HailHistory › Hail by county › Wisconsin › Dane County

Wisconsin · county FIPS 55025

Hail history for Dane County, WI

Dane County has 555 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 390 of them 1″ or larger and 67 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 4.0″ (softball) on April 14, 2026.

Records 1950–present Data through April 2026 Peak month April
Core sample · every recorded event, 1955–2026
1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s 2020s 1955 through 2026 largest · 4.0″ softball April 14, 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 555 since 1958
1″ or larger 390 NWS severe threshold
2″ or larger 67 hen egg class and up
Largest recorded 4.0″ softball · April 14, 2026
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 Dane County

1 Jan 3 Feb 34 Mar 166 Apr 104 May 77 Jun 55 Jul 41 Aug 51 Sep 14 Oct 9 Nov Dec

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

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 555 recorded events · data through April 2026
DateSizeComparable to
2.75″ Baseball
1.5″ Ping-pong ball
1.75″ Golf ball
2.0″ Hen egg
1.75″ Golf ball
1.75″ Golf ball
3.0″ Tea cup
2.5″ Tennis ball

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

From the storm reports

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

· 4.0″ (softball)

Trained spotter confirms 4 inch diameter hail east of Maple Bluff. Size confirmed via photograph. Time confirmed via radar data.

· 3.5″ (softball)

Trained spotter reports 3.5 inch diameter hail east of Maple Bluff.

· 2.5″ (tennis ball)

Trained spotter reports 2.5 inch diameter hail near Mazomanie. Time confirmed via radar data.

Events by decade

1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020s
212142530134124214

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 Dane County

Has it ever hailed in Dane County?

Yes — 555 hail events have been recorded for Dane County, WI in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1958, including 390 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Dane County?

The most recent recorded hail event for Dane County, WI is April 14, 2026, with 2.75″ (baseball) 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 Dane County?

4.0″ (softball), recorded on April 14, 2026. 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.