Hail history for Cherokee County, IA

Cherokee County has 163 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 89 of them 1″ or larger and 7 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 4.0″ (softball) on April 9, 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 163 since 1959

1″ or larger 89 NWS severe threshold

2″ or larger 7 hen egg class and up

Largest recorded 4.0″ softball · April 9, 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 Cherokee County

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

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 163 recorded events · data through April 2026
Date	Size	Comparable to
August 9, 2025	2.0″	Hen egg
June 14, 2025	0.88″	Nickel
April 28, 2025	1.0″	Quarter
April 18, 2025	1.0″	Quarter
April 18, 2025	1.75″	Golf ball
April 18, 2025	1.0″	Quarter
May 20, 2024	1.5″	Ping-pong ball
May 20, 2024	1.25″	Half dollar

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

From the storm reports

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

June 14, 2025 · 0.88″ (nickel)

There was a brief period of pea to nickel size hail.

April 9, 2011 · 4.0″ (softball)

Large hail was estimated at 4 inches in diameter with one stone measured at 3.5 inches. The hail caused an unknown amount of damage to vehicles.

April 9, 2011 · 2.75″ (baseball)

Large hail caused an unknown amount of vehicle, siding, and roof damage.

Events by decade

1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
1	2	1	4	24	77	37	17

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 Cherokee County

Has it ever hailed in Cherokee County?

Yes — 163 hail events have been recorded for Cherokee County, IA in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1959, including 89 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Cherokee County?

The most recent recorded hail event for Cherokee County, IA is August 9, 2025, with 2.0″ (hen egg) 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 Cherokee County?

4.0″ (softball), recorded on April 9, 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 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.