Hail history for Woodbury County, IA

Woodbury County has 369 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 207 of them 1″ or larger and 16 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 4.5″ (grapefruit) on June 19, 1996.

Records 1950–present Data through April 2026 Peak month June

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 369 since 1962

1″ or larger 207 NWS severe threshold

2″ or larger 16 hen egg class and up

Largest recorded 4.5″ grapefruit · 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 Woodbury County

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

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 369 recorded events · data through April 2026
Date	Size	Comparable to
April 23, 2026	1.0″	Quarter
June 28, 2025	0.88″	Nickel
April 17, 2025	0.88″	Nickel
April 17, 2025	0.88″	Nickel
July 7, 2024	1.25″	Half dollar
June 12, 2024	1.5″	Ping-pong ball
June 12, 2024	2.0″	Hen egg
June 12, 2024	1.75″	Golf ball

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

From the storm reports

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

April 23, 2026 · 1.0″ (quarter)

Quarter size hail was photographed between Danbury and Battle Creek.

May 12, 2011 · 2.75″ (baseball)

Large hail dented vehicles and cracked windows. The amount of damage was not known.

July 20, 2003 · 2.75″ (baseball)

Large hail severely damaged crops over a 2 to 4 mile wide area from Climbing Hill southeast to Smithland, with the area reaching north to near Oto. Vehicles, siding, and windows were also damaged. The amount of crop damage was not known.

Events by decade

1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
0	2	8	17	41	188	85	28

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 Woodbury County

Has it ever hailed in Woodbury County?

Yes — 369 hail events have been recorded for Woodbury County, IA in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1962, including 207 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Woodbury County?

The most recent recorded hail event for Woodbury County, IA is April 23, 2026, with 1.0″ (quarter) 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 Woodbury County?

4.5″ (grapefruit), 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.