Hail history for Gem County, ID

Gem County has 12 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 7 of them 1″ or larger. The largest on record: 1.75″ (golf ball) on April 23, 1998.

Records 1950–present Data through April 2026 Peak month May

Core sample · every recorded event, 1955–2026

Mark size = measured hail diameter; slivers are events with no recorded size. Amber ≥2″, red ≥2.75″ (baseball class). Denser recent decades partly reflect better reporting, not only more storms.

Recorded events 12 since 1964

1″ or larger 7 NWS severe threshold

2″ or larger 0 hen egg class and up

Largest recorded 1.75″ golf ball · April 23, 1998

Read the record honestly: Storm Events contains what was reported to the National Weather Service. Sparse or rural counties under-report, and coverage improved sharply after the mid-1990s — a quiet-looking stretch is not proof nothing fell.

When it hails in Gem County

Recorded events by month, 1950–present. The amber bar marks Gem County's peak: May.

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 12 recorded events · data through April 2026
Date	Size	Comparable to
August 7, 2016	0.75″	Penny
June 29, 2010	1.0″	Quarter
June 25, 1998	0.75″	Penny
April 23, 1998	1.75″	Golf ball
May 8, 1994	1.0″	Quarter
May 20, 1990	0.75″	Penny
April 22, 1986	1.0″	Quarter
June 20, 1984	1.75″	Golf ball

Looking for a specific storm? Use the did-it-hail date lookup for Gem County.

From the storm reports

Narratives as filed with the NOAA Storm Events Database (public records; lightly trimmed for length).

August 7, 2016 · 0.75″ (penny)

A follower on social media posted a picture of observed three quarter of an inch hail that dropped out of a thunderstorm near Emmett, Idaho.

June 29, 2010 · 1.0″ (quarter)

A trained spotter near Ola reported 1 inch hail.

May 8, 1994 · 1.0″ (quarter)

For the third consecutive day, thunderstorms forming in the flow around a cut-off low pressure system, moved east to west across southwest Idaho. The hardest hit areas were in Gem and Boise Counties, both of which are just north of the Boise metropolitan area. At 1443 MST, a thunderstorm produced dime-size hail in Idaho City, 25 miles northeast of Boise.

Events by decade

1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
0	2	1	3	4	0	2	0

The climb across decades is largely a reporting story: spotter networks, radar, and digital filing pulled far more storms into the record after the 1990s.

Questions about hail in Gem County

Has it ever hailed in Gem County?

Yes — 12 hail events have been recorded for Gem County, ID in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1964, including 7 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Gem County?

The most recent recorded hail event for Gem County, ID is August 7, 2016, with 0.75″ (penny) hail. The database is currently updated through April 2026, so a storm from the last few weeks may not appear yet. To check a specific day, use the did-it-hail date lookup.

What is the largest hail ever recorded in Gem County?

1.75″ (golf ball), recorded on April 23, 1998. Hail that size meets or exceeds the National Weather Service severe threshold. See how big that really is on the actual-size hail chart.

Does a recorded hail event mean my roof was damaged?

No. This page reports storm records, not damage. Hail size and damage vary block by block within a county, and only an inspection can establish what happened to a specific roof. If you suspect damage, talk to your insurer or a licensed roofer — they can pull the same NOAA records for your claim.

More Idaho hail history

All 44 Idaho counties, ranked by recorded hail →

Source: NOAA/NCEI Storm Events Database, public domain, updated monthly by NCEI — this site's copy runs through April 2026. HailHistory reports records; it does not give insurance advice or assess damage.