Topeka hail storm history
Shawnee County·NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database·~75-day publication lag
Topeka, located in Shawnee County, has experienced 4 hail events of 1 inch or larger over the past 10 years, with an average of 0.4 events annually. The city sits in the central Great Plains, where the dryline—the boundary between Gulf moisture and drier continental air—creates conditions favorable for hail-producing supercells.
Peak hail season in Topeka runs from May through June, when atmospheric instability is highest and large-hail supercells are most common. Secondary activity occurs in April and July. The most damaging storms typically develop in late afternoons when surface heating reaches its maximum, creating the steep temperature gradients necessary for severe hail production.
Annual frequency — last 10 years
When hail hits — monthly pattern
Avg events per month · all years · NOAA data
All recorded hail events
Of 296 recorded events, 80 (27%) reached 1.5" or larger — the threshold for likely functional damage on standard asphalt shingles.
Report from mping.
Half dollar size hail north of Dover.
Quarter size hail.
Quarter size hail. Time estimated from radar.
Quarter size hail near Eskridge.
Report from mping.
Tennis ball sized hail reported by the emergency manager.
Golf ball sized hail reported.
Emergency manager reported quarter sized hail.
Half dollar sized hail reported.
Quarter sized hail reported.
Picture on social media of tennis ball sized hail.
Quarter sized hail reported.
Quarter sized hail reported from mping.
Nickel sized hail reported.
Quarter sized hail reported.
Wind driven hail stripped leaves from trees, and 10 inch diameter walnut tree limb snapped.
Nickel sized hail.
Report from mping.
Nickel sized hail reported.
Quarter to half dollar sized hail reported.
Nickel sized hail reported.
EM reports quarter sized hail at 4104 Delaware Rd near Pomona.
Report of hail slightly less than 1 inch in diameter.
Quarter sized hail reported.
Relayed by emergency manager.
Quarter size hail reported.
From photo on social media.
Report of quarter size hail.
We received a report from mPING of quarter size hail.
Spotter reported hail accumulating on the ground.
Spotter reported hail as large as 3.5 inches in diameter.
Quarter size hail reported from mping.
Quarter size hail reported. Time estimated based on radar.
Quarter hail reported.
Reported at K-4 Highway and 62nd St.
Report via Mping.
Half dollar size hail stones.
Report from NWS Topeka at Billard Airport.
Report was received via WIBW 13 weather social media.
Hail up to nickel size was reported.
Quarter size hail reported.
Report received via social media with picture near 6th and Macvicar.
Quarter to golf ball size hail reported.
The report was delayed via social media.
Delayed report. Size was estimated from photo online. Time and location was estimated as well.
Time was estimated from radar.
Very heavy rainfall and winds near 55 mph were also reported.
Hail lasted for three minutes.
Mostly dime size hail with a few nickels reported.
Report from 46th and Button Road.
Mostly nickel size hail with a few quarters as well.
Reported at KSNT studios.
Penny size hail observed. Heavy rain was also occurring.
Via social media.
Time was estimated by radar.
Report via a picture on social media. Time estimated by radar.
Local Fire Department reported the hail.
Winds were also estimated to be 60 MPH.
Mostly dime size hail with a few nickel size stones.
Law enforcement estimated quarter size hail.
Half-dollar size hail reported by Emergency Manager.
Topeka's hail event count reflects the NOAA Storm Events Database reporting standard, which captures reports submitted by trained spotters and emergency management officials. A count of 4 events over 10 years represents documented reports meeting the 1-inch threshold; actual occurrence may vary based on reporting density in rural versus urban areas. Shawnee County overall shows 11 documented events of 1 inch or larger, providing broader county-level context. 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