Minneapolis hail storm history
Hennepin County·NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database·~75-day publication lag
Minneapolis, located in Hennepin County, has experienced 7 hail events of 1 inch or larger over the past 10 years, with an average frequency of 0.7 events per year. The city's position in the Twin Cities metropolitan area, situated between two major river systems, creates environmental conditions that can support severe hail development during peak storm season.
Hail events in Minneapolis occur most frequently during June and July, when the jet stream retreats northward and Gulf moisture extends into Minnesota. The urban heat island effect of the Twin Cities metro can locally intensify convective storms, increasing the likelihood of hail formation during these peak months, with secondary activity in May and August.
Annual frequency — last 10 years
When hail hits — monthly pattern
Avg events per month · all years · NOAA data
All recorded hail events
Of 170 recorded events, 63 (37%) reached 1.5" or larger — the threshold for likely functional damage on standard asphalt shingles.
Quarter sized hail was observed just northeast of I-94 and Highway 101 near Rogers.
Reported by non-NWS meteorologist.
Most of the hail was pea size.
There was a social media picture of golf ball size hail.
Spotters reported one inch hail, but the size and severity of the hailstones decreased after 2345 LS…
A social media picture of mainly dime to nickel size hail was noted.
The hailstones caused major damage to cars, a camper and siding near 92nd Avenue, and Hampshire Aven…
There were multiple reports of large hail, some up to 2 inches in diameter, on the northeast side of…
Report and photo submitted via social media.
NOAA's Storm Events Database records hail events based on trained spotter reports and automated detection systems, which may result in undercounting of smaller hail events that occur in unpopulated areas or go unreported. Hennepin County's documented hail history reflects events meeting the 1-inch threshold; smaller hail events below this size are not consistently recorded in the national database. 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