — | Kingsbury | — | 16:45 local · NCEI |
Hail history near Lake Preston
- De Smet 14 km · 23
- Oldham 16 km · 14
- Arlington 19 km · 17
- Badger 19 km · 13
- Bryant 26 km · 15
- Lake Norden 28 km · 20
- Ramona 30 km · 11
- Lake Poinsett 32 km · 24
Questions about hail in Lake Preston
How often does it hail in Lake Preston, South Dakota?
17 hail reports have been logged in and within about 5 km (3 miles) of Lake Preston since 1978. Over the 20 years 2006–2025 that averages 0.3 reports a year. That ranks #159 of 305 South Dakota places by number of reports.
When is hail season in Lake Preston?
Most reports come in July, May, June. July alone accounts for 35% of all reports.
What is the largest hail recorded in Lake Preston?
4.50 in (softball size) on July 28, 2002 near 4 S Lake Preston. 29% of reports here were 2 inches or larger.
When did it last hail in Lake Preston?
The most recent report in this data is from August 5, 2025 (0.88 in). Final NOAA data runs to July 31, 2026; preliminary NWS reports run to November 3, 2026.
How many hail storms has Lake Preston had in the last five years?
2 separate days with hail reports since November 3, 2021, adding up to 3 reports. The most recent was August 5, 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.