Hail history for Dakota County, NE

Dakota County has 99 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 65 of them 1″ or larger and 6 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 4.25″ (grapefruit) on June 29, 2017.

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 99 since 1960

1″ or larger 65 NWS severe threshold

2″ or larger 6 hen egg class and up

Largest recorded 4.25″ grapefruit · June 29, 2017

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 Dakota County

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

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 99 recorded events · data through April 2026
Date	Size	Comparable to
April 17, 2025	1.0″	Quarter
April 17, 2025	1.5″	Ping-pong ball
June 12, 2024	1.25″	Half dollar
June 12, 2024	1.0″	Quarter
June 21, 2020	1.0″	Quarter
June 21, 2020	1.0″	Quarter
June 29, 2017	4.25″	Grapefruit
June 29, 2017	1.25″	Half dollar

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

From the storm reports

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

June 21, 2020 · 1.0″ (quarter)

Hail was found and measured three hours after occurrence.

August 18, 2011 · 2.5″ (tennis ball)

Large hail caused widespread damage to corn and soybean crops. The hail accumulated up to 6 inches and drifted higher, requiring snow plows to remove the hail from roads. The hail also broke windows and dented vehicles. The amount of crop and property damage was not known.

Events by decade

1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
0	4	4	6	17	47	15	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 Dakota County

Has it ever hailed in Dakota County?

Yes — 99 hail events have been recorded for Dakota County, NE in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1960, including 65 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Dakota County?

The most recent recorded hail event for Dakota County, NE is April 17, 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 Dakota County?

4.25″ (grapefruit), recorded on June 29, 2017. 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 Nebraska hail history

All 93 Nebraska 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.