Hail history for Buffalo County, SD

Buffalo County has 82 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 50 of them 1″ or larger and 5 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 4.0″ (softball) on July 28, 1986.

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 82 since 1959

1″ or larger 50 NWS severe threshold

2″ or larger 5 hen egg class and up

Largest recorded 4.0″ softball · July 28, 1986

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 Buffalo County

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

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 82 recorded events · data through April 2026
Date	Size	Comparable to
July 15, 2025	1.0″	Quarter
April 22, 2022	1.75″	Golf ball
August 30, 2020	1.0″	Quarter
June 25, 2020	1.0″	Quarter
June 13, 2017	1.0″	Quarter
June 11, 2017	1.0″	Quarter
May 26, 2016	1.0″	Quarter
August 9, 2015	1.0″	Quarter

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

From the storm reports

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

June 10, 2010 · 1.75″ (golf ball)

Golfball size hail caused significant damage to crops in the area.

June 10, 1998 · 1.75″ (golf ball)

Hail from marble up to golfball size combined with strong winds to damage thousands of acres of winter and spring wheat along with oats and corn southwest through south of Gann Valley. At a farmhouse southwest of Gann Valley, fifteen windows were knocked out by golfball size hail.

Events by decade

1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
1	1	3	9	7	31	26	4

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 Buffalo County

Has it ever hailed in Buffalo County?

Yes — 82 hail events have been recorded for Buffalo County, SD in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1959, including 50 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Buffalo County?

The most recent recorded hail event for Buffalo County, SD is July 15, 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 Buffalo County?

4.0″ (softball), recorded on July 28, 1986. 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.