Hail history for Riley County, KS

Riley County has 321 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 244 of them 1″ or larger and 33 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 4.5″ (grapefruit) on April 15, 2012.

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 321 since 1956

1″ or larger 244 NWS severe threshold

2″ or larger 33 hen egg class and up

Largest recorded 4.5″ grapefruit · April 15, 2012

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 Riley County

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

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 321 recorded events · data through April 2026
Date	Size	Comparable to
May 19, 2025	1.0″	Quarter
April 28, 2025	1.0″	Quarter
April 28, 2025	1.5″	Ping-pong ball
April 28, 2025	2.5″	Tennis ball
April 1, 2025	1.0″	Quarter
April 1, 2025	1.25″	Half dollar
April 1, 2025	1.0″	Quarter
April 1, 2025	1.0″	Quarter

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

From the storm reports

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

May 19, 2025 · 1.0″ (quarter)

At the Riley County grade school.

June 13, 2024 · 3.5″ (softball)

Delayed report via social media showing a hailstone measuring 3.5 inches in diameter.

June 2, 2008 · 4.25″ (grapefruit)

Softball size hail demolished 98% of the cars parked at the Manhattan Regional Airport. Dents were also noted in the terminal building, and a stone hangar had it's windows blown out. Car dealerships and car rental facilities near the airport also report extreme damage to nearly every vehicle on the lot.

Events by decade

1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
1	9	15	23	37	103	90	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 Riley County

Has it ever hailed in Riley County?

Yes — 321 hail events have been recorded for Riley County, KS in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1956, including 244 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Riley County?

The most recent recorded hail event for Riley County, KS is May 19, 2025, 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 Riley County?

4.5″ (grapefruit), recorded on April 15, 2012. 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.