Hail history for Clay County, SD

Clay County has 174 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 115 of them 1″ or larger and 9 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 4.5″ (grapefruit) on June 13, 1981.

Records 1950–present Data through April 2026 Peak month May

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 174 since 1957

1″ or larger 115 NWS severe threshold

2″ or larger 9 hen egg class and up

Largest recorded 4.5″ grapefruit · June 13, 1981

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 Clay County

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

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 174 recorded events · data through April 2026
Date	Size	Comparable to
June 2, 2025	0.75″	Penny
June 2, 2025	1.0″	Quarter
June 2, 2025	1.0″	Quarter
April 28, 2025	1.0″	Quarter
May 20, 2024	1.0″	Quarter
July 12, 2023	1.5″	Ping-pong ball
July 3, 2023	1.5″	Ping-pong ball
June 24, 2023	0.88″	Nickel

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

From the storm reports

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

May 20, 2024 · 1.0″ (quarter)

A considerable amount of nickel to quarter size hail fell.

September 22, 2010 · 3.0″ (tea cup)

Large hail damaged numerous vehicles with dent and cracked and broken windshields. Twelve skylights at a local Wal-Mart store were broken. Some damage to roofs and siding was also sustained.

September 22, 2010 · 2.75″ (baseball)

Large hail dented vehicles and cracked windshields. The amount of damage was not known.

Events by decade

1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
1	3	8	15	5	90	31	21

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 Clay County

Has it ever hailed in Clay County?

Yes — 174 hail events have been recorded for Clay County, SD in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1957, including 115 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Clay County?

The most recent recorded hail event for Clay County, SD is June 2, 2025, with 0.75″ (penny) 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 Clay County?

4.5″ (grapefruit), recorded on June 13, 1981. 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.