Des Moines hail storm history
Polk County·NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database·~75-day publication lag
Polk County has experienced 1 documented hail event of 1 inch or larger in the past decade, with the largest recorded hailstone measuring 0.75 inches. Des Moines sits in central Iowa where atmospheric conditions—particularly the interaction between the dryline and Gulf moisture—create favorable environments for hail-producing storms during late spring and early summer.
Hail risk in Des Moines peaks during May and June, with secondary activity in April and July. The Des Moines corridor ranks among Iowa's most active areas for hail-producing supercells during these months, though the frequency of damaging hail events remains relatively low compared to western and northern Iowa counties.
Annual frequency — last 10 years
When hail hits — monthly pattern
Avg events per month · all years · NOAA data
All recorded hail events
Of 351 recorded events, 89 (25%) reached 1.5" or larger — the threshold for likely functional damage on standard asphalt shingles.
Delayed report from mping.
Delayed report, time estimated by radar.
Report via social media.
Reported from mping.
Report via social media.
Report relayed via cocorahs.
No damage was reported.
Torrential rain, wind estimated at 45-50 mph with quarter sized hail.
Relayed via social media.
Hail up to ping pong ball sized and wind gusts estimated up to 40 mph.
Trained spotter reported quarter sized hail.
Report of 1 inch hail, along with estimated winds of 70 mph.
Photo of penny sized hail northeast of Winterset along Cumming Road.
Delayed report, time estimated by radar.
Ping pong hail briefly fell, followed by winds. Time of occurrence was estimated from radar.
Amateur radio operator relayed nickel sized hail.
Report with a photo of quarter sized hail in Pleasantville.
Report via mping.
Report via mping.
Pea to nickel size hail located one mile west of New Virginia.
Delayed report, time estimated via radar.
Public reported 1 inch hail, relayed from NWS Chat.
Image submitted via social media indicating ping pong ball sized hail outside of Colfax. Location es…
Dispatch relayed deputy report of nickel to quarter sized hail at 190th and V Ave.
Dime to quarter sized hail reported via social media.
Report via mping.
Delayed report via mping, time estimated by radar.
Relayed by knia radio.
Pea to quarter sized hail reported.
Penny and nickel sized hail with some up to quarter sized mixed in.
Delayed report of egg sized hail in West Des Moines. Time estimated by radar.
Nickel to quarter sized hail northeast side of Indianola. Report from social media, time estimated v…
Report via WOI TV of quarter sized hail.
A Mercy Hospital ambulance reported penny to nickel sized hail.
Law enforcement reported nickel sized hail.
Public report of 2.5 inch or greater hail stones in Pleasant Hill via Twitter.
Report from mping.
Hail sized ranged from three quarters of an inch to as large as ping pong ball sized.
Emergency manager reported quarter to ping pong ball sized hail.
Delayed report. Time estimated via radar.
Report via social media of half dollar sized hail. Time estimated via radar.
Public report of quarter sized hail.
A trained spotter reported quarter sized hail.
Trained spotter reported 50 mph winds and small twigs broken with nickle hail in the Beaverdale neig…
Trained spotter report of nickle sized hail.
Emergency management reported quarter sized hail.
Public report of ping pong ball sized hail.
Trained spotter reported half dollar sized hail.
Time and exact location estimated from radar.
Public reported penny sized hail via the mPING app.
Public reported penny sized hail, as well as sapling trees snapped.
Trained spotter reported penny sized hail at Urbandale High School.
Trained spotter relayed nickel sized hail near Van Meter.
Public reported nickel sized hail.
Public reported brief penny sized hail.
WHO relayed reports of 2 inch hail in the Norwoodville Neighborhood. Time estimated from radar.
Public reported quarter sized hail.
NWS employee reported nickel sized hail.
Amateur radio reported nickel sized hail.
This is a delayed report, trained spotter reported nickel sized hail.
Public reported quarter sized hail via the mPING application.
Trained spotter reported up to nickel sized hail. Report came via text message picture.
Amateur radio operator reported up to penny sized hail from about 4:56 am to 5 am.
Trained spotter relayed report of quarter sized hail. The report came via social media and the loca…
Public reported quarter sized hail. Time was estimated from radar.
Emergency manager reported nickel sized hail near Highway 5 and County Road R63. Report relayed fro…
Trained spotter reported mostly pea size hail, but a few larger stones up to nickel size were observ…
Public reported quarter sized hail.
Law enforcement reported golf ball sized hail from Colfax to west side of Newton.
Trained spotter reported quarter sized hail.
Trained spotter reported up to golf ball sized hail. The is a delayed report.
Trained spotter reported penny sized hail.
Emergency manager reported up to quarter sized hail.
Public reported penny sized hail and estimated 55 mph winds.
Trained spotter reported hail up to quarter-sized mixed in with smaller hail.
Public reported nickel sized hail along with winds estimated at 55 mph and small tree limbs down in …
Trained spotter reported quarter sized hail in Ankeny.
Polk County's low count of significant hail events reflects both genuine storm patterns and NOAA reporting limitations in urban areas where smaller hailstones may go undocumented. The largest hailstone on record (0.75 inches) falls below the 1-inch threshold typically required to cause functional roof damage. 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