Hail history for Columbia County, WI

Columbia County has 138 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 71 of them 1″ or larger and 2 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 3.0″ (tea cup) on August 3, 2004.

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 138 since 1970

1″ or larger 71 NWS severe threshold

2″ or larger 2 hen egg class and up

Largest recorded 3.0″ tea cup · August 3, 2004

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 Columbia County

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

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 138 recorded events · data through April 2026
Date	Size	Comparable to
May 15, 2025	1.0″	Quarter
July 13, 2024	0.88″	Nickel
July 13, 2024	0.88″	Nickel
May 21, 2024	1.0″	Quarter
April 27, 2024	1.0″	Quarter
July 16, 2023	1.0″	Quarter
July 16, 2023	0.75″	Penny
April 19, 2023	1.75″	Golf ball

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

From the storm reports

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

April 19, 2023 · 1.0″ (quarter)

Nickel to quarter size hail.

August 1, 2014 · 1.25″ (half dollar)

Hail accumulated and stripped leaves off trees.

May 28, 2012 · 1.25″ (half dollar)

A ten-minute shower of large hail from a severe thunderstorm broke windows, with the damage totaling $5,000.

Events by decade

1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
0	0	5	11	12	62	31	17

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 Columbia County

Has it ever hailed in Columbia County?

Yes — 138 hail events have been recorded for Columbia County, WI in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1970, including 71 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Columbia County?

The most recent recorded hail event for Columbia County, WI is May 15, 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 Columbia County?

3.0″ (tea cup), recorded on August 3, 2004. 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 Wisconsin hail history

All 72 Wisconsin 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.