Hail history for Butler County, KS

Butler County has 892 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 577 of them 1″ or larger and 60 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 6.0″ (grapefruit) on May 17, 1959.

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 892 since 1956

1″ or larger 577 NWS severe threshold

2″ or larger 60 hen egg class and up

Largest recorded 6.0″ grapefruit · May 17, 1959

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 Butler County

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

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 892 recorded events · data through April 2026
Date	Size	Comparable to
April 26, 2026	1.5″	Ping-pong ball
April 26, 2026	1.0″	Quarter
April 26, 2026	0.88″	Nickel
April 23, 2026	1.0″	Quarter
April 23, 2026	0.88″	Nickel
April 23, 2026	1.25″	Half dollar
April 23, 2026	1.25″	Half dollar
April 23, 2026	0.88″	Nickel

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

From the storm reports

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

April 23, 2026 · 1.0″ (quarter)

Report was relayed via emergency management.

March 30, 2016 · 3.0″ (tea cup)

A delayed report was received from KSN Channel 3 from a viewer showing a 3-inch diameter hailstone.

April 8, 2011 · 5.0″ (grapefruit)

Baseball to softball size hail pounded the city of Rose Hill. This hail damaged roofs, siding, cars and homes. The Rose Hill high school roof was a total loss at $700,000. Damage to city vehicles and buildings were estimated at $313,000. Nine out of 10 of the city police cars have been damaged and one car was totalled. Nearly every home in town had 50 to 100 percent roof damage.

Events by decade

1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
9	12	20	31	150	314	268	88

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 Butler County

Has it ever hailed in Butler County?

Yes — 892 hail events have been recorded for Butler County, KS in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1956, including 577 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Butler County?

The most recent recorded hail event for Butler County, KS is April 26, 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 Butler County?

6.0″ (grapefruit), recorded on May 17, 1959. 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 Kansas hail history

All 105 Kansas 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.