Hail history for Cedar County, IA

Cedar County has 140 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 88 of them 1″ or larger and 11 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 3.0″ (tea cup) on May 31, 1971.

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 140 since 1957

1″ or larger 88 NWS severe threshold

2″ or larger 11 hen egg class and up

Largest recorded 3.0″ tea cup · May 31, 1971

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 Cedar County

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

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 140 recorded events · data through April 2026
Date	Size	Comparable to
April 2, 2026	1.75″	Golf ball
April 2, 2026	1.0″	Quarter
April 2, 2026	1.75″	Golf ball
March 10, 2026	1.5″	Ping-pong ball
March 10, 2026	0.88″	Nickel
March 10, 2026	1.75″	Golf ball
May 24, 2024	1.0″	Quarter
May 24, 2024	1.25″	Half dollar

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

From the storm reports

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

April 2, 2026 · 1.75″ (golf ball)

Emergency management reported damaging golf ball size hail.

June 22, 2015 · 2.75″ (baseball)

Spotter's windshield was broken.

August 11, 2005 · 2.75″ (baseball)

Baseball sized hail damaged the home of the county emergency manager and several other homes on the east side of West Branch.

Events by decade

1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
1	4	12	5	17	33	33	35

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 Cedar County

Has it ever hailed in Cedar County?

Yes — 140 hail events have been recorded for Cedar County, IA in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1957, including 88 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Cedar County?

The most recent recorded hail event for Cedar County, IA is April 2, 2026, with 1.75″ (golf ball) 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 Cedar County?

3.0″ (tea cup), recorded on May 31, 1971. 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.