Hail history for Mitchell County, IA

Mitchell County has 110 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 56 of them 1″ or larger and 11 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 3.0″ (tea cup) on June 27, 1990.

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 110 since 1965

1″ or larger 56 NWS severe threshold

2″ or larger 11 hen egg class and up

Largest recorded 3.0″ tea cup · June 27, 1990

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 Mitchell County

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

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 110 recorded events · data through April 2026
Date	Size	Comparable to
September 22, 2025	1.0″	Quarter
May 19, 2025	0.75″	Penny
July 13, 2023	0.75″	Penny
March 31, 2023	1.25″	Half dollar
March 31, 2023	1.0″	Quarter
July 10, 2022	1.0″	Quarter
May 9, 2022	1.5″	Ping-pong ball
May 9, 2022	1.75″	Golf ball

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

From the storm reports

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

September 22, 2025 · 1.0″ (quarter)

The public reported quarter sized hail 2 miles northwest of Saint Ansgar Airport. The reports were relayed from local media.

April 9, 2017 · 2.5″ (tennis ball)

Tennis ball sized hail was reported northeast of Stacyville.

October 4, 2006 · 2.75″ (baseball)

A 12 mile swath of hail damage was observed on both sides of Indigo Road and Highway 9 in Mitchell County. Corncobs were stipped off stalks and soybean fields were shredded. Hail drifts were still two feet deep at 9:15 a.m. from hail that fell at 3:55 a.m. In addition, numerous vehicles in the area were damaged along with structures that had windows broken out.

Events by decade

1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
0	1	2	7	26	41	24	9

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 Mitchell County

Has it ever hailed in Mitchell County?

Yes — 110 hail events have been recorded for Mitchell County, IA in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1965, including 56 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Mitchell County?

The most recent recorded hail event for Mitchell County, IA is September 22, 2025, with 1.0″ (quarter) 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 Mitchell County?

3.0″ (tea cup), recorded on June 27, 1990. 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.