Hail history for Lawrence County, SD

Lawrence County has 533 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 378 of them 1″ or larger and 35 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 4.5″ (grapefruit) on June 19, 2015.

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 533 since 1956

1″ or larger 378 NWS severe threshold

2″ or larger 35 hen egg class and up

Largest recorded 4.5″ 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 Lawrence County

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

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 533 recorded events · data through April 2026
Date	Size	Comparable to
August 3, 2025	1.0″	Quarter
August 1, 2025	1.0″	Quarter
July 29, 2025	1.25″	Half dollar
July 19, 2025	1.0″	Quarter
June 15, 2025	1.0″	Quarter
June 15, 2025	1.25″	Half dollar
June 15, 2025	1.0″	Quarter
May 13, 2025	1.0″	Quarter

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

From the storm reports

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

August 3, 2025 · 1.0″ (quarter)

Public submitted report.

July 17, 2019 · 3.0″ (tea cup)

Hail to baseball size fell over a 15 minute period.

June 19, 2015 · 4.5″ (grapefruit)

Baseball to softball sized hail caused property damage.

Events by decade

1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
7	4	7	17	47	146	212	93

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 Lawrence County

Has it ever hailed in Lawrence County?

Yes — 533 hail events have been recorded for Lawrence County, SD in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1956, including 378 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Lawrence County?

The most recent recorded hail event for Lawrence County, SD is August 3, 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 Lawrence County?

4.5″ (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.