Hail history for Shawnee County, KS

Shawnee County has 629 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 437 of them 1″ or larger and 53 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 5.25″ (grapefruit) on May 21, 2011.

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 629 since 1955

1″ or larger 437 NWS severe threshold

2″ or larger 53 hen egg class and up

Largest recorded 5.25″ grapefruit · May 21, 2011

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 Shawnee County

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

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 629 recorded events · data through April 2026
Date	Size	Comparable to
April 27, 2026	1.25″	Half dollar
April 27, 2026	1.0″	Quarter
April 27, 2026	1.0″	Quarter
April 27, 2026	1.0″	Quarter
April 27, 2026	1.0″	Quarter
April 27, 2026	1.0″	Quarter
April 27, 2026	1.5″	Ping-pong ball
April 27, 2026	1.75″	Golf ball

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

From the storm reports

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

April 27, 2026 · 1.0″ (quarter)

Time of report estimated by radar.

May 21, 2011 · 5.25″ (grapefruit)

Hail to the size of 5.25 inches was measured on the west side of Topeka.

May 21, 2011 · 2.75″ (baseball)

Baseball sized hail was reported at 29th Avenue and Meriden Road in Topeka.

Events by decade

1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
8	28	45	55	71	202	168	52

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 Shawnee County

Has it ever hailed in Shawnee County?

Yes — 629 hail events have been recorded for Shawnee County, KS in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1955, including 437 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Shawnee County?

The most recent recorded hail event for Shawnee 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 Shawnee County?

5.25″ (grapefruit), recorded on May 21, 2011. 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.