Hail history for Brown County, SD

Brown County has 437 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 299 of them 1″ or larger and 28 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 4.5″ (grapefruit) on June 23, 2002.

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 437 since 1959

1″ or larger 299 NWS severe threshold

2″ or larger 28 hen egg class and up

Largest recorded 4.5″ grapefruit · June 23, 2002

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 Brown County

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

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 437 recorded events · data through April 2026
Date	Size	Comparable to
August 5, 2025	1.5″	Ping-pong ball
August 5, 2025	1.0″	Quarter
July 15, 2025	0.75″	Penny
July 15, 2025	0.75″	Penny
July 14, 2025	0.75″	Penny
July 31, 2024	1.0″	Quarter
July 9, 2024	1.25″	Half dollar
July 6, 2024	1.0″	Quarter

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

From the storm reports

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

July 14, 2025 · 0.75″ (penny)

A caller stated the storm produced dime to penny sized hail, and that the hail had damaged crops.

July 17, 2010 · 4.25″ (grapefruit)

Hail up to the size of softballs occurred near Westport.

June 23, 2002 · 4.5″ (grapefruit)

Softball size hail fell just south of Barnard damaging a law officer's vehicle.

Events by decade

1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
1	7	13	55	63	118	126	54

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 Brown County

Has it ever hailed in Brown County?

Yes — 437 hail events have been recorded for Brown County, SD in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1959, including 299 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Brown County?

The most recent recorded hail event for Brown County, SD is August 5, 2025, 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 Brown County?

4.5″ (grapefruit), recorded on June 23, 2002. 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 South Dakota hail history

All 66 South 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.