Hail history for Cape Girardeau County, MO

Cape Girardeau County has 145 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 83 of them 1″ or larger and 5 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 2.5″ (tennis ball) on March 23, 2012.

Records 1950–present Data through April 2026 Peak month April

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 145 since 1957

1″ or larger 83 NWS severe threshold

2″ or larger 5 hen egg class and up

Largest recorded 2.5″ tennis ball · March 23, 2012

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 Cape Girardeau County

Recorded events by month, 1950–present. The amber bar marks Cape Girardeau County's peak: April.

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 145 recorded events · data through April 2026
Date	Size	Comparable to
November 18, 2025	0.75″	Penny
March 30, 2025	0.88″	Nickel
February 22, 2024	1.0″	Quarter
July 20, 2023	0.75″	Penny
July 17, 2023	0.88″	Nickel
July 17, 2023	1.0″	Quarter
April 8, 2020	1.0″	Quarter
April 8, 2020	1.0″	Quarter

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

From the storm reports

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

November 18, 2025 · 0.75″ (penny)

Penny size hail was measured as a storm tracked eastward through Cape Girardeau county, with the report submitted via mPING.

March 23, 2012 · 2.5″ (tennis ball)

Tennis ball size hail was reported.

April 15, 2011 · 2.5″ (tennis ball)

Ping-pong to tennis-ball size hail was reported across the city, including the downtown area. Vehicles were dented.

Events by decade

1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
1	1	8	17	26	46	37	9

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 Cape Girardeau County

Has it ever hailed in Cape Girardeau County?

Yes — 145 hail events have been recorded for Cape Girardeau County, MO in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1957, including 83 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Cape Girardeau County?

The most recent recorded hail event for Cape Girardeau County, MO is November 18, 2025, with 0.75″ (penny) 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 Cape Girardeau County?

2.5″ (tennis ball), recorded on March 23, 2012. 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 Missouri hail history

All 115 Missouri 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.