Hail history for Sanborn County, SD

Sanborn County has 129 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 88 of them 1″ or larger and 16 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 5.0″ (grapefruit) on May 28, 1991.

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 129 since 1958

1″ or larger 88 NWS severe threshold

2″ or larger 16 hen egg class and up

Largest recorded 5.0″ grapefruit · May 28, 1991

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 Sanborn County

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

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 129 recorded events · data through April 2026
Date	Size	Comparable to
July 20, 2025	1.0″	Quarter
July 20, 2025	1.5″	Ping-pong ball
July 7, 2025	0.88″	Nickel
May 19, 2025	1.0″	Quarter
July 3, 2023	0.75″	Penny
July 3, 2022	1.0″	Quarter
August 22, 2021	1.0″	Quarter
July 3, 2019	1.0″	Quarter

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

From the storm reports

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

May 19, 2025 · 1.0″ (quarter)

Quarter-sized hail piled up on the ground about two inches deep.

June 24, 2009 · 2.75″ (baseball)

Large hail broke windows and destroyed siding on one side of a farmhouse. The hail severely damaged crops along almost a 3 mile stretch. One farmer estimated that 60 acres of corn and 100 acres of small grain on his farm were a total loss.

April 21, 2007 · 2.75″ (baseball)

Hail up to baseball size damaged vehicles, windows, and roofs. The amount of damage was not known.

Events by decade

1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
1	1	3	12	23	65	17	7

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 Sanborn County

Has it ever hailed in Sanborn County?

Yes — 129 hail events have been recorded for Sanborn County, SD in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1958, including 88 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Sanborn County?

The most recent recorded hail event for Sanborn County, SD is July 20, 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 Sanborn County?

5.0″ (grapefruit), recorded on May 28, 1991. 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.