Hail history for Lake County, SD

Lake County has 150 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 92 of them 1″ or larger and 6 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 4.0″ (softball) on July 11, 2000.

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 150 since 1958

1″ or larger 92 NWS severe threshold

2″ or larger 6 hen egg class and up

Largest recorded 4.0″ softball · July 11, 2000

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 Lake County

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

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 150 recorded events · data through April 2026
Date	Size	Comparable to
April 26, 2024	1.0″	Quarter
August 10, 2023	1.0″	Quarter
August 10, 2023	1.25″	Half dollar
July 13, 2023	1.0″	Quarter
October 23, 2022	1.5″	Ping-pong ball
October 23, 2022	1.0″	Quarter
October 23, 2022	1.0″	Quarter
October 23, 2022	1.0″	Quarter

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

From the storm reports

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

April 26, 2024 · 1.0″ (quarter)

Hail was mostly pea to dime sized, but several were as large as a quarter.

July 11, 2000 · 4.0″ (softball)

Large hail severely damaged buildings mobile homes, vehicles, and crops. Walls and vehicles were dented, paint was stripped, many windows were broken, holes were punched in roofs, and trees were severely damaged. There was also widespread damage to crops, especially corn crops which had previously been in excellent condition.

July 11, 2000 · 2.75″ (baseball)

Large hail caused damage to vehicles and crops, but the amount of crop damage was not known.

Events by decade

1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
2	1	6	1	9	76	37	18

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 Lake County

Has it ever hailed in Lake County?

Yes — 150 hail events have been recorded for Lake County, SD in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1958, including 92 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Lake County?

The most recent recorded hail event for Lake County, SD is April 26, 2024, 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 Lake County?

4.0″ (softball), recorded on July 11, 2000. 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.