Hail history for Deer Lodge County, MT

Deer Lodge County has 21 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 14 of them 1″ or larger. The largest on record: 1.75″ (golf ball) on June 16, 2005.

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 21 since 1959

1″ or larger 14 NWS severe threshold

2″ or larger 0 hen egg class and up

Largest recorded 1.75″ golf ball · June 16, 2005

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 Deer Lodge County

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

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 21 recorded events · data through April 2026
Date	Size	Comparable to
July 27, 2023	1.0″	Quarter
May 6, 2017	1.25″	Half dollar
June 4, 2012	1.0″	Quarter
June 30, 2010	1.0″	Quarter
July 24, 2009	1.0″	Quarter
July 24, 2009	1.0″	Quarter
July 6, 2009	1.0″	Quarter
July 4, 2008	0.75″	Penny

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

From the storm reports

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

July 27, 2023 · 1.0″ (quarter)

There were two reports of quarter sized hail, one on the west side of Anaconda and another 2 miles north of Warm Springs as the storm moved northeastward.

May 6, 2017 · 1.25″ (half dollar)

A trained spotter in Georgetown Lake reported half-dollar size hail.

Events by decade

1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
1	0	0	0	6	10	3	1

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 Deer Lodge County

Has it ever hailed in Deer Lodge County?

Yes — 21 hail events have been recorded for Deer Lodge County, MT in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1959, including 14 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Deer Lodge County?

The most recent recorded hail event for Deer Lodge County, MT is July 27, 2023, 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 Deer Lodge County?

1.75″ (golf ball), recorded on June 16, 2005. 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 Montana hail history

All 56 Montana 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.