Hail history for Harper County, KS

Harper County has 362 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 228 of them 1″ or larger and 25 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 4.5″ (grapefruit) on July 9, 2003.

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 362 since 1955

1″ or larger 228 NWS severe threshold

2″ or larger 25 hen egg class and up

Largest recorded 4.5″ grapefruit · July 9, 2003

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 Harper County

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

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 362 recorded events · data through April 2026
Date	Size	Comparable to
April 17, 2026	1.0″	Quarter
March 10, 2026	1.0″	Quarter
September 1, 2025	2.5″	Tennis ball
September 1, 2025	1.25″	Half dollar
July 21, 2025	1.0″	Quarter
May 24, 2025	1.0″	Quarter
May 25, 2024	1.0″	Quarter
May 25, 2024	2.0″	Hen egg

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

From the storm reports

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

September 1, 2025 · 2.5″ (tennis ball)

Hailstones range from quarter size to tennis ball size.

July 20, 2009 · 3.0″ (tea cup)

A supercell moved southeast across northern and eastern portions of Harper county, producing a swath of golfball to baseball size hail and 60 to 70 mph winds from just east of Runnymede, southeast through the Danville and Freeport areas.

July 9, 2003 · 4.5″ (grapefruit)

Major roof damage, the most dramatic of which was caused by one hailstone, reportedly possessing a 10.5 inch circumference, penetrating the roof of the victimized house and landing in a closet. The Attica Independent News contributed greatly to this report.

Events by decade

1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
4	6	26	13	81	169	51	12

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 Harper County

Has it ever hailed in Harper County?

Yes — 362 hail events have been recorded for Harper County, KS in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1955, including 228 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Harper County?

The most recent recorded hail event for Harper 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 Harper County?

4.5″ (grapefruit), recorded on July 9, 2003. 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.