Hail history for Rooks County, KS

Rooks County has 317 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 219 of them 1″ or larger and 29 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 6.0″ (grapefruit) on May 27, 1962.

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 317 since 1959

1″ or larger 219 NWS severe threshold

2″ or larger 29 hen egg class and up

Largest recorded 6.0″ grapefruit · May 27, 1962

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 Rooks County

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

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 317 recorded events · data through April 2026
Date	Size	Comparable to
August 18, 2025	1.5″	Ping-pong ball
August 17, 2025	1.0″	Quarter
May 25, 2024	1.5″	Ping-pong ball
May 25, 2024	1.0″	Quarter
May 6, 2024	1.0″	Quarter
May 6, 2024	1.75″	Golf ball
May 6, 2024	1.0″	Quarter
March 13, 2024	0.88″	Nickel

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

From the storm reports

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

May 25, 2024 · 1.5″ (ping-pong ball)

Quarter to ping pong ball size hail was reported.

August 9, 2011 · 4.25″ (grapefruit)

Large hail resulted in homes with broken windows.

April 24, 2008 · 4.25″ (grapefruit)

Quarter to softball sized hail was reported across the northern portion of Stockton. This caused a lot of window and siding damage. There were also scattered reports of power outages.

Events by decade

1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
1	8	4	13	65	92	96	38

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 Rooks County

Has it ever hailed in Rooks County?

Yes — 317 hail events have been recorded for Rooks County, KS in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1959, including 219 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Rooks County?

The most recent recorded hail event for Rooks County, KS is August 18, 2025, with 1.5″ (ping-pong 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 Rooks County?

6.0″ (grapefruit), recorded on May 27, 1962. 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.