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HailIndex

Independence hail storm history

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

Independence, located in Jackson County, has recorded 2 documented hail events of 1 inch or larger over the past 10 years, representing an average of 0.2 events annually. The city sits on the western edge of the Midwest where Great Plains dryline storms and frontal systems regularly produce hail during spring months.

Events ≥1" (10yr)
115
Significant ≥1.5"
50
Avg per year
11.5
Largest recorded
4.25"
Most recent
Sep 16, 2025
Total records
135
NOAA storm history
events (10 yr)85
≥1.5" significant34
peak year (16)2019

Hail risk in Independence peaks from April through June, with secondary activity in March and July. Kansas City-area storms often originate on the Kansas dryline before tracking into Missouri, making spring the critical season for hail preparation and roof inspection.

Annual frequency — last 10 years

2025
15
2024
10
2023
15
2022
2
2021
12
2020
2
2019
16
2018
7
2017
19
≥2.0" severe≥1.5" significant≥1.0" marginal

When hail hits — monthly pattern

Avg events per month · all years · NOAA data

Jan0
Feb0
Mar22
Apr18
May36
Jun11
Jul15
Aug9
Sep15
Oct1
Nov7
Dec1

All recorded hail events

Of 135 recorded events, 50 (37%) reached 1.5" or larger — the threshold for likely functional damage on standard asphalt shingles.

Sep 16, 20251"quarter

Social media report of mostly pea to nickel size hail with a few stones up to quarter size between I…

Jul 11, 20251"quarter

Quarter sized hail reported near Lawson.

Ping pong ball sized hail NW of Liberty.

Quarter sized hail reported in western Independence.

Quarter sized hail was reported in Wood Heights.

May 21, 20241"quarter

At 1528 LST, quarter size hail was reported 1 west southwest of Camden, MO in Ray County.

Mar 14, 20241.25"half dollar

Mping report.

Ping pong ball sized hail near the intersection of Buckner Tarsney Rd and Truman Rd north of Grain V…

Mping report of ping pong ball sized hail south of Liberty.

Social media photo of a hail stone larger than 4 inches in diameter on the southeast side of Lexingt…

Jun 30, 20231"quarter

Quarter sized hail was reported on the south side of Kearney.

Apr 5, 20231"quarter

Quarter sized hail was reported in Kearney.

This report came in via social media.

Dec 16, 20210.75"penny

This report came from MPing.

Aug 13, 20211"quarter

Report from MPing.

Jul 1, 20201"quarter
Mar 27, 20201"quarter

Report received via social media.

Jul 10, 20191"quarter

This report was received via MPing.

Apr 30, 20191"quarter

This report was received via social media.

Apr 29, 20191"quarter
Apr 28, 20191"quarter
Apr 18, 20191"quarter

Quarter to golf ball sized hail fell just south of Kauffman Stadium.

May 28, 20180.75"penny
May 17, 20181"quarter
May 14, 20181"quarter
Oct 14, 20170.88"penny
Aug 18, 20171"quarter
May 19, 20170.75"penny

Trained spotter at the Lake City Ammo Plant reported golf ball sized hail.

This report came from I-70 and Woods Chapel Road in Blue Springs.

Report came from Missouri Highway 210 east of Missouri City.

This report was received via social media.

May 27, 20160.88"penny

This report was gathered via social media.

This hail was reported at the intersection of HWY 291 and HWY 152.

About this data

Jackson County's 10-year hail record includes only 2 documented events meeting the 1-inch threshold, which reflects both the genuine rarity of significant hail in this area and the reporting density limitations of NOAA's Storm Events Database for smaller counties. The largest recorded hail event in Jackson County was 1 inch on September 16, 2025—a marginal damage threshold where granule loss is probable on aging roof shingles but structural damage is unlikely. 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