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HailIndex

Dodge City hail storm history

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

Dodge City in Ford County has experienced 16 hail events of 1 inch or larger over the past 10 years, with 8 of those classified as significant storms capable of structural damage. The city's location on the western High Plains exposes it to isolated supercell thunderstorms that can produce unusually large hail stones despite lower overall event frequency compared to eastern Kansas.

Events ≥1" (10yr)
275
Significant ≥1.5"
135
Avg per year
27.5
Largest recorded
5"
Most recent
Oct 6, 2025
Total records
312
NOAA storm history
events (10 yr)255
≥1.5" significant123
peak year (47)2017

Hail in Dodge City peaks during May and June, when elevated terrain and strong atmospheric shear create conditions favoring supercell development. Secondary activity occurs in April and August. The area's strong storm updrafts can produce very large stones—the largest recorded hail event in Ford County measured 4 inches on September 8, 2025, well above the threshold for severe functional damage to all shingle types.

Annual frequency — last 10 years

2025
26
2024
25
2023
19
2022
20
2021
20
2020
40
2019
33
2018
49
2017
56
≥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
Apr11
May127
Jun80
Jul43
Aug22
Sep12
Oct11
Nov5
Dec1

All recorded hail events

Of 312 recorded events, 135 (43%) reached 1.5" or larger — the threshold for likely functional damage on standard asphalt shingles.

Oct 6, 20251"quarter

A public report of 1 inch hail.

Sep 9, 20252"egg

A public report of 2 inch hail.

A public report of 3 inch hail. Another 1 inch hail report in the same place a couple minutes later.

A public report of 1 inch hail.

Aug 3, 20251.75"golf ball

A public report of 1.75 inch hail.

A photo of 1 inch diameter hail was received through social media.

Pictures of 1 inch were received through social media.

A report of nickel sized hail was recieved.

May 29, 20251"quarter

Report was from social media. Nickel to Quarter size hail in Offerle.

May 18, 20251"quarter

A report of 1 inch diameter hail was received from the Public.

May 1, 20250.88"penny

Emergency manager reported 0.88 inch sized hail.

Public report of 1 inch hail.

A public report of one inch hail.

Jul 17, 20241.75"golf ball
Jul 8, 20240.75"penny

Report from mPING: Dime (0.75 in.).

Jul 7, 20241"quarter

Report made via social media.

Jun 13, 20241"quarter
Jun 1, 20241"quarter

Skylights were broken. Window panes were broken and window frames dented.

Jul 20, 20231.25"half dollar
Jun 24, 20231"quarter
Dec 13, 20220.75"penny
Sep 2, 20220.88"penny
Jul 6, 20221.75"golf ball
May 18, 20221"quarter

Most of the stones were smaller than golf ball sized.

Apr 28, 20221.75"golf ball
Oct 27, 20211"quarter
Oct 13, 20211.25"half dollar
Sep 18, 20210.88"penny

There was severe roof and siding damage.

There was severe roof and siding damage.

Jul 4, 20211.75"golf ball
May 27, 20211"quarter
Nov 24, 20200.88"penny

Observed at the Dodge City airport.

Winds were gusting to at least 60 MPH as the hail fell.

Jun 11, 20201"quarter
Jun 5, 20200.88"penny
May 24, 20201"quarter

The hail was penny to quarter sized.

Aug 30, 20191.25"half dollar
Aug 20, 20190.88"penny

There were also 40 to 50 mph wind gusts observed as the hail fell.

Jun 15, 20191"quarter
Jun 4, 20191"quarter
Jun 1, 20190.75"penny

This occurred at the NWS office.

May 18, 20190.88"penny
May 7, 20191"quarter

Siding damage was indicated.

May 5, 20191"quarter
Jun 24, 20181.25"half dollar
Jun 12, 20182"egg

Multiple vehicles had windshields broke by the hail.

The hail was also accompanied by 60 MPH winds. All the west windows were broke out by the hail and …

The hail was nickel to golfball sized.

Aug 10, 20171"quarter
Jul 15, 20170.88"penny
Jun 30, 20170.88"penny

Damage was done to the home and to a vehicle.

Jun 15, 20170.88"penny

Holes were punched through the vinyl guttering from the hail.

May 11, 20171"quarter
Apr 20, 20171"quarter

The hail was mostly pea to dime sized with a few larger stones observed.

Apr 1, 20171"quarter
Jul 14, 20160.88"penny
Jul 8, 20161.75"golf ball
Jul 2, 20161"quarter
May 31, 20160.88"penny

There was a picture taken of this giant hail stone.

May 9, 20160.75"penny
About this data

Dodge City's hail record is based on NOAA Storm Events Database reports, which depend on trained spotters, emergency management officials, and public submissions. The western High Plains has lower spotter density than eastern Kansas, which may result in undercounting of smaller events. However, larger hail events (2+ inches) are generally well-documented due to widespread visible damage and media coverage. 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