Hail history for Valley County, MT

Valley County has 470 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 311 of them 1″ or larger and 41 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 4.5″ (grapefruit) on July 21, 1999.

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 470 since 1955

1″ or larger 311 NWS severe threshold

2″ or larger 41 hen egg class and up

Largest recorded 4.5″ grapefruit · July 21, 1999

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 Valley County

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

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 470 recorded events · data through April 2026
Date	Size	Comparable to
September 11, 2025	1.0″	Quarter
August 5, 2025	1.0″	Quarter
July 26, 2025	2.75″	Baseball
June 26, 2025	1.0″	Quarter
June 15, 2025	1.25″	Half dollar
June 15, 2025	1.0″	Quarter
August 23, 2024	1.0″	Quarter
August 23, 2024	1.0″	Quarter

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

From the storm reports

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

September 11, 2025 · 1.0″ (quarter)

Trained spotter in the town of Richland reported quarter size hail and heavy rain. Hail accumulated to a depth of 5 inches.

July 12, 2024 · 4.0″ (softball)

Public reported hail up to the size of softballs. Significant and widespread crop damage was caused.

May 25, 2013 · 3.0″ (tea cup)

Public reported tea cup-sized hail and over 1 inch of rain.

Events by decade

1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
9	9	2	1	79	174	162	34

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 Valley County

Has it ever hailed in Valley County?

Yes — 470 hail events have been recorded for Valley County, MT in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1955, including 311 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Valley County?

The most recent recorded hail event for Valley County, MT is September 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 Valley County?

4.5″ (grapefruit), recorded on July 21, 1999. 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.