HailHistoryHail by countyMichigan › St. Joseph County

Michigan · county FIPS 26149

Hail history for St. Joseph County, MI

St. Joseph County has 72 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 52 of them 1″ or larger and 5 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 4.0″ (softball) on May 7, 2024.

Records 1950–present Data through April 2026 Peak month June
Core sample · every recorded event, 1955–2026
1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s 2020s 1955 through 2026 largest · 4.0″ softball May 7, 2024

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 72 since 1966
1″ or larger 52 NWS severe threshold
2″ or larger 5 hen egg class and up
Largest recorded 4.0 softball · May 7, 2024
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 St. Joseph County

1 Jan Feb 13 Mar 6 Apr 14 May 23 Jun 4 Jul 5 Aug 5 Sep 1 Oct Nov Dec

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

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 72 recorded events · data through April 2026
DateSizeComparable to
1.5″ Ping-pong ball
1.75″ Golf ball
1.0″ Quarter
4.0″ Softball
2.5″ Tennis ball
1.75″ Golf ball
1.5″ Ping-pong ball
1.5″ Ping-pong ball

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

From the storm reports

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

· 1.0″ (quarter)

Photo received of hail up to a quarter in diameter. Photo taken on Marcellus Rd.

· 4.0″ (softball)

Photo on Twitter, X, of 4 inch hail.

· 2.5″ (tennis ball)

Pictures of tennis ball size hail.

Events by decade

1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020s
017210192310

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 St. Joseph County

Has it ever hailed in St. Joseph County?

Yes — 72 hail events have been recorded for St. Joseph County, MI in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1966, including 52 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in St. Joseph County?

The most recent recorded hail event for St. Joseph County, MI is March 6, 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 St. Joseph County?

4.0″ (softball), recorded on May 7, 2024. 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 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.