Hail history for Lake County, MI

Lake County has 21 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 13 of them 1″ or larger and 1 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 2.5″ (tennis ball) on September 7, 2021.

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 21 since 1961

1″ or larger 13 NWS severe threshold

2″ or larger 1 hen egg class and up

Largest recorded 2.5″ tennis ball · September 7, 2021

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 Lake County

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

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 21 recorded events · data through April 2026
Date	Size	Comparable to
March 31, 2026	1.0″	Quarter
March 30, 2026	1.0″	Quarter
April 18, 2025	1.5″	Ping-pong ball
September 7, 2021	2.5″	Tennis ball
April 10, 2011	1.0″	Quarter
July 16, 2008	1.0″	Quarter
June 8, 2003	0.75″	Penny
May 11, 2003	0.88″	Nickel

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

From the storm reports

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

April 18, 2025 · 1.5″ (ping-pong ball)

Hail on 1.5 inches in diameter was reported.

September 7, 2021 · 2.5″ (tennis ball)

Hail up to two and a half inches in diameter was reported.

March 30, 1998 · 1.75″ (golf ball)

A local television station in Cadillac, MI, relayed a spotter report of 1.75 inch diameter hail approximately 3 miles southwest of Baldwin, in Pleasant Plains Township.

Events by decade

1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
0	1	1	0	8	6	1	4

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 Lake County

Has it ever hailed in Lake County?

Yes — 21 hail events have been recorded for Lake County, MI in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1961, including 13 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Lake County?

The most recent recorded hail event for Lake County, MI is March 31, 2026, with 1.0″ (quarter) 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 Lake County?

2.5″ (tennis ball), recorded on September 7, 2021. Hail that size meets or exceeds the National Weather Service severe threshold. 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 Michigan hail history

All 83 Michigan 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.