Garden City hail storm history
Finney County·NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database·~75-day publication lag
Garden City sits in Finney County, which has recorded 5 hail events of 1 inch or larger over the past 10 years. The city's location on the western High Plains, combined with elevated terrain and strong atmospheric wind shear, creates conditions for isolated supercells that can produce large hailstones despite occurring less frequently than in eastern Kansas.
Hail in Garden City peaks during May and June, when atmospheric conditions are most favorable for supercell development across the High Plains. Secondary activity occurs in April and August. The strong updrafts in these isolated storms can produce very large stones—the largest documented hail in Finney County measured 2 inches in diameter on July 9, 2025, a size capable of severe damage to all shingle types.
Annual frequency — last 10 years
When hail hits — monthly pattern
Avg events per month · all years · NOAA data
All recorded hail events
Of 191 recorded events, 75 (39%) reached 1.5" or larger — the threshold for likely functional damage on standard asphalt shingles.
The Emergency Manager reported 1.75 inch hail.
One inch diameter hail was reported by the public.
Multiple 2 inch hailstones were documented in a photo sent in through social media.
Two inch diameter hail was reported by the Public.
Kearny county emergency manager reported 1 inch hail.
One inch hail was reported though MPING.
Law enforcement reported 1 inch hail in Garden City.
Social media report of penny to quarter size hail 2 miles southwest of downtown Garden City.
Quarter to half dollar size hail was reported.
Pea to penny size hail reported but mostly dime size hail fell.
Hail up to tennis ball sized.
There were numerous hail stones the size of golf balls.
The hail lasted 5 minutes.
Most of the hail stones were smaller.
There was 75 MPH wind with the hail.
As the dime size hail was falling, winds were estimated to be 60 to 70 MPH.
The hail was mostly dime sized with a few larger stones observed.
Most of the hail was smaller than quarter sized.
Windows were broken at this location.
Nickel to quarter sized hail covered the ground.
The hail was mostly nickel size with a few larger stones.
The hail was mostly pea sized.
Finney County's NOAA Storm Events Database includes 10 documented hail events of 1 inch or larger, with 4 classified as significant events of 1.5 inches or larger. Because Garden City is a smaller community, official hail reports depend on trained spotters and public submissions, meaning some smaller events may not be formally recorded. 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