Hail history for Vilas County, WI

Vilas County has 116 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 63 of them 1″ or larger and 6 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 3.0″ (tea cup) on June 5, 1999.

Records 1950–present Data through April 2026 Peak month July

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 116 since 1963

1″ or larger 63 NWS severe threshold

2″ or larger 6 hen egg class and up

Largest recorded 3.0″ tea cup · June 5, 1999

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 Vilas County

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

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 116 recorded events · data through April 2026
Date	Size	Comparable to
June 24, 2024	0.75″	Penny
May 18, 2024	0.75″	Penny
May 18, 2024	1.25″	Half dollar
May 18, 2024	1.0″	Quarter
May 18, 2024	1.0″	Quarter
May 18, 2024	1.25″	Half dollar
July 10, 2023	1.0″	Quarter
July 10, 2023	1.0″	Quarter

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

From the storm reports

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

June 24, 2024 · 0.75″ (penny)

Penny size hail fell in Lac Du Flambeau. The time of this report is an estimate based on radar data.

May 25, 2008 · 2.0″ (hen egg)

Large hail damaged vehicles and structures near St. Germain. A vehicle dealership on the east side of the city suffered the most extensive damage. Every car on the lot sustained damaged. Every vehicle at a repair shop in town was damaged except for a 1972 Pontiac Lemans. This was likely due to the thicker steel used in the body of the Lemans.

May 25, 2008 · 2.0″ (hen egg)

A research meteorologist, from the University of Wisconsin Space Science and Engineering Center, reported vehicle damage caused by lime size hail on the east end of Middle Sugarbush Lake.

Events by decade

1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
0	1	0	11	15	40	28	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 Vilas County

Has it ever hailed in Vilas County?

Yes — 116 hail events have been recorded for Vilas County, WI in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1963, including 63 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Vilas County?

The most recent recorded hail event for Vilas County, WI is June 24, 2024, with 0.75″ (penny) 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 Vilas County?

3.0″ (tea cup), recorded on June 5, 1999. 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.