Hail history for Tripp County, SD

Tripp County has 282 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 195 of them 1″ or larger and 18 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 4.5″ (grapefruit) on August 6, 1986.

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 282 since 1957

1″ or larger 195 NWS severe threshold

2″ or larger 18 hen egg class and up

Largest recorded 4.5″ grapefruit · August 6, 1986

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 Tripp County

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

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 282 recorded events · data through April 2026
Date	Size	Comparable to
August 3, 2025	1.5″	Ping-pong ball
July 28, 2025	1.0″	Quarter
July 28, 2025	1.0″	Quarter
July 27, 2025	1.0″	Quarter
July 27, 2025	1.0″	Quarter
July 7, 2025	1.0″	Quarter
July 7, 2025	1.0″	Quarter
July 7, 2025	0.88″	Nickel

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

From the storm reports

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

August 3, 2025 · 1.5″ (ping-pong ball)

Public called in a report of mainly small hail was observed, but they noted a few hail stone that were up to ping pong ball in size.

May 29, 2010 · 2.75″ (baseball)

Golfball to baseball sized hail damaged homes and automobiles in Colome. A woman was hit in the head by a hail stone.

June 21, 1995 · 2.75″ (baseball)

Hail ranging in size from golf ball- to baseball-size, was reported over an area from 2 E of Mission to 12 NE. Baseball-size hail was also reported at Antelope. There was tree damage, a carport and a mobile home were flipped over.

Events by decade

1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
3	5	6	19	23	122	80	24

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 Tripp County

Has it ever hailed in Tripp County?

Yes — 282 hail events have been recorded for Tripp County, SD in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1957, including 195 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Tripp County?

The most recent recorded hail event for Tripp County, SD is August 3, 2025, with 1.5″ (ping-pong ball) 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 Tripp County?

4.5″ (grapefruit), recorded on August 6, 1986. 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.