Hail history for Hanson County, SD

Hanson County has 90 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 49 of them 1″ or larger and 4 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 3.0″ (tea cup) on July 7, 1964.

Records 1950–present Data through April 2026 Peak month August

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 90 since 1964

1″ or larger 49 NWS severe threshold

2″ or larger 4 hen egg class and up

Largest recorded 3.0″ tea cup · July 7, 1964

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 Hanson County

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

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 90 recorded events · data through April 2026
Date	Size	Comparable to
August 10, 2023	1.0″	Quarter
August 30, 2021	0.88″	Nickel
July 17, 2020	1.0″	Quarter
July 6, 2020	1.5″	Ping-pong ball
July 6, 2020	2.75″	Baseball
July 6, 2020	1.5″	Ping-pong ball
July 12, 2019	1.25″	Half dollar
June 27, 2019	1.0″	Quarter

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

From the storm reports

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

July 17, 2020 · 1.0″ (quarter)

Hail was mostly smaller, but a few stones were up to quarter size.

August 8, 2009 · 2.75″ (baseball)

Large hail broke windows on vehicles and dented the vehicles.

August 2, 2009 · 2.0″ (hen egg)

Large hail broke windows in buildings and vehicles, and dented vehicles.

Events by decade

1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
0	2	0	1	5	55	21	6

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 Hanson County

Has it ever hailed in Hanson County?

Yes — 90 hail events have been recorded for Hanson County, SD in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1964, including 49 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Hanson County?

The most recent recorded hail event for Hanson County, SD is August 10, 2023, 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 Hanson County?

3.0″ (tea cup), recorded on July 7, 1964. 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.