Hail history for Mellette County, SD

Mellette County has 162 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 110 of them 1″ or larger and 13 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 4.5″ (grapefruit) on August 26, 2020.

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 162 since 1971

1″ or larger 110 NWS severe threshold

2″ or larger 13 hen egg class and up

Largest recorded 4.5″ grapefruit · August 26, 2020

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 Mellette County

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

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 162 recorded events · data through April 2026
Date	Size	Comparable to
July 20, 2025	0.75″	Penny
July 1, 2025	1.75″	Golf ball
July 29, 2024	1.0″	Quarter
July 29, 2024	1.5″	Ping-pong ball
September 20, 2023	1.25″	Half dollar
September 20, 2023	0.88″	Nickel
July 27, 2023	1.0″	Quarter
July 19, 2023	1.0″	Quarter

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

From the storm reports

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

July 20, 2025 · 0.75″ (penny)

Estimated hail size report.

August 26, 2020 · 4.5″ (grapefruit)

Very large hail broke the windshield of a law enforcement vehicle.

August 17, 2011 · 2.75″ (baseball)

Large hail caused significant damage to the roof and windows of a house and vehicles.

Events by decade

1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
0	0	3	5	21	72	33	28

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 Mellette County

Has it ever hailed in Mellette County?

Yes — 162 hail events have been recorded for Mellette County, SD in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1971, including 110 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Mellette County?

The most recent recorded hail event for Mellette County, SD is July 20, 2025, with 0.75″ (penny) 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 Mellette County?

4.5″ (grapefruit), recorded on August 26, 2020. 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.