Hail history for Cottonwood County, MN

Cottonwood County has 144 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 89 of them 1″ or larger and 11 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 3.0″ (tea cup) on July 4, 1961.

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 144 since 1956

1″ or larger 89 NWS severe threshold

2″ or larger 11 hen egg class and up

Largest recorded 3.0″ tea cup · July 4, 1961

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 Cottonwood County

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

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 144 recorded events · data through April 2026
Date	Size	Comparable to
April 13, 2026	2.0″	Hen egg
April 13, 2026	2.0″	Hen egg
April 13, 2026	2.0″	Hen egg
April 13, 2026	1.25″	Half dollar
April 13, 2026	1.75″	Golf ball
April 13, 2026	1.25″	Half dollar
April 13, 2026	2.0″	Hen egg
April 13, 2026	1.5″	Ping-pong ball

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

From the storm reports

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

April 13, 2026 · 2.0″ (hen egg)

Photo provided with ruler for comparison.

May 17, 2013 · 2.0″ (hen egg)

Large hail damaged vehicles, siding, roofs, and cracked windows. Minor crop damage was also suspected. The amount of damage was not known.

Events by decade

1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
1	2	3	10	9	45	47	27

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 Cottonwood County

Has it ever hailed in Cottonwood County?

Yes — 144 hail events have been recorded for Cottonwood County, MN in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1956, including 89 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Cottonwood County?

The most recent recorded hail event for Cottonwood County, MN is April 13, 2026, with 2.0″ (hen egg) 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 Cottonwood County?

3.0″ (tea cup), recorded on July 4, 1961. 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 Minnesota hail history

All 87 Minnesota 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.