Hail history for Dubuque County, IA

Dubuque County has 200 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 136 of them 1″ or larger and 15 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 4.5″ (grapefruit) on August 19, 1994.

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 200 since 1955

1″ or larger 136 NWS severe threshold

2″ or larger 15 hen egg class and up

Largest recorded 4.5″ grapefruit · August 19, 1994

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 Dubuque County

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

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 200 recorded events · data through April 2026
Date	Size	Comparable to
April 14, 2026	1.5″	Ping-pong ball
April 14, 2026	1.5″	Ping-pong ball
March 10, 2026	1.75″	Golf ball
March 10, 2026	1.0″	Quarter
March 10, 2026	2.0″	Hen egg
March 10, 2026	1.0″	Quarter
March 10, 2026	2.0″	Hen egg
March 10, 2026	1.25″	Half dollar

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

From the storm reports

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

April 14, 2026 · 1.5″ (ping-pong ball)

Report received from Mping.

April 3, 2011 · 3.5″ (softball)

Grapefruit sized hail fell 1 mile east northeast of Dubuque, IA at 830 pm CDT April 3 filling the streets with hail.

April 3, 2011 · 3.0″ (tea cup)

Hockey puck sized hail fell 1 mile northeast of Dubuque, IA at 829 pm CDT April 3.

Events by decade

1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
1	10	6	2	29	54	66	32

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 Dubuque County

Has it ever hailed in Dubuque County?

Yes — 200 hail events have been recorded for Dubuque County, IA in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1955, including 136 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Dubuque County?

The most recent recorded hail event for Dubuque County, IA is April 14, 2026, with 1.5″ (ping-pong 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 Dubuque County?

4.5″ (grapefruit), recorded on August 19, 1994. 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.