Hail history for Cowley County, KS

Cowley County has 718 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 460 of them 1″ or larger and 51 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 4.5″ (grapefruit) on June 13, 1998.

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 718 since 1955

1″ or larger 460 NWS severe threshold

2″ or larger 51 hen egg class and up

Largest recorded 4.5″ grapefruit · June 13, 1998

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 Cowley County

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

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 718 recorded events · data through April 2026
Date	Size	Comparable to
April 27, 2026	1.25″	Half dollar
April 27, 2026	1.5″	Ping-pong ball
April 27, 2026	1.0″	Quarter
April 27, 2026	1.5″	Ping-pong ball
April 27, 2026	1.25″	Half dollar
April 17, 2026	1.0″	Quarter
March 1, 2026	0.75″	Penny
July 11, 2025	1.0″	Quarter

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

From the storm reports

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

July 11, 2025 · 1.0″ (quarter)

A KAKE storm spotter reported a few quarter sized hail stones in south part of Arkansas City.

June 17, 2025 · 3.81″ (softball)

A picture of a measured 3.81 inch hailstone was sent in. Amateur radio reported baseball sized hail as well. There was damage to vehicles, homes and businesses across Arkansas City.

June 13, 1998 · 4.5″ (grapefruit)

Softball to grapefruit-sized hail smashed windows and inflicted roof and siding damage to at least 20 homes. Also, at least 20 cars sustained broken windows.

Events by decade

1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
4	9	21	36	129	272	192	55

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 Cowley County

Has it ever hailed in Cowley County?

Yes — 718 hail events have been recorded for Cowley County, KS in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1955, including 460 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Cowley County?

The most recent recorded hail event for Cowley County, KS is April 27, 2026, with 1.25″ (half dollar) 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 Cowley County?

4.5″ (grapefruit), recorded on June 13, 1998. 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.