Hail history for Tama County, IA

Tama County has 109 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 81 of them 1″ or larger and 8 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 3.75″ (softball) on August 16, 1987.

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 109 since 1961

1″ or larger 81 NWS severe threshold

2″ or larger 8 hen egg class and up

Largest recorded 3.75″ softball · August 16, 1987

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 Tama County

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

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 109 recorded events · data through April 2026
Date	Size	Comparable to
April 23, 2025	1.5″	Ping-pong ball
July 15, 2024	1.0″	Quarter
July 15, 2024	1.0″	Quarter
July 15, 2024	2.0″	Hen egg
July 28, 2023	1.0″	Quarter
May 7, 2023	1.5″	Ping-pong ball
April 4, 2023	1.0″	Quarter
August 8, 2021	0.75″	Penny

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

From the storm reports

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

April 23, 2025 · 1.5″ (ping-pong ball)

Hail ranged from pea to ping pong ball sized. Report relayed by kwwl tv.

July 15, 2024 · 2.0″ (hen egg)

Relayed through broadcast media, with time of occurrence estimated by radar.

June 6, 2018 · 2.0″ (hen egg)

Broadcast media, KWWL, relayed a report of 2 inch hail from a viewer.

Events by decade

1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
0	4	5	7	13	41	28	11

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 Tama County

Has it ever hailed in Tama County?

Yes — 109 hail events have been recorded for Tama County, IA in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1961, including 81 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Tama County?

The most recent recorded hail event for Tama County, IA is April 23, 2025, 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 Tama County?

3.75″ (softball), recorded on August 16, 1987. 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.