Hail history for Decatur County, KS

Decatur County has 357 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 225 of them 1″ or larger and 36 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 4.5″ (grapefruit) on May 25, 1965.

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 357 since 1958

1″ or larger 225 NWS severe threshold

2″ or larger 36 hen egg class and up

Largest recorded 4.5″ grapefruit · May 25, 1965

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 Decatur County

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

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 357 recorded events · data through April 2026
Date	Size	Comparable to
September 19, 2025	1.75″	Golf ball
September 14, 2025	0.88″	Nickel
June 30, 2025	1.25″	Half dollar
June 30, 2025	0.88″	Nickel
June 19, 2025	1.75″	Golf ball
June 19, 2025	0.88″	Nickel
June 19, 2025	1.0″	Quarter
June 19, 2025	1.0″	Quarter

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

From the storm reports

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

September 19, 2025 · 1.75″ (golf ball)

Most of the hail was nickel to half dollar size, only a few were golf ball. Lasted around 10 minutes.

September 21, 2023 · 2.75″ (baseball)

Report via social media of baseball sized hail.

June 7, 2022 · 2.75″ (baseball)

Hail ranging in size from half dollar to baseball in size damaged gutters and also broke numerous windshields and windows in homes around the city of Oberlin. There were also reports of large tree limbs down and damage to siding in the city.

Events by decade

1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
2	9	7	16	84	110	63	66

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 Decatur County

Has it ever hailed in Decatur County?

Yes — 357 hail events have been recorded for Decatur County, KS in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1958, including 225 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Decatur County?

The most recent recorded hail event for Decatur County, KS is September 19, 2025, with 1.75″ (golf 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 Decatur County?

4.5″ (grapefruit), recorded on May 25, 1965. 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.