Hail history for Butte County, SD

Butte County has 310 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 242 of them 1″ or larger and 52 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 6.0″ (grapefruit) on June 19, 2015.

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 310 since 1957

1″ or larger 242 NWS severe threshold

2″ or larger 52 hen egg class and up

Largest recorded 6.0″ grapefruit · June 19, 2015

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 Butte County

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

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 310 recorded events · data through April 2026
Date	Size	Comparable to
September 11, 2025	1.0″	Quarter
August 6, 2025	1.0″	Quarter
August 5, 2025	0.88″	Nickel
August 5, 2025	1.5″	Ping-pong ball
July 26, 2025	1.0″	Quarter
June 28, 2025	2.5″	Tennis ball
June 28, 2025	1.75″	Golf ball
June 28, 2025	1.25″	Half dollar

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

From the storm reports

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

September 11, 2025 · 1.0″ (quarter)

Trained spotter reported one inch hail with storm.

June 12, 2022 · 4.0″ (softball)

Wind-driven baseball to near softball sized hail caused extensive damage to property in the Belle Fourche area, especially on the north side of town.

June 29, 2018 · 4.5″ (grapefruit)

Very large hail, with a few stones to the size of softballs, damaged an automobile.

Events by decade

1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
8	3	5	14	18	88	112	62

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 Butte County

Has it ever hailed in Butte County?

Yes — 310 hail events have been recorded for Butte County, SD in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1957, including 242 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Butte County?

The most recent recorded hail event for Butte County, SD is September 11, 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 Butte County?

6.0″ (grapefruit), recorded on June 19, 2015. 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.