Hail history for Lead, South Dakota
NOAA hail reports in and within about 5 km (3 miles) of Lead since 1992, with preliminary reports to November 3, 2026.
Readout · Lead
- Last hail
- May 13, 2025
- 1.00 in, quarter size
- Hail days, last 5 years
- 6
- since Nov 3, 2021 · 6 reports
- Largest ever
- 3.00 in
- teacup · Jun 29, 2018
35 reports on 34 days since 1992 · #36 of 305 South Dakota places
Hail map · Lead
- 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 Lead is from May 13, 2025. A local roofer can check and document it at no cost.
Phone line opening soon
What the record says about Lead
The latest hail report in and around Lead is from May 13, 2025, 1.00 in (quarter size). Since November 3, 2021 there have been 6 separate hail days; the biggest stones in that time were 1.25 in on June 12, 2022.
Over the 20 years 2006–2025, Lead logged 22 reports on 21 hail days, about 1.1 reports a year. That is about twice the median South Dakota town on this site (0.5 a year) and ranks #36 of 305 South Dakota cities and towns on this site for all-time reports. Lead accounts for 6% of the 547 reports filed in Lawrence 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 3.00 in (teacup) on June 29, 2018 near Lead.
Reports were up 44% in 2016–2025 (13) compared with 2006–2015 (9). The busiest year was 1999, with 5 reports on 5 days. Hail here peaks in June (29% of reports); 49% fall between April and June.
Reports a year 2006–2025 average
- Lead 1.1
- Lawrence County 18.4
- Median South Dakota town on this site 0.5
Hail days 2006–2025
- Lead 21
- Lawrence County 173
- Median South Dakota town on this site 7
Share 2 in or larger of sized reports
- Lead 6%
- Lawrence County 6%
- 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 | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||
| 2024 | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||
| 2023 | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||
| 2022 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | |||||||||
| 2021 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 2020 | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||
| 2019 | 1 | 3 | 4 | ||||||||||
| 2018 | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||
| 2017 | 0 |
Hail days since Nov 3, 2021
| Date | Reports | Largest | Storm page |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 13, 2025 | 1 | 1.00 in | — |
| Jul 28, 2024 | 1 | 0.88 in | — |
| Jun 27, 2023 | 1 | 1.00 in | — |
| Jun 12, 2022 | 1 | 1.25 in | — |
| May 27, 2022 | 1 | 1.25 in | — |
| Apr 22, 2022 | 1 | 0.88 in | — |
Largest hail on record
| Date | Size | Location | County | Damage | Time · source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 29, 2018 | 3.00 inteacup | Lead | Lawrence | — | 15:42 local · NCEI |
| Jun 7, 1999 | 2.00 inhen egg | Lead | Lawrence | — | 20:12 local · NCEI |
| Aug 3, 2010 | 1.75 ingolf ball | Lead | Lawrence | $300K | 11:00 local · NCEI |
| Aug 9, 1996 | 1.75 ingolf ball | Lead | Lawrence | — | 14:15 local · NCEI |
| Aug 5, 2008 | 1.50 inping pong ball | Lead | Lawrence | — | 18:28 local · NCEI |
Size of every report
- Under 1 in 16 46%
- 1–2 in 17 49%
- 2 in + 2 6%
Most recent reports
| Date | Size | Location | County | Time · source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 13, 2025 | 1.00 inquarter | Lead | Lawrence | 23:25 local · NCEI |
| Jul 28, 2024 | 0.88 innickel | 2.56 WNW Central City | Lawrence | 16:06 local · NCEI |
| Jun 27, 2023 | 1.00 inquarter | Lead | Lawrence | 15:26 local · NCEI |
| Jun 12, 2022 | 1.25 inhalf dollar | Lead | Lawrence | 17:30 local · NCEI |
| May 27, 2022 | 1.25 inhalf dollar | Lead | Lawrence | 15:46 local · NCEI |
| Apr 22, 2022 | 0.88 innickel | 2 S Lead | Lawrence | 19:31 local · NCEI |
| May 20, 2020 | 0.88 innickel | Lead | Lawrence | 17:40 local · NCEI |
| Jul 27, 2019 | 1.00 inquarter | 1 WSW Lead | Lawrence | 12:38 local · NCEI |
| Jul 27, 2019 | 0.75 inpenny | Lead | Lawrence | 12:30 local · NCEI |
| Jul 8, 2019 | 1.00 inquarter | 1.98 W Lead | Lawrence | 15:05 local · NCEI |
| Jun 7, 2019 | 0.75 inpenny | Lead | Lawrence | 16:58 local · NCEI |
| Jun 29, 2018 | 3.00 inteacup | Lead | Lawrence | 15:42 local · NCEI |
Hail history near Lead
- Deadwood 5 km · 59
- Boulder Canyon 14 km · 10
- Spearfish 16 km · 76
- Whitewood 16 km · 19
- North Spearfish 21 km · 25
- Sturgis 22 km · 61
- St. Onge 22 km · 37
- Blucksberg Mountain 25 km · 18
Questions about hail in Lead
How often does it hail in Lead, South Dakota?
35 hail reports have been logged in and within about 5 km (3 miles) of Lead since 1992. Over the 20 years 2006–2025 that averages 1.1 reports a year. That ranks #36 of 305 South Dakota places by number of reports.
When is hail season in Lead?
Most reports come in June, August, July. June alone accounts for 29% of all reports.
What is the largest hail recorded in Lead?
3.00 in (teacup size) on June 29, 2018 near Lead. 6% of reports here were 2 inches or larger.
When did it last hail in Lead?
The most recent report in this data is from May 13, 2025 (1.00 in). Final NOAA data runs to July 31, 2026; preliminary NWS reports run to November 3, 2026.
How many hail storms has Lead had in the last five years?
6 separate days with hail reports since November 3, 2021, adding up to 6 reports. The most recent was May 13, 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.