Hail history for Bowman County, ND

Bowman County has 164 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 118 of them 1″ or larger and 11 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 3.5″ (softball) on September 7, 2009.

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 164 since 1958

1″ or larger 118 NWS severe threshold

2″ or larger 11 hen egg class and up

Largest recorded 3.5″ softball · September 7, 2009

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 Bowman County

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

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 164 recorded events · data through April 2026
Date	Size	Comparable to
September 12, 2025	1.0″	Quarter
July 20, 2025	1.75″	Golf ball
July 31, 2023	0.88″	Nickel
July 31, 2023	1.5″	Ping-pong ball
July 11, 2023	1.0″	Quarter
July 11, 2023	1.75″	Golf ball
October 2, 2022	0.88″	Nickel
July 5, 2022	1.5″	Ping-pong ball

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

From the storm reports

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

August 3, 2019 · 1.25″ (half dollar)

A window was broken due to the wind driven hail.

July 29, 2011 · 2.5″ (tennis ball)

There were no damage reports received.

September 7, 2009 · 3.5″ (softball)

A one to two mile wide swath of large and destructive hail was reported. The largest stone was measured at three and one half inches in diameter. There was significant damage to roofs on the north and east sides of Bowman, and to structures in rural north and east Bowman County.

Events by decade

1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
2	1	5	10	16	50	68	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 Bowman County

Has it ever hailed in Bowman County?

Yes — 164 hail events have been recorded for Bowman County, ND in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1958, including 118 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Bowman County?

The most recent recorded hail event for Bowman County, ND is September 12, 2025, 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 Bowman County?

3.5″ (softball), recorded on September 7, 2009. 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 North Dakota hail history

All 53 North Dakota 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.