Hail history for Portage County, WI

Portage County has 108 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 64 of them 1″ or larger and 4 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 3.0″ (tea cup) on May 22, 2011.

Records 1950–present Data through April 2026 Peak month May

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 108 since 1964

1″ or larger 64 NWS severe threshold

2″ or larger 4 hen egg class and up

Largest recorded 3.0″ tea cup · May 22, 2011

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 Portage County

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

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 108 recorded events · data through April 2026
Date	Size	Comparable to
April 13, 2026	1.0″	Quarter
April 13, 2026	1.0″	Quarter
June 29, 2025	1.25″	Half dollar
May 15, 2025	1.5″	Ping-pong ball
May 15, 2025	1.5″	Ping-pong ball
May 15, 2025	1.0″	Quarter
March 28, 2025	0.88″	Nickel
March 28, 2025	1.25″	Half dollar

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

From the storm reports

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

April 13, 2026 · 1.0″ (quarter)

Quarter size hail fell in Ellis.

September 20, 2017 · 2.0″ (hen egg)

Two inch diameter hail fell in Almond.

May 22, 2011 · 3.0″ (tea cup)

Thunderstorms produced hail up to three inches in diameter in Plover.

Events by decade

1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
0	1	1	2	12	36	35	21

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 Portage County

Has it ever hailed in Portage County?

Yes — 108 hail events have been recorded for Portage County, WI in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1964, including 64 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Portage County?

The most recent recorded hail event for Portage County, WI is April 13, 2026, 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 Portage County?

3.0″ (tea cup), recorded on May 22, 2011. 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.