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HailIndex

Montrose hail storm history

Montrose County·NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database·~75-day publication lag

Montrose County has recorded no hailstorms of 1 inch or larger in the past 10 years. This absence of significant hail events reflects the area's geographic position in southwestern Colorado, where the San Juan Mountains and higher elevation terrain create different atmospheric conditions than those found on the Front Range.

Events ≥1" (10yr)
2
Significant ≥1.5"
0
Avg per year
0.2
Largest recorded
1"
Most recent
May 11, 2020
Total records
2
NOAA storm history
events (10 yr)2
≥1.5" significant0
peak year (1)2019

When hail does occur in the Montrose area, it follows a delayed seasonal pattern compared to lower-elevation Colorado regions. Peak hail activity occurs from June through August, with May as a secondary risk month. This 4- to 6-week delay from Front Range timing is driven by Montrose's mountain geography and the development of afternoon convective storms at higher elevations.

Annual frequency — last 10 years

2025
no events
2024
no events
2023
no events
2022
no events
2021
no events
2020
1
2019
1
2018
no events
2017
no events
≥2.0" severe≥1.5" significant≥1.0" marginal

When hail hits — monthly pattern

Avg events per month · all years · NOAA data

Jan0
Feb0
Mar0
Apr0
May1
Jun1
Jul0
Aug0
Sep0
Oct0
Nov0
Dec0

All recorded hail events

Of 2 recorded events, 0 (0%) reached 1.5" or larger — the threshold for likely functional damage on standard asphalt shingles.

May 11, 20201"quarter

A severe thunderstorm produced large hail estimated to be the size of quarters in Olathe.

Jun 22, 20191"quarter

A severe thunderstorm produced large hail that was estimated to be the size of quarters southwest of…

About this data

NOAA maintains limited reporting density for Montrose County relative to urban Colorado areas. The absence of recorded 1-inch-or-larger events over the past decade should be interpreted with awareness that smaller hail events and localized storms may not be fully captured in the national dataset.

NOAA Storm Events Database source