Hail history for Prairie County, MT

Prairie County has 185 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 114 of them 1″ or larger and 12 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 4.5″ (grapefruit) on July 3, 1969.

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 185 since 1960

1″ or larger 114 NWS severe threshold

2″ or larger 12 hen egg class and up

Largest recorded 4.5″ grapefruit · July 3, 1969

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 Prairie County

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

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 185 recorded events · data through April 2026
Date	Size	Comparable to
August 21, 2025	1.0″	Quarter
July 25, 2025	1.75″	Golf ball
July 25, 2025	1.0″	Quarter
July 20, 2025	1.5″	Ping-pong ball
July 20, 2025	1.0″	Quarter
July 20, 2025	1.0″	Quarter
July 15, 2022	1.0″	Quarter
July 9, 2022	1.0″	Quarter

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

From the storm reports

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

August 21, 2025 · 1.0″ (quarter)

A trained spotter reported quarter size hail.

June 10, 2021 · 3.0″ (tea cup)

Trained spotter reported tea cup size hail, along with torrential rainfall.

June 10, 2021 · 2.75″ (baseball)

Public reported, via Facebook, hail up to the size of baseballs. Time is estimated.

Events by decade

1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
0	4	3	2	28	82	48	18

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 Prairie County

Has it ever hailed in Prairie County?

Yes — 185 hail events have been recorded for Prairie County, MT in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1960, including 114 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Prairie County?

The most recent recorded hail event for Prairie County, MT is August 21, 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 Prairie County?

4.5″ (grapefruit), recorded on July 3, 1969. 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

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.