Hail history for Stearns County, MN

Stearns County has 431 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 238 of them 1″ or larger and 20 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 4.25″ (grapefruit) on July 17, 2010.

Records 1950–present Data through April 2026 Peak month July

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 431 since 1955

1″ or larger 238 NWS severe threshold

2″ or larger 20 hen egg class and up

Largest recorded 4.25″ grapefruit · July 17, 2010

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 Stearns County

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

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 431 recorded events · data through April 2026
Date	Size	Comparable to
August 8, 2025	0.88″	Nickel
July 18, 2025	1.0″	Quarter
July 18, 2025	2.0″	Hen egg
July 18, 2025	1.0″	Quarter
July 18, 2025	1.0″	Quarter
July 18, 2025	1.75″	Golf ball
April 28, 2025	1.5″	Ping-pong ball
April 28, 2025	1.0″	Quarter

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

From the storm reports

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

July 18, 2025 · 1.0″ (quarter)

Reported via Stearns Co EM.

July 17, 2010 · 4.25″ (grapefruit)

Several trained spotters reported numerous golf ball, up to soft ball size hail between Cold Spring and St. Nicholas.

June 20, 2007 · 3.5″ (softball)

More then a thousand vehicles and many homes in Sartell were damaged by the storm. Hail measured by trained spotter. All injuries were minor. The hail fell when winds were not too strong, so crop damage in the area was limited.

Events by decade

1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
3	1	12	19	64	168	110	54

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 Stearns County

Has it ever hailed in Stearns County?

Yes — 431 hail events have been recorded for Stearns County, MN in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1955, including 238 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Stearns County?

The most recent recorded hail event for Stearns County, MN is August 8, 2025, with 0.88″ (nickel) 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 Stearns County?

4.25″ (grapefruit), recorded on July 17, 2010. 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 Minnesota hail history

All 87 Minnesota 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.