HailHistory › Hail by county › Montana › Flathead County
Montana · county FIPS 30029
Hail history for Flathead County, MT
Flathead County has 100 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 65 of them 1″ or larger and 3 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 2.75″ (baseball) on July 2, 1996.
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.
When it hails in Flathead County
Recorded events by month, 1950–present. The amber bar marks Flathead County's peak: July.
Most recent recorded events
| Date | Size | Comparable to |
|---|---|---|
| 1.0″ | Quarter | |
| 1.0″ | Quarter | |
| 2.5″ | Tennis ball | |
| 1.0″ | Quarter | |
| 1.0″ | Quarter | |
| 1.75″ | Golf ball | |
| 1.5″ | Ping-pong ball | |
| 1.0″ | Quarter |
Looking for a specific storm? Use the did-it-hail date lookup for Flathead County.
From the storm reports
Narratives as filed with the NOAA Storm Events Database (public records; lightly trimmed for length).
· 1.0″ (quarter)
A trained spotter reported one inch diameter hail. A flight into Kalispell was diverted to Spokane due to the storm.
· 2.5″ (tennis ball)
There were multiple reports from Kalispell, MT of 1.75 to 2.5 hail which caused extensive body and windshield damage to vehicles. Additionally, multiple homes sustained damage, especially roofs that needed to be replaced. One homeowner spent $80,000 US dollars to replace their roof. A patio umbrella in Evergreen, MT was shredded. The property damage estimate could be underdone.
· 1.75″ (golf ball)
A photo was received via social media of a hailstone that appeared a little larger than a golf ball in Kila. Damage to cars, trailer and roof in Kila was also reported. Half dollar hail was reported in Kalispell and just south of Whitefish.
Events by decade
| 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | 5 | 11 | 20 | 23 | 31 | 6 |
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 Flathead County
Has it ever hailed in Flathead County?
Yes — 100 hail events have been recorded for Flathead County, MT in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1956, including 65 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.
When did it last hail in Flathead County?
The most recent recorded hail event for Flathead County, MT is May 11, 2025, 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 Flathead County?
2.75″ (baseball), recorded on July 2, 1996. 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 Montana hail history
- Yellowstone County 506
- Valley County 470
- Powder River County 373
- Rosebud County 333
- Garfield County 291
- Carter County 290
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.