Hail history for Lee County, IA

Lee County has 154 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 94 of them 1″ or larger and 11 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 4.5″ (grapefruit) on June 17, 1992.

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 154 since 1959

1″ or larger 94 NWS severe threshold

2″ or larger 11 hen egg class and up

Largest recorded 4.5″ grapefruit · June 17, 1992

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 Lee County

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

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 154 recorded events · data through April 2026
Date	Size	Comparable to
March 10, 2026	1.5″	Ping-pong ball
July 30, 2025	1.0″	Quarter
July 7, 2024	1.0″	Quarter
April 16, 2024	1.0″	Quarter
April 16, 2024	0.88″	Nickel
March 31, 2024	1.5″	Ping-pong ball
March 13, 2024	1.5″	Ping-pong ball
March 4, 2024	1.0″	Quarter

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

From the storm reports

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

April 16, 2024 · 0.88″ (nickel)

Time of the hail was estimated using radar.

April 8, 2020 · 4.0″ (softball)

Fire department reported softball sized hail.

May 19, 2013 · 2.75″ (baseball)

Spotter reported baseball size hail knocked out sky lights at the Walmart store in northeast Keokuk. Golfball to baseball size hail was reported on the north end of the city, with nickel to quarter size hail on the south end of the city.

Events by decade

1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
1	7	5	4	22	42	50	23

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 Lee County

Has it ever hailed in Lee County?

Yes — 154 hail events have been recorded for Lee County, IA in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1959, including 94 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Lee County?

The most recent recorded hail event for Lee County, IA is March 10, 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 Lee County?

4.5″ (grapefruit), recorded on June 17, 1992. 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.