Hail history for Perkins County, SD

Perkins County has 337 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 258 of them 1″ or larger and 37 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 4.0″ (softball) on September 1, 1990.

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 337 since 1957

1″ or larger 258 NWS severe threshold

2″ or larger 37 hen egg class and up

Largest recorded 4.0″ softball · September 1, 1990

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 Perkins County

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

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 337 recorded events · data through April 2026
Date	Size	Comparable to
August 1, 2025	1.0″	Quarter
June 20, 2025	1.25″	Half dollar
June 20, 2025	1.5″	Ping-pong ball
June 20, 2025	1.25″	Half dollar
June 20, 2025	1.0″	Quarter
June 20, 2025	1.25″	Half dollar
July 12, 2024	1.0″	Quarter
June 22, 2024	1.25″	Half dollar

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

From the storm reports

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

August 1, 2025 · 1.0″ (quarter)

Public call of marble to quarter size hail.

July 20, 2019 · 2.0″ (hen egg)

Hail damaged a truck and cracked windows.

July 8, 2009 · 2.75″ (baseball)

Baseball sized hail and strong wind gusts broke windows and damaged roofs and automobiles in Lemmon.

Events by decade

1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
4	5	8	8	18	106	129	59

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 Perkins County

Has it ever hailed in Perkins County?

Yes — 337 hail events have been recorded for Perkins County, SD in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1957, including 258 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Perkins County?

The most recent recorded hail event for Perkins County, SD is August 1, 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 Perkins County?

4.0″ (softball), recorded on September 1, 1990. 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.