Hail history for Henry County, IA

Henry County has 106 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 60 of them 1″ or larger and 7 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 4.0″ (softball) on April 21, 1973.

Records 1950–present Data through April 2026 Peak month April

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 106 since 1965

1″ or larger 60 NWS severe threshold

2″ or larger 7 hen egg class and up

Largest recorded 4.0″ softball · April 21, 1973

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 Henry County

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

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 106 recorded events · data through April 2026
Date	Size	Comparable to
March 31, 2026	1.75″	Golf ball
March 31, 2026	1.0″	Quarter
March 31, 2026	1.0″	Quarter
March 10, 2026	1.25″	Half dollar
March 10, 2026	1.0″	Quarter
April 16, 2024	0.88″	Nickel
March 4, 2024	1.75″	Golf ball
June 4, 2023	0.88″	Nickel

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

From the storm reports

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

March 31, 2026 · 1.0″ (quarter)

A trained spotter estimated hail sizes o f a quarter to ping pong ball-sized hail.

March 12, 2006 · 2.0″ (hen egg)

The supercell from Van Buren County moved into Henry County and continued into northwest Des Moines county and then into Louisa county and produced hail ranging from .88 inch (nickel) to 2.00 inches. Hail of 1.75 to 2.00 inches fell south of Mt Pleasant with confirmed hail of at least 1.25 inches in the city of Mt Pleasant.

March 12, 2006 · 2.0″ (hen egg)

Tennis ball sized hail was reported to be breaking windows on cars.

Events by decade

1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
0	2	4	1	9	36	36	18

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 Henry County

Has it ever hailed in Henry County?

Yes — 106 hail events have been recorded for Henry County, IA in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1965, including 60 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Henry County?

The most recent recorded hail event for Henry County, IA is March 31, 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 Henry County?

4.0″ (softball), recorded on April 21, 1973. 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.