Denver hail storm history
Denver County·NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database·~75-day publication lag
Denver County has recorded 23 hail events of 1 inch or larger over the past 10 years, with 11 of those classified as significant at 1.5 inches or greater. The city's position on the Front Range creates a corridor where afternoon convective storms tracking northeast from the Rocky Mountains regularly produce hail, making Denver one of Colorado's most frequently affected urban areas. The largest recorded hailstone in Denver measured 2.75 inches in diameter.
Hail risk in Denver peaks sharply between May and July, when the atmospheric conditions along the Front Range are most favorable for severe thunderstorm development. Secondary risk exists in April and August. Most significant hail events occur between 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Mountain Time, when afternoon heating destabilizes the atmosphere and triggers convective activity moving northeast from the mountains.
Annual frequency — last 10 years
When hail hits — monthly pattern
Avg events per month · all years · NOAA data
All recorded hail events
Of 127 recorded events, 36 (28%) reached 1.5" or larger — the threshold for likely functional damage on standard asphalt shingles.
The report was taken near 53rd avenue and Central Park boulevard.
Mping public report.
Heavy rain also accompanied the storm, 0.95 inch in 20 minutes.
Denver Tower reported that 3 inches of hail had accumulated on airport operating surfaces, which cau…
NOAA records 25 documented hail events for Denver County over the period analyzed, with event density sufficient to establish reliable seasonal and intensity patterns. Local damage reports and insurance claims data may capture additional events below the 1-inch reporting threshold that do not appear in the NOAA record.
NOAA Storm Events Database source