Hail history for Carroll County, IA

Carroll County has 143 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 77 of them 1″ or larger and 6 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 2.75″ (baseball) on May 22, 2004.

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 143 since 1960

1″ or larger 77 NWS severe threshold

2″ or larger 6 hen egg class and up

Largest recorded 2.75″ baseball · May 22, 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 Carroll County

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

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 143 recorded events · data through April 2026
Date	Size	Comparable to
July 15, 2024	1.0″	Quarter
May 6, 2024	0.88″	Nickel
April 26, 2024	0.88″	Nickel
September 23, 2023	1.0″	Quarter
May 7, 2023	2.5″	Tennis ball
May 7, 2023	1.0″	Quarter
May 7, 2023	1.5″	Ping-pong ball
May 7, 2023	1.0″	Quarter

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

From the storm reports

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

July 15, 2024 · 1.0″ (quarter)

Delayed spotter report of quarter-sized hail in Arcadia.

May 7, 2023 · 2.5″ (tennis ball)

Report via social media.

August 1, 2018 · 1.75″ (golf ball)

Trained spotter reported up to golf ball sized hail, including damage to the top of his truck.

Events by decade

1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
0	2	6	4	22	70	29	10

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 Carroll County

Has it ever hailed in Carroll County?

Yes — 143 hail events have been recorded for Carroll County, IA in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1960, including 77 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Carroll County?

The most recent recorded hail event for Carroll County, IA is July 15, 2024, 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 Carroll County?

2.75″ (baseball), recorded on May 22, 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 Iowa hail history

All 99 Iowa 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.