Hail history for Howard County, MO

Howard County has 103 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 52 of them 1″ or larger and 7 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 3.0″ (tea cup) on March 31, 2023.

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 103 since 1958

1″ or larger 52 NWS severe threshold

2″ or larger 7 hen egg class and up

Largest recorded 3.0″ tea cup · March 31, 2023

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 Howard County

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

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 103 recorded events · data through April 2026
Date	Size	Comparable to
April 4, 2023	2.0″	Hen egg
April 4, 2023	2.0″	Hen egg
March 31, 2023	3.0″	Tea cup
March 31, 2023	1.75″	Golf ball
June 8, 2022	2.0″	Hen egg
May 22, 2019	0.88″	Nickel
March 6, 2017	0.88″	Nickel
April 9, 2015	0.75″	Penny

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

From the storm reports

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

April 4, 2023 · 2.0″ (hen egg)

Hen egg sized hail was reported near New Franklin.

March 31, 2023 · 3.0″ (tea cup)

Three inch hail fell near Fayette. No damage was reported with this hail report.

April 13, 1993 · 2.5″ (tennis ball)

Tennis ball size hail broke several car windows and dented parked cars at a nearby lumber yard. The New Franklin Police Department and an area farmer reported 1.00-inch-diameter hail and smaller covering the ground as deep as 3 inches in and east of New Franklin.

Events by decade

1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
1	2	2	7	22	47	17	5

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 Howard County

Has it ever hailed in Howard County?

Yes — 103 hail events have been recorded for Howard County, MO in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1958, including 52 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Howard County?

The most recent recorded hail event for Howard County, MO is April 4, 2023, 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 Howard County?

3.0″ (tea cup), recorded on March 31, 2023. 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 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.