Hail history for Lake County, MT

Lake County has 48 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 31 of them 1″ or larger and 1 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 2.0″ (hen egg) on July 25, 2011.

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 48 since 1962

1″ or larger 31 NWS severe threshold

2″ or larger 1 hen egg class and up

Largest recorded 2.0″ hen egg · July 25, 2011

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 Lake County

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

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 48 recorded events · data through April 2026
Date	Size	Comparable to
August 19, 2024	1.5″	Ping-pong ball
August 19, 2024	1.5″	Ping-pong ball
August 25, 2022	1.5″	Ping-pong ball
July 9, 2022	1.5″	Ping-pong ball
July 9, 2022	0.5″	Mothball
July 8, 2022	1.0″	Quarter
July 8, 2022	1.0″	Quarter
July 8, 2022	1.0″	Quarter

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

From the storm reports

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

August 19, 2024 · 1.5″ (ping-pong ball)

The public reported two rounds of hail in and around the Bison Range. They reported wind gusts to 53 mph with the first round of hail.

July 25, 2011 · 2.0″ (hen egg)

The public reported 2 inch diameter hail that occurred for about three minutes at Yellow Bay.

July 31, 2010 · 1.75″ (golf ball)

A trained spotter relayed that their neighbor received golf ball sized hail that left dents in their car and caused damage to their corn crop.

Events by decade

1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
0	1	0	3	6	18	8	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 Lake County

Has it ever hailed in Lake County?

Yes — 48 hail events have been recorded for Lake County, MT in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1962, including 31 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Lake County?

The most recent recorded hail event for Lake County, MT is August 19, 2024, 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 Lake County?

2.0″ (hen egg), recorded on July 25, 2011. Hail that size meets or exceeds the National Weather Service severe threshold. 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 Montana hail history

All 56 Montana 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.