Ames hail storm history
Story County·NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database·~75-day publication lag
Story County, home to Ames, has recorded only one documented hail event of 1 inch or larger in the past decade according to NOAA data. The largest hailstone on record in Ames measured 0.75 inches in diameter. Despite this relatively low historical frequency, Ames sits within central Iowa's active hail corridor, where atmospheric conditions regularly favor severe thunderstorm development.
Hail in the Ames area peaks during May and June, with secondary activity in April and July. These months align with the interaction of the dryline and Gulf moisture patterns that create favorable conditions for large-hail supercells across central Iowa. The Des Moines corridor, which includes the Ames region, ranks among the most active hail corridors in the state.
Annual frequency — last 10 years
When hail hits — monthly pattern
Avg events per month · all years · NOAA data
All recorded hail events
Of 217 recorded events, 59 (27%) reached 1.5" or larger — the threshold for likely functional damage on standard asphalt shingles.
Report via mping.
Mostly small hail with a few stones up to quarter sized.
Report relayed by broadcast media. Time estimated by radar.
Trained spotter report of 0.88 inch hail near Ames.
Reported from mping.
Delayed report, time estimated by radar.
Report of nickel to quarter sized hail.
MPING report of 1-inch hail. Time of occurrence estimated from radar.
Report via Raccoon Valley Radio. Time of occurrence estimated from radar.
Social media report between Cambridge and Nevada.
Dispatch relayed a report of quarter sized hail in Ogden reported by police.
Variety of hail with largest up to quarter sized.
Penny sized hail mixed with pea hail.
Nickel sized hail and winds estimated near 45 mph.
Image received via twitter.
Emergency manager relayed report of silver dollar sized hail.
Reported on social media.
Report via social media.
Received via email, time estimated by radar.
Report of corn stripped due to hail. Delayed report. Time estimated via radar.
Golf ball sized hail ongoing at time of report.
Report via social media from the interstate 35 rest area. Time estimated by radar.
Delayed report of two to three inch hail. Time estimated by radar.
Trained spotter reported nickel sized hail and sustained 30 mph winds.
Report via mping app.
A trained spotter relayed an image of roughly penny to nickel sized hail.
A trained spotter reported quarter sixed hail north of Boone.
A trained spotter reported quarter sized hail at the intersection of E18 and R38 northwest of Gilber…
Public reported penny sized hail, via the mPING app.
WHO TV relayed public report of quarter sized hail.
Trained spotter reported penny sized hail.
Public reported nickel sized hail.
Emergency manager reported ping pong ball sized hail.
Trained spotter reported quarter inch hail.
Public reported nickel sized hail.
Trained spotter reported 3 minutes of dime to quarter sized hail.
A retired NWS employee reported quarter sized hail. This is a delayed report.
Public reported quarter sized hail. This is a delayed report.
Public reported nickel sized hail. This is a delayed report.
Public reported quarter sized hail.
Trained spotter reported ping pong ball sized hail.
Public reported nickel sized hail.
Trained spotter reported quarter sized hail falling on the south side of Maxwell along with strong w…
Public relayed a picture of half dollar to ping pong ball sized hail on the north side of Ames. The …
Trained spotter reported up to about ping pong ball sized hail.
Public reported pea to nickel sized hail in Stratford.
Trained spotter reported brief pea to quarter sized hail between Nevada and Colo on Highway 30.
Emergency manager reported nickel to quarter sized hail along with estimated 40-45 mph wind gusts.
Coop observer reported quarter sized hail. This is a delayed report and time estimated from radar.
Storm chaser reported penny sized hail.
Coop observer reported up to ping pong ball sized hail covering the ground in west Jewell. Time est…
Public reported up to nickel sized hail.
Amateur radio operator reported penny sized hail.
Public reported ground covered with nickel sized hail.
Public reported up to quarter sized hail.
The low frequency of significant hail events in Ames reflects both local storm patterns and NOAA's reporting standards. Story County's single documented 1-inch-or-larger event over ten years suggests either that large hail is genuinely infrequent in this specific area, or that storm reports in less populated regions may be underreported. Current-year data is excluded from the annual frequency table until October, when NOAA's Storm Events Database has processed the full hail season accounting for the standard 75-day reporting lag.
NOAA Storm Events Database source