Hutchinson hail storm history
Reno County·NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database·~75-day publication lag
Hutchinson, located in Reno County, has experienced 19 significant hailstorms of 1 inch or larger over the past 10 years, with 13 of those events producing hail 1.5 inches or larger—the threshold at which functional roof damage becomes likely on standard asphalt shingles. The city's position in the central Great Plains places it directly in the path of the dryline, the boundary between Gulf moisture and drier continental air that produces some of North America's most prolific hail-generating supercells.
Hail risk in Hutchinson peaks sharply during May and June, when atmospheric instability reaches its maximum and late-afternoon conditions favor the development of severe supercells. Secondary activity occurs in April and July. The largest recorded hailstone in Reno County measured 2.75 inches in diameter on September 3, 2025—well above the severe damage threshold and capable of causing functional loss across 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 218 recorded events, 79 (36%) reached 1.5" or larger — the threshold for likely functional damage on standard asphalt shingles.
Wind gusts up to 60 mph were also reported.
KAKE relayed a viewer report of quarter-sized hail.
A trained spotter reported quarter sized hail covering the ground.
Report was sent via mPING.
The report of quarter sized hail was received from the public via social media.
Public report received via social media.
Nickel to quarter sized hail and wind gusts of 40 to 50 mph were reported in Inman.
Off duty NWS employee measured nickel sized hail in McPherson.
Penny to nickel sized hail reported by the public via social media in Kingman.
Penny sized hail was falling with torrential rainfall.
Quarter-sized hail reported by KWCH.
This was reported via social media.
The highway was reported as being completely covered with hail.
Ping pong ball sized hail and significant tree limbs were reported down.
Reported from Mping.
This was reported on the north side of Hutchinson along with 50 mph winds.
Report from mPing.
The hail was reported at McPherson High School.
Very heavy rain was also reported.
Report from Mping.
The hail occurred at the dispatch center.
KAKE meteorologist sent picture via Twitter with two inch sized hail. The time of report was estimat…
Report was relayed via Mping.
Lots of small hail was reported, with some larger stones mixed in. It was hailing so hard the spotte…
This was a delayed report.
Hail of quarter to golf ball size fell in Halstead, damaging car windows.
The hail ranged from tennis ball to baseball sized. No damage had been reported yet.
Only hail fell from this storm. No rain was reported.
Winds to 50 mph and hail up to nickel sized was reported.
A picture of ping pong ball-sized hail was submitted via Twitter.
The spotter also measured a 43-knot gust.
The report was received via social media.
The hail size ranged from quarters to ping pong balls.
The report was relayed via KWCH TV.
The hail ranged from golf ball to baseball-sized. No damage was reported, but one would have to beli…
Nickel sized hail was reported covering the ground.
Fifty mph winds were also reported.
Most of the hail was pea to dime-sized, but a few were quarter-sized.
The hail was ping pong to tennis ball-sized. No damage was reported.
The report was relayed via Twitter.
Report was via twitter.
On the north side of McPherson.
Forty to fifty mph winds were also reported.
The 19 events recorded represent NOAA Storm Events Database entries verified through official reports and trained spotter documentation. The actual frequency of smaller hail events below 1 inch is substantially higher but falls outside systematic NOAA tracking due to reporting limitations at the local level. Reno County's complete hail record in NOAA's database includes 31 documented events of 1 inch or larger dating back decades, providing confidence in the seasonal patterns and risk characterization. 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