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HailIndex

Wichita hail storm history

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

Wichita, located in Sedgwick County, experiences hail from severe thunderstorms at a rate of approximately 4.8 events per year. Over the past 10 years, the city has recorded 48 hail events of 1 inch or larger—the threshold for potential roof damage. Wichita's position in the central Great Plains, where the dryline creates collision between Gulf moisture and drier continental air, makes it a favorable location for hail-producing supercells.

Events ≥1" (10yr)
379
Significant ≥1.5"
124
Avg per year
37.9
Largest recorded
2.75"
Most recent
Nov 20, 2025
Total records
500
NOAA storm history
events (10 yr)275
≥1.5" significant86
peak year (62)2025

Hail in Wichita peaks during May and June, when late-afternoon thunderstorms are most common and atmospheric instability is highest. April and July also carry elevated hail risk. The largest recorded hailstone in the area measured 2.75 inches (baseball-sized) on September 4, 2025—a size capable of causing severe damage to roofing materials across all shingle types.

Annual frequency — last 10 years

2025
68
2024
38
2023
12
2022
45
2021
15
2020
24
2019
59
2018
49
2017
47
≥2.0" severe≥1.5" significant≥1.0" marginal

When hail hits — monthly pattern

Avg events per month · all years · NOAA data

Jan0
Feb0
Mar15
Apr76
May178
Jun139
Jul30
Aug28
Sep14
Oct18
Nov2
Dec0

All recorded hail events

Of 500 recorded events, 124 (25%) reached 1.5" or larger — the threshold for likely functional damage on standard asphalt shingles.

Nov 20, 20251"quarter

A spotter reported lots of dime to quarter-sized hail resulting in about one to two inches of hail a…

Many ping pong ball sized hailstones fell along with a couple of two-inch hailstones.

Sep 1, 20251"quarter

Delayed report with 70 mph wind gusts.

This report was received via mPing.

Mostly nickel size hail was reported, but there were a few quarter sized pieces.

The report was received via KWCH.

Jul 22, 20251"quarter
Jul 18, 20251.75"golf ball

Emergency manager reported quarter sized hail at Santa Fe Lake.

The report was via mPing.

Jul 6, 20250.75"penny

The report was from mPING.

Pictures from a Derby Fire Captain of ping pong ball sized hail were relayed.

Nickel sized hail was accompanied by 35 to 40 mph winds.

May 25, 20251"quarter

Pictures of tennis-ball sized hail sent in by the emergency manager.

Golf ball size hail was measured near 9th and Zoo Boulevard.

Apr 23, 20251.75"golf ball

Most of the hail fell with sizes of peas and dimes, but there were a couple of stones that measured …

Oct 22, 20241"quarter

A report of quarter-sized hail was relayed via broadcast media. The time is estimated by radar along…

A trained spotter reported quarter sized hail and a measured wind gust of 53 mph.

Time of report was estimated via radar.

Broadcast media (KWCH TV) reported half dollar sized hail. The time is based on radar.

May 20, 20241"quarter
May 15, 20241"quarter

Quarter sized hail and 50 mph winds reported.

Apr 27, 20241"quarter

Nickel sized hail was reported near Goddard.

Mar 7, 20240.75"penny

There was an accumulating hail report of penny sized hail covering the ground near Andale.

There was pea sized hail covering the ground. Some hail stones were quarter sized.

Quarter sized hail was reported covering the ground at 21st and 199th streets.

Apr 19, 20231"quarter
Apr 15, 20231"quarter

This was a spotter report relayed by emergency management.

Apr 14, 20231"quarter

The report relayed by the emergency manager.

The hail cracked a car windshield.

Jun 26, 20221"quarter

Pictures sent via social media of golf ball sized hail.

Reported from MPing.

The hail was dime to quarter size.

Jun 6, 20221.5"ping pong ball

Pictures were sent via Facebook of the hail.

A picture was sent via Facebook of the tennis ball sized hail.

May 15, 20221.5"ping pong ball

Most of the hail was quarter size, however, a few the size of a ping pong ball were reported.

The report was relayed via social media.

May 2, 20221.25"half dollar

The report came from Kwch Tv.

A report sent via Facebook of tennis ball sized hail near El Dorado Lake. Time is estimated from rad…

Apr 29, 20222"egg

A trained spotter reported most of the hail was pea to nickel size, but a few stones were around two…

Dime to nickel sized hail was estimated.

Nov 10, 20211"quarter

This was reported at the intersection of 21st and Tyler Rd.

Relayed via spotter network.

The report was relayed via mping.

Mar 17, 20210.75"penny

Lots of pea sized hail was also reported.

Mar 12, 20211"quarter

This report is courtesy KSN TV.

Aug 13, 20201"quarter

The public report was relayed via KSN TV. The report was based on a picture submitted via social me…

Aug 11, 20200.75"penny

Reported at Maple and Tyler Roads.

Aug 10, 20200.75"penny
Jul 9, 20200.75"penny

The report was relayed via Twitter.

May 13, 20200.75"penny

The report was relayed via social media.

May 7, 20201"quarter

Winds were also reported to gust to 50 mph.

An off duty firefighter reported half dollar sized hail.

Apr 17, 20200.75"penny

Relayed via social media.

The picture was relayed to the NWS by KAKE Television.

Mar 24, 20200.88"penny

The report was relayed to NWS via social media.

Aug 22, 20191.25"half dollar
Aug 18, 20191.75"golf ball

The hail was reported at El Dorado Lake.

Nickel to quarter size hail was reported in town.

Jun 22, 20191"quarter

The quarter-sized hail was reported along MacArthur Road.

Report from 29th and Webb.

Along highway 96 west of Colwich.

Jun 12, 20190.75"penny
Jun 5, 20191"quarter

Social media picture of quarter size hail in Goddard. Relayed via KWCH TV.

The sheriff's deputy reported quarter-sized hail in Whitewater.

The report was received via MPING.

A TV meteorologist reported the quarter-sized hail occurring in Walton. The hail appeared in a Twitt…

May 19, 20190.75"penny
May 8, 20191"quarter

The hail partially covered the ground.

The hail was mainly dime size or smaller but it ended up covering the ground. A few bigger stones we…

Report via Twitter.

Apr 17, 20191"quarter

Report was provided by KAKE Television.

Aug 17, 20181"quarter
Aug 16, 20181.75"golf ball
Jul 22, 20181.75"golf ball
Jul 21, 20181.75"golf ball
Jul 1, 20180.75"penny

Fifty mph winds were also reported. This report came in via social media.

The ping pong ball-sized hail was reported near Lake Afton. The time of the event was estimated from…

The quarter-sized hail was reported by the Potwin Fire department and was relayed by the Butler Coun…

Jun 25, 20180.88"penny

Windows were broken on several cars.

May 19, 20180.88"penny

Fifty to fifty five mph wind gusts were also reported with the hail.

Oct 21, 20171"quarter

Hail estimated at quarter-sized was observed at the K-96/East 13th Street interchange. The report wa…

Aug 22, 20170.75"penny

Fifty mph winds were also reported.

A trained spotter reported dime to golf ball sized hail shredding leaves from trees.

This was a delayed report of quarter to half dollar-sized hail. The time of the event is estimated f…

This report via social media.

This report is courtesy KFDI radio.

Jun 14, 20170.88"penny
May 20, 20170.75"penny
May 18, 20171"quarter
Apr 16, 20171"quarter

The report was received via KWCH Channel 12.

An off duty NWS employee reported dime to nickel size hail.

Seventy mph winds were also reported.

The hail lasted five minutes.

Sep 9, 20161"quarter

Hail ranged in size from pea to quarter size hail.

Jul 28, 20161"quarter

The hail was nickel to quarter-sized.

Jul 12, 20160.88"penny

The report was at Kellogg and Rock roads.

Jul 6, 20160.88"penny
Jul 3, 20161"quarter
Jun 30, 20161"quarter

The public reported, via Twitter, that quarter-sized hail occurred in town. The report was relayed b…

A picture was sent in by the public to KAKE TV .

Hail lasted for 2 minutes at 21st and 119th Street.

Report via Twitter of pea to dime sized hail at Kellogg and Dugan.

Report came in via Twitter.

Fifty mph winds were also reported.

Reported at the Greenwood cemetery.

Public report via Twitter.

May 10, 20161"quarter

Seventy percent of the ground is covered.

Reported by Kfdi radio.

The half dollar sized hail covered the ground.

The hail occurred near the S. Hydraulic/E. Lincoln Intersection.

A picture of the hail was sent on Face Book, but no damage was reported.

About this data

Sedgwick County's NOAA Storm Events Database contains 64 documented hail events of 1 inch or larger, including 24 significant events of 1.5 inches or greater. This robust record reflects the county's position in a hail-prone corridor and NOAA's consistent reporting coverage for the region. 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