St. Paul hail storm history
Ramsey County·NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database·~75-day publication lag
St. Paul, located in Ramsey County, has recorded 14 documented hail events of 1 inch or larger over the past 10 years, with 5 of those events reaching 1.5 inches or greater—the size threshold for functional roof damage. The city's position in the Twin Cities metropolitan area and between major river systems creates favorable conditions for hail-producing thunderstorms during peak season.
Hail in St. Paul occurs most frequently in June and July, when the jet stream retreats northward and Gulf moisture extends into Minnesota. Secondary activity peaks in May and August. The urban heat island effect of the Twin Cities metro can locally intensify storm development, increasing the likelihood of severe hail in the immediate St. Paul area during these months.
Annual frequency — last 10 years
When hail hits — monthly pattern
Avg events per month · all years · NOAA data
All recorded hail events
Of 193 recorded events, 70 (36%) reached 1.5" or larger — the threshold for likely functional damage on standard asphalt shingles.
Report of half-inch to Ping Pong Ball sized hail for two minutes.
Report from Mping.
Report from Mping.
Relayed from Metro Skywarn.
Photo relayed through social media.
A social media picture of 2 inch diameter hail fell between Lake Elmo and Afton.
There was a social media picture of golf ball size hail.
A public report of quarter size hail relayed from a local TV Meteorologist.
This was the largest hailstone reported in Dakota County from this set of storms. Radar indicated th…
There were several reports of large hail stones, up to golf ball size based on social media pictures…
Report submitted via social media.
Another continuous swath of large hail, up to golf ball size, fell from Newport to near the intersec…
A swath of 0.75 inch hail occurred in the southern part of Washington County from Cottage Grove, eas…
Most of the hail that fell was pea to penny size.
Ping pong ball size hail occurred in Lauderdale, or several miles northeast of downtown Minneapolis.
Ramsey County's 14 documented events represent verified NOAA Storm Events Database records, which depend on trained spotters, emergency management reports, and public submissions. St. Paul's position within an active metro area generally ensures better reporting density than rural Minnesota counties, though some smaller hail events may go unreported. 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