Hail history for Palo Alto County, IA

Palo Alto County has 125 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 87 of them 1″ or larger and 13 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 3.0″ (tea cup) on June 24, 2023.

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 125 since 1959

1″ or larger 87 NWS severe threshold

2″ or larger 13 hen egg class and up

Largest recorded 3.0″ tea cup · June 24, 2023

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 Palo Alto County

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

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 125 recorded events · data through April 2026
Date	Size	Comparable to
April 28, 2025	0.88″	Nickel
April 28, 2025	1.0″	Quarter
May 20, 2024	0.88″	Nickel
May 20, 2024	1.75″	Golf ball
August 11, 2023	1.0″	Quarter
August 11, 2023	1.25″	Half dollar
June 24, 2023	1.75″	Golf ball
June 24, 2023	1.0″	Quarter

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

From the storm reports

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

April 28, 2025 · 1.0″ (quarter)

Mostly dime to nickel sized hail, but a few stones up to quarter sized.

June 24, 2023 · 3.0″ (tea cup)

Local media relayed report of measured 3 inch hail west of Cylinder. This is a delayed report and time and location estimated from radar.

August 28, 2018 · 3.0″ (tea cup)

Public reported up to around baseball or larger sized hail. Time estimated from radar.

Events by decade

1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
2	2	2	7	12	43	39	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 Palo Alto County

Has it ever hailed in Palo Alto County?

Yes — 125 hail events have been recorded for Palo Alto County, IA in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1959, including 87 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Palo Alto County?

The most recent recorded hail event for Palo Alto County, IA is April 28, 2025, with 0.88″ (nickel) 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 Palo Alto County?

3.0″ (tea cup), recorded on June 24, 2023. 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.