Hail history for Plymouth County, IA

Plymouth County has 277 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 166 of them 1″ or larger and 21 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 3.5″ (softball) on June 19, 1996.

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 277 since 1955

1″ or larger 166 NWS severe threshold

2″ or larger 21 hen egg class and up

Largest recorded 3.5″ softball · June 19, 1996

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 Plymouth County

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

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 277 recorded events · data through April 2026
Date	Size	Comparable to
April 13, 2026	1.75″	Golf ball
April 13, 2026	2.75″	Baseball
April 13, 2026	1.25″	Half dollar
September 21, 2025	2.0″	Hen egg
June 14, 2025	1.0″	Quarter
June 14, 2025	1.0″	Quarter
June 14, 2025	0.88″	Nickel
June 14, 2025	1.25″	Half dollar

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

From the storm reports

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

April 13, 2026 · 2.75″ (baseball)

Damage to car parked outside residence.

April 15, 2017 · 2.75″ (baseball)

Hen egg to baseball size hail damaged vehicles and homes.

Events by decade

1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
2	2	10	7	27	128	58	43

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 Plymouth County

Has it ever hailed in Plymouth County?

Yes — 277 hail events have been recorded for Plymouth County, IA in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1955, including 166 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Plymouth County?

The most recent recorded hail event for Plymouth County, IA is April 13, 2026, with 1.75″ (golf ball) 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 Plymouth County?

3.5″ (softball), recorded on June 19, 1996. Hail that size is destructive-class and typically damages roofs, vehicles, and siding. 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 Iowa hail history

All 99 Iowa 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.