Hail history for St. Louis County, MN

St. Louis County has 523 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 323 of them 1″ or larger and 41 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 4.5″ (grapefruit) on August 3, 1989.

Records 1950–present Data through April 2026 Peak month July

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 523 since 1958

1″ or larger 323 NWS severe threshold

2″ or larger 41 hen egg class and up

Largest recorded 4.5″ grapefruit · August 3, 1989

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. Louis County

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

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 523 recorded events · data through April 2026
Date	Size	Comparable to
April 17, 2026	1.25″	Half dollar
April 17, 2026	1.0″	Quarter
April 12, 2026	1.0″	Quarter
September 16, 2025	0.88″	Nickel
September 16, 2025	1.5″	Ping-pong ball
September 8, 2025	0.75″	Penny
June 21, 2025	0.75″	Penny
June 20, 2025	1.0″	Quarter

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

From the storm reports

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

April 17, 2026 · 1.25″ (half dollar)

Hail was mostly pea size but a few stones one inch to one and a quarter inches were found about 45 minutes after the storm passed.

September 16, 2021 · 3.0″ (tea cup)

The large hail punched holes in canvas tents, dented multiple vehicles and completely stripped the leaves off of trees.

July 16, 2006 · 4.0″ (softball)

The large hail caused thousands of dollars in damage to vehicles. The hail put hundreds of large holes in the roof of the local building center and caused major damage at the local greenhouse.

Events by decade

1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
2	9	15	35	44	127	132	159

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. Louis County

Has it ever hailed in St. Louis County?

Yes — 523 hail events have been recorded for St. Louis County, MN in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1958, including 323 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in St. Louis County?

The most recent recorded hail event for St. Louis County, MN is April 17, 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 St. Louis County?

4.5″ (grapefruit), recorded on August 3, 1989. 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.