HailHistory › Hail by county › Missouri › Jefferson County
Missouri · county FIPS 29099
Hail history for Jefferson County, MO
Jefferson County has 312 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 213 of them 1″ or larger and 20 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 4.5″ (grapefruit) on April 26, 1994.
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.
When it hails in Jefferson County
Recorded events by month, 1950–present. The amber bar marks Jefferson County's peak: April.
Most recent recorded events
| Date | Size | Comparable to |
|---|---|---|
| 1.0″ | Quarter | |
| 1.0″ | Quarter | |
| 1.0″ | Quarter | |
| 1.5″ | Ping-pong ball | |
| 1.0″ | Quarter | |
| 1.0″ | Quarter | |
| 1.0″ | Quarter | |
| 1.25″ | Half dollar |
Looking for a specific storm? Use the did-it-hail date lookup for Jefferson County.
From the storm reports
Narratives as filed with the NOAA Storm Events Database (public records; lightly trimmed for length).
· 2.75″ (baseball)
A swath of large hail moved east-southeast through central Jefferson County. The largest stones measured 2 to 2.75 inches and fell in and around Grubville, Hillsboro, De Soto, Festus, and Herculaneum. Cities in the path of hailstones greater than 1 inch include Victoria, Pevely, Crystal City, Hematite, and Mapaville.
· 3.0″ (tea cup)
Numerous reports of large hail fell in a wide swath from Hillsboro to the Festus/Crystal City area. One inch or larger hail was also reported in Herculaneum and Hematite. The largest hailstones, around 3 inches in diameter were reported one mile north of Festus.
· 4.5″ (grapefruit)
County officials reported golf ball-size hail and wind gusts to 60 mph in Cedar Hill. A local television station reported hail up to softball-size near Arnold a few minutes later. Several cars were damaged and house windows broke out.
Events by decade
| 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 1 | 11 | 23 | 51 | 100 | 78 | 46 |
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 Jefferson County
Has it ever hailed in Jefferson County?
Yes — 312 hail events have been recorded for Jefferson County, MO in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1957, including 213 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.
When did it last hail in Jefferson County?
The most recent recorded hail event for Jefferson County, MO is April 27, 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 Jefferson County?
4.5″ (grapefruit), recorded on April 26, 1994. 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 Missouri hail history
- Greene County 675
- Jackson County 669
- St. Louis County 660
- Clay County 463
- Cass County 382
- Boone County 372
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.