South Bend hail storm history
St. Joseph County·NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database·~75-day publication lag
St. Joseph County has recorded no hail events of 1 inch or larger over the past 10 years according to NOAA data. South Bend's location in northern Indiana places it within a region where Lake Michigan's proximity influences atmospheric conditions, yet documented damaging hail remains absent from the official record.
Hail risk in South Bend peaks during April, May, and June, when lake-effect interactions with Lake Michigan and frontal systems moving through the region create conditions favorable for thunderstorm development. Secondary risk exists in March and July. The complex storm environment near the Great Lakes can produce organized convective systems, though significant hail events have not been officially recorded in recent years.
Annual frequency — last 10 years
When hail hits — monthly pattern
Avg events per month · all years · NOAA data
All recorded hail events
Of 116 recorded events, 20 (17%) reached 1.5" or larger — the threshold for likely functional damage on standard asphalt shingles.
Report from mPING of 0.75 inch hail.
Picture of nickel size hail.
ABC57 Mobile weather tracker reports hail ranging from pea to nickel sized.
Hail reported ranging from quarters to golf balls.
Twitter photos show baseball size hail in Plymouth.
A photos shows quarter size hail mixed with pea to penny size hail.
Quarter size hail was reported.
Photo on twitter shows quarter sized hail.
Report from MPing.
Report of quarter size hail through social media.
Penny sized hail.
Basement flooding also reported.
Reported from MPing.
Public report relayed by WNDU through Twitter.
Several spotters reported hail ranging from one to two inches in diameter.
The public posted a picture on Facebook of quarter size hail.
Reported one mile west of the intersection of US 6 and SR 15.
The public shared a picture of hail through social media.
The hail lasted for 10 to 15 minutes.
The public reported hail to the size of nickels fell for around 5 minutes.
Local media reported dime size hail at Indiana University South Bend campus.
St. Joseph County exhibits lower reporting density typical of northern Indiana counties, which may underestimate actual hail exposure compared to officially recorded events. The absence of documented 1-inch-or-larger hail does not eliminate hail risk during severe weather seasons. 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