Hail history for Rapid City, South Dakota
NOAA hail reports in and within about 5 km (3 miles) of Rapid City since 1956, with preliminary reports to November 3, 2026.
Readout · Rapid City
- Last hail
- Aug 18, 2026
- 1.50 in, ping pong ball size · preliminary
- Hail days, last 5 years
- 34
- since Nov 3, 2021 · 94 reports
- Largest ever
- 3.25 in
- teacup · Jul 10, 2020
448 reports on 186 days since 1956 · #1 of 305 South Dakota places
Hail map · Rapid City
- 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 Rapid City
The latest hail report in and around Rapid City is from August 18, 2026, 1.50 in (ping pong ball size). Since November 3, 2021 there have been 34 separate hail days; the biggest stones in that time were 2.00 in on July 11, 2023.
Over the 20 years 2006–2025, Rapid City logged 351 reports on 118 hail days, about 17.6 reports a year. That is 39.0 times the median South Dakota town on this site (0.5 a year) and ranks #1 of 305 South Dakota cities and towns on this site for all-time reports. Rapid City accounts for 27% of the 1,654 reports filed in Pennington County.
11% 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 3.25 in (teacup) on July 10, 2020 near 4 W Rapid City.
Reports were up 100% in 2016–2025 (234) compared with 2006–2015 (117). The busiest year was 2020, with 53 reports on 12 days. Hail here peaks in June (33% of reports); 44% fall between April and June.
Reports a year 2006–2025 average
- Rapid City 17.6
- Pennington County 55.0
- Median South Dakota town on this site 0.5
Hail days 2006–2025
- Rapid City 118
- Pennington County 308
- Median South Dakota town on this site 7
Share 2 in or larger of sized reports
- Rapid City 11%
- Pennington County 11%
- 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 | 9 | 1 | 3 | 13 | |||||||||
| 2025 | 1 | 6 | 7 | ||||||||||
| 2024 | 3 | 15 | 1 | 5 | 24 | ||||||||
| 2023 | 9 | 10 | 14 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 38 | ||||||
| 2022 | 6 | 6 | 12 | ||||||||||
| 2021 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 10 | |||||||||
| 2020 | 7 | 12 | 32 | 2 | 53 | ||||||||
| 2019 | 9 | 24 | 1 | 3 | 37 | ||||||||
| 2018 | 10 | 2 | 11 | 23 | |||||||||
| 2017 | 10 | 10 |
Hail days since Nov 3, 2021
| Date | Reports | Largest | Storm page |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 18, 2026 | 1 | 1.50 in | View |
| Aug 16, 2026 | 1 | 0.88 in | View |
| Aug 11, 2026 | 1 | 0.75 in | View |
| Jul 1, 2026 | 1 | 1.50 in | — |
| Jun 22, 2026 | 9 | 1.75 in | — |
| Jul 19, 2025 | 2 | 1.00 in | — |
| Jul 6, 2025 | 3 | 1.00 in | — |
| Jul 1, 2025 | 1 | 0.75 in | — |
| Jun 28, 2025 | 1 | 1.50 in | — |
| Sep 15, 2024 | 5 | 1.00 in | — |
| Aug 26, 2024 | 1 | 0.75 in | — |
| Jun 25, 2024 | 5 | 1.50 in | — |
| Jun 24, 2024 | 1 | 0.75 in | — |
| Jun 10, 2024 | 1 | 0.75 in | — |
| Jun 1, 2024 | 8 | 1.25 in | — |
| Apr 25, 2024 | 1 | 0.75 in | — |
| Apr 15, 2024 | 2 | 1.00 in | — |
| Oct 2, 2023 | 2 | 1.00 in | — |
| Sep 4, 2023 | 2 | 1.00 in | — |
| Aug 24, 2023 | 1 | 0.75 in | — |
| Jul 11, 2023 | 9 | 2.00 in | — |
| Jul 3, 2023 | 5 | 2.00 in | — |
| Jun 28, 2023 | 6 | 1.75 in | — |
| Jun 27, 2023 | 2 | 1.00 in | — |
| Jun 23, 2023 | 2 | 1.00 in | — |
| May 30, 2023 | 3 | 1.00 in | — |
| May 29, 2023 | 4 | 1.25 in | — |
| May 27, 2023 | 1 | 0.75 in | — |
| May 17, 2023 | 1 | 1.00 in | — |
| Jul 29, 2022 | 1 | 1.00 in | — |
| Jul 10, 2022 | 3 | 0.88 in | — |
| Jul 2, 2022 | 2 | 1.00 in | — |
| Jun 7, 2022 | 1 | 1.00 in | — |
| Jun 6, 2022 | 5 | 1.00 in | — |
Largest hail on record
| Date | Size | Location | County | Time · source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 10, 2020 | 3.25 inteacup | 4 W Rapid City | Pennington | 15:50 local · NCEI |
| Jul 10, 2020 | 3.25 inteacup | 4 SW Rapid City | Pennington | 15:40 local · NCEI |
| Aug 26, 2021 | 3.00 inteacup | 7.78 SW (Rap)rapid City Arpt | Pennington | 18:40 local · NCEI |
| Jul 10, 2020 | 3.00 inteacup | 1 SSE Rapid City | Pennington | 15:54 local · NCEI |
| Jul 10, 2020 | 3.00 inteacup | 2 SW Rapid City | Pennington | 15:43 local · NCEI |
Size of every report
- Under 1 in 112 25%
- 1–2 in 285 64%
- 2 in + 51 11%
Most recent reports
| Date | Size | Location | County | Time · source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 18, 2026 | 1.50 inping pong ball | 4 WSW Dwtn Rapid City | Pennington | 01:59 UTC · NWS prelim. |
| Aug 16, 2026 | 0.88 innickel | 2 NW Dwtn Rapid City | Pennington | 23:27 UTC · NWS prelim. |
| Aug 11, 2026 | 0.75 inpenny | 4 NW Dwtn Rapid City | Pennington | 20:39 UTC · NWS prelim. |
| Jul 1, 2026 | 1.50 inping pong ball | 4.03 E Black Hawk | Meade | 17:04 local · NCEI |
| Jun 22, 2026 | 1.00 inquarter | 2.3 SSE Rapid City | Pennington | 17:15 local · NCEI |
| Jun 22, 2026 | 0.88 innickel | 2.3 SSE Rapid City | Pennington | 17:10 local · NCEI |
| Jun 22, 2026 | 1.75 ingolf ball | 3.28 WSW Rapid City | Pennington | 16:59 local · NCEI |
| Jun 22, 2026 | 1.00 inquarter | 1.21 SE Rapid City | Pennington | 16:59 local · NCEI |
| Jun 22, 2026 | 0.88 innickel | 2.84 WSW Rapid City | Pennington | 16:58 local · NCEI |
| Jun 22, 2026 | 1.00 inquarter | Rapid City | Pennington | 16:58 local · NCEI |
| Jun 22, 2026 | 1.00 inquarter | 1.21 SW Rapid City | Pennington | 16:58 local · NCEI |
| Jun 22, 2026 | 1.00 inquarter | 2.58 WSW Rapid City | Pennington | 16:56 local · NCEI |
Hail history near Rapid City
- Rapid Valley 8 km · 18
- Green Valley 9 km · 30
- Colonial Pine Hills 10 km · 162
- Box Elder 12 km · 95
- Blackhawk 13 km · 50
- Summerset 17 km · 49
- Johnson Siding 18 km · 125
- Piedmont 21 km · 97
Questions about hail in Rapid City
How often does it hail in Rapid City, South Dakota?
448 hail reports have been logged in and within about 5 km (3 miles) of Rapid City since 1956. Over the 20 years 2006–2025 that averages 17.6 reports a year. That ranks #1 of 305 South Dakota places by number of reports.
When is hail season in Rapid City?
Most reports come in June, July, August. June alone accounts for 33% of all reports.
What is the largest hail recorded in Rapid City?
3.25 in (teacup size) on July 10, 2020 near 4 W Rapid City. 11% of reports here were 2 inches or larger.
When did it last hail in Rapid City?
The most recent report in this data is from August 18, 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 Rapid City had in the last five years?
34 separate days with hail reports since November 3, 2021, adding up to 94 reports. The most recent was August 18, 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.