Hail history for Walworth County, SD

Walworth County has 177 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 134 of them 1″ or larger and 14 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 3.0″ (tea cup) on August 23, 2018.

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 177 since 1963

1″ or larger 134 NWS severe threshold

2″ or larger 14 hen egg class and up

Largest recorded 3.0″ tea cup · August 23, 2018

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 Walworth County

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

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 177 recorded events · data through April 2026
Date	Size	Comparable to
August 13, 2025	1.0″	Quarter
August 5, 2025	1.0″	Quarter
July 30, 2023	1.75″	Golf ball
July 30, 2023	1.0″	Quarter
June 24, 2022	1.0″	Quarter
August 28, 2021	2.5″	Tennis ball
August 28, 2021	1.0″	Quarter
August 28, 2021	1.25″	Half dollar

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

From the storm reports

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

August 6, 2019 · 2.75″ (baseball)

Golf ball to baseball size hail broke home and vehicle windows.

August 6, 2019 · 2.75″ (baseball)

Golf ball to baseball size hail along with severe winds brought a destructive path of crops from northwest of Java to Java during the evening hours. The path width was anywhere from 2 to 5 miles. The destruction was shown on satellite.

Events by decade

1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
0	2	2	8	24	44	82	15

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 Walworth County

Has it ever hailed in Walworth County?

Yes — 177 hail events have been recorded for Walworth County, SD in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1963, including 134 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Walworth County?

The most recent recorded hail event for Walworth County, SD is August 13, 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 Walworth County?

3.0″ (tea cup), recorded on August 23, 2018. 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.