Hail history for Hardin County, IA

Hardin County has 129 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 78 of them 1″ or larger and 7 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 3.0″ (tea cup) on August 9, 2009.

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 129 since 1971

1″ or larger 78 NWS severe threshold

2″ or larger 7 hen egg class and up

Largest recorded 3.0″ tea cup · August 9, 2009

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 Hardin County

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

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 129 recorded events · data through April 2026
Date	Size	Comparable to
April 23, 2025	0.75″	Penny
March 19, 2025	1.0″	Quarter
March 19, 2025	0.75″	Penny
May 21, 2024	1.0″	Quarter
May 19, 2024	0.75″	Penny
April 27, 2024	0.75″	Penny
July 28, 2023	1.75″	Golf ball
May 7, 2023	1.75″	Golf ball

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

From the storm reports

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

March 19, 2025 · 0.75″ (penny)

Pea to penny sized hail in Iowa Falls, reported from a trained spotter.

July 28, 2023 · 1.75″ (golf ball)

Report via social media, time estimated by radar.

August 9, 2009 · 3.0″ (tea cup)

Large hail brok windows out of a residence and caused considerable crop damage.

Events by decade

1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
0	0	8	5	9	73	24	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 Hardin County

Has it ever hailed in Hardin County?

Yes — 129 hail events have been recorded for Hardin County, IA in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1971, including 78 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Hardin County?

The most recent recorded hail event for Hardin County, IA is April 23, 2025, 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 Hardin County?

3.0″ (tea cup), recorded on August 9, 2009. 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.