Hail history for Kingsbury County, SD

Kingsbury County has 186 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 111 of them 1″ or larger and 17 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 4.5″ (grapefruit) on July 28, 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 186 since 1958

1″ or larger 111 NWS severe threshold

2″ or larger 17 hen egg class and up

Largest recorded 4.5″ grapefruit · July 28, 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 Kingsbury County

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

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 186 recorded events · data through April 2026
Date	Size	Comparable to
August 21, 2025	1.0″	Quarter
August 5, 2025	0.88″	Nickel
August 5, 2025	0.88″	Nickel
August 5, 2025	0.88″	Nickel
July 15, 2025	1.0″	Quarter
July 6, 2024	1.0″	Quarter
August 10, 2023	1.75″	Golf ball
August 10, 2023	0.75″	Penny

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

From the storm reports

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

August 5, 2025 · 0.88″ (nickel)

Nickel size hail was accompanied by small branches down in Lake Preston City Park.

June 18, 2012 · 2.75″ (baseball)

Large hail up to baseball size caused an unknown amount of damage to vehicles, windows, roofs, and crops over a long path.

July 28, 2002 · 4.5″ (grapefruit)

Large hail broke windows in homes and vehicles, and otherwise damaged vehicles. The hail also caused crop damage, but the amount of crop damage was not known.

Events by decade

1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
1	3	2	20	36	72	36	16

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 Kingsbury County

Has it ever hailed in Kingsbury County?

Yes — 186 hail events have been recorded for Kingsbury County, SD in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1958, including 111 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Kingsbury County?

The most recent recorded hail event for Kingsbury County, SD is August 21, 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 Kingsbury County?

4.5″ (grapefruit), recorded on July 28, 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.