Hail history for Nelson County, ND

Nelson County has 187 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 102 of them 1″ or larger and 11 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 3.0″ (tea cup) on August 16, 1988.

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 187 since 1971

1″ or larger 102 NWS severe threshold

2″ or larger 11 hen egg class and up

Largest recorded 3.0″ tea cup · August 16, 1988

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 Nelson County

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

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 187 recorded events · data through April 2026
Date	Size	Comparable to
June 28, 2025	1.0″	Quarter
June 22, 2025	1.0″	Quarter
June 27, 2023	1.0″	Quarter
June 24, 2022	1.0″	Quarter
August 22, 2021	1.0″	Quarter
August 9, 2021	1.25″	Half dollar
July 24, 2020	0.88″	Nickel
July 17, 2020	0.88″	Nickel

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

From the storm reports

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

June 28, 2025 · 1.0″ (quarter)

Largest hail was quarter size.

June 27, 1997 · 2.75″ (baseball)

Most of the 190 homes in Michigan suffered roof damage and broken windows. Many vehicles were also dented. The two implement dealers in Michigan suffered extensive damage to their inventories.

June 27, 1997 · 2.5″ (tennis ball)

The hail lasted for 12 minutes.

Events by decade

1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
0	0	7	9	33	104	24	10

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 Nelson County

Has it ever hailed in Nelson County?

Yes — 187 hail events have been recorded for Nelson County, ND in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1971, including 102 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Nelson County?

The most recent recorded hail event for Nelson County, ND is June 28, 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 Nelson County?

3.0″ (tea cup), recorded on August 16, 1988. 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.