Hail history for Pope County, MN

Pope County has 131 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 84 of them 1″ or larger and 7 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 2.75″ (baseball) on July 11, 2008.

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 131 since 1956

1″ or larger 84 NWS severe threshold

2″ or larger 7 hen egg class and up

Largest recorded 2.75″ baseball · July 11, 2008

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 Pope County

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

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 131 recorded events · data through April 2026
Date	Size	Comparable to
June 17, 2024	1.0″	Quarter
July 25, 2023	1.0″	Quarter
July 19, 2023	1.0″	Quarter
July 13, 2023	1.0″	Quarter
May 9, 2023	1.25″	Half dollar
May 30, 2022	1.75″	Golf ball
May 9, 2022	1.0″	Quarter
July 11, 2020	2.0″	Hen egg

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

From the storm reports

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

July 25, 2023 · 1.0″ (quarter)

A report of 1 inch hail was received via MPing.

May 30, 2008 · 1.75″ (golf ball)

Hail ranging from nickel size to golf ball size in Cyrus.

May 9, 2004 · 1.75″ (golf ball)

Nickel to golf ball sized hail was reported.

Events by decade

1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
1	2	3	9	20	44	40	12

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 Pope County

Has it ever hailed in Pope County?

Yes — 131 hail events have been recorded for Pope County, MN in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1956, including 84 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Pope County?

The most recent recorded hail event for Pope County, MN is June 17, 2024, 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 Pope County?

2.75″ (baseball), recorded on July 11, 2008. 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.