Hail history for Ida County, IA

Ida County has 130 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 79 of them 1″ or larger and 3 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 4.5″ (grapefruit) on June 17, 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 130 since 1956

1″ or larger 79 NWS severe threshold

2″ or larger 3 hen egg class and up

Largest recorded 4.5″ grapefruit · June 17, 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 Ida County

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

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 130 recorded events · data through April 2026
Date	Size	Comparable to
April 23, 2026	1.5″	Ping-pong ball
April 23, 2026	1.0″	Quarter
August 15, 2025	1.0″	Quarter
August 15, 2025	0.88″	Nickel
August 15, 2025	1.5″	Ping-pong ball
April 19, 2023	1.0″	Quarter
May 19, 2022	1.0″	Quarter
April 12, 2022	1.0″	Quarter

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

From the storm reports

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

August 15, 2025 · 1.5″ (ping-pong ball)

Intermittent hail was not quite the size of a golf ball at times.

August 30, 2021 · 1.75″ (golf ball)

Crops were badly damaged by large hail. Crop damage is an estimate from insured losses. Information provided by the United States Department of Agriculture.

August 30, 2021 · 1.75″ (golf ball)

Fields were shredded by large hail.

Events by decade

1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
1	1	1	1	13	58	33	22

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 Ida County

Has it ever hailed in Ida County?

Yes — 130 hail events have been recorded for Ida County, IA in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1956, including 79 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Ida County?

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

4.5″ (grapefruit), recorded on June 17, 1978. 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.