Hail history for Dickinson County, IA

Dickinson County has 174 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 84 of them 1″ or larger and 5 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 2.5″ (tennis ball) on June 24, 1978.

Records 1950–present Data through April 2026 Peak month June

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 174 since 1960

1″ or larger 84 NWS severe threshold

2″ or larger 5 hen egg class and up

Largest recorded 2.5″ tennis ball · June 24, 1978

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 Dickinson County

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

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 174 recorded events · data through April 2026
Date	Size	Comparable to
April 13, 2026	0.75″	Penny
April 13, 2026	0.75″	Penny
June 11, 2025	0.75″	Penny
April 28, 2025	0.75″	Penny
April 28, 2025	0.75″	Penny
April 28, 2025	0.88″	Nickel
April 17, 2025	0.88″	Nickel
April 17, 2025	0.75″	Penny

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

From the storm reports

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

July 4, 2024 · 0.88″ (nickel)

A few sub-severe gusts of wind and heavy rainfall occurred along with hail up to nickel size.

June 4, 2020 · 1.75″ (golf ball)

Hail varied in size from quarters to golf balls. Crop damage is an estimate from insured losses. Information provided by the United States Department of Agriculture.

August 13, 2008 · 2.0″ (hen egg)

Large hail damaged roofs, siding, windows, and crops; and stripped leaves off some trees. The amount of crop and property damage was not known.

Events by decade

1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
0	6	3	7	13	74	40	31

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 Dickinson County

Has it ever hailed in Dickinson County?

Yes — 174 hail events have been recorded for Dickinson County, IA in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1960, including 84 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Dickinson County?

The most recent recorded hail event for Dickinson County, IA is April 13, 2026, 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 Dickinson County?

2.5″ (tennis ball), recorded on June 24, 1978. Hail that size meets or exceeds the National Weather Service severe threshold. 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.