Hail history for Powder River County, MT

Powder River County has 373 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 249 of them 1″ or larger and 36 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 6.0″ (grapefruit) on June 3, 1971.

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 373 since 1957

1″ or larger 249 NWS severe threshold

2″ or larger 36 hen egg class and up

Largest recorded 6.0″ grapefruit · June 3, 1971

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 Powder River County

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

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 373 recorded events · data through April 2026
Date	Size	Comparable to
August 5, 2025	1.25″	Half dollar
July 23, 2025	1.0″	Quarter
July 20, 2025	1.5″	Ping-pong ball
July 20, 2025	1.0″	Quarter
July 20, 2025	1.0″	Quarter
June 20, 2025	2.5″	Tennis ball
June 12, 2025	1.0″	Quarter
June 12, 2025	1.75″	Golf ball

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

From the storm reports

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

August 5, 2025 · 1.25″ (half dollar)

Accumulating hail and heavy rain reported.

June 26, 2019 · 2.75″ (baseball)

Baseball size and larger hail was reported.

July 18, 2001 · 4.5″ (grapefruit)

Supercell thunderstorms (mainly large hail producers) developed across the eastern half of the NWS Billings County Warning Area around 3:30 pm on July 18th and continued until 9:30 pm. Baseball to softball size hail fell in Broadus, Montana. Numerous car windshields and house windows were smashed.

Events by decade

1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
6	2	8	4	51	143	121	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 Powder River County

Has it ever hailed in Powder River County?

Yes — 373 hail events have been recorded for Powder River County, MT in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1957, including 249 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Powder River County?

The most recent recorded hail event for Powder River County, MT is August 5, 2025, with 1.25″ (half dollar) 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 Powder River County?

6.0″ (grapefruit), recorded on June 3, 1971. 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 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.