Hail history for Meade County, SD

Meade County has 871 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 635 of them 1″ or larger and 102 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 4.5″ (grapefruit) on June 1, 2015.

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 871 since 1955

1″ or larger 635 NWS severe threshold

2″ or larger 102 hen egg class and up

Largest recorded 4.5″ grapefruit · June 1, 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 Meade County

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

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 871 recorded events · data through April 2026
Date	Size	Comparable to
September 11, 2025	1.0″	Quarter
August 1, 2025	0.75″	Penny
August 1, 2025	1.75″	Golf ball
July 26, 2025	1.75″	Golf ball
July 19, 2025	1.0″	Quarter
July 19, 2025	0.75″	Penny
July 19, 2025	0.75″	Penny
July 10, 2025	1.0″	Quarter

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

From the storm reports

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

September 11, 2025 · 1.0″ (quarter)

Public submitted report of one inch hail.

June 1, 2015 · 4.5″ (grapefruit)

Tennis ball to softball sized hail pummeled Piedmont.

August 26, 2002 · 4.5″ (grapefruit)

Softball sized hail fell south of Elm Springs. The hail fell on open pasture and no damage or injuries were reported.

Events by decade

1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
2	9	11	38	86	281	275	169

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 Meade County

Has it ever hailed in Meade County?

Yes — 871 hail events have been recorded for Meade County, SD in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1955, including 635 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Meade County?

The most recent recorded hail event for Meade County, SD is September 11, 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 Meade County?

4.5″ (grapefruit), recorded on June 1, 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.