Hail history for Franklin County, KS

Franklin County has 250 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 178 of them 1″ or larger and 21 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 3.0″ (tea cup) on August 19, 1974.

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 250 since 1959

1″ or larger 178 NWS severe threshold

2″ or larger 21 hen egg class and up

Largest recorded 3.0″ tea cup · August 19, 1974

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 Franklin County

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

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 250 recorded events · data through April 2026
Date	Size	Comparable to
April 17, 2026	1.0″	Quarter
April 13, 2026	2.0″	Hen egg
April 13, 2026	2.75″	Baseball
April 13, 2026	2.0″	Hen egg
April 23, 2025	2.0″	Hen egg
April 17, 2025	1.0″	Quarter
April 17, 2025	1.0″	Quarter
July 12, 2024	0.88″	Nickel

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

From the storm reports

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

April 13, 2026 · 2.0″ (hen egg)

Delayed report of 2 inch diameter hail across the street from the Ottawa High School. Photos were sent via email.

June 2, 2008 · 2.75″ (baseball)

Hail from the size of quarters to the size of baseballs was reported by the EM and trained spotters.

July 11, 2003 · 2.75″ (baseball)

Widespread baseball size hail damaged roofs, buildings, and many car windows in the Ottawa area during an early evening storm.

Events by decade

1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
1	4	7	12	47	94	69	16

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 Franklin County

Has it ever hailed in Franklin County?

Yes — 250 hail events have been recorded for Franklin County, KS in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1959, including 178 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Franklin County?

The most recent recorded hail event for Franklin County, KS is April 17, 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 Franklin County?

3.0″ (tea cup), recorded on August 19, 1974. 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 Kansas hail history

All 105 Kansas 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.