Jefferson City hail storm history
Cole County·NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database·~75-day publication lag
Cole County, which includes Jefferson City, has experienced 1 documented hail event of 1 inch or larger over the past 10 years. The largest recorded hailstone in the county measured 1.75 inches during a June 2025 storm that required Missouri State Highway Patrol and MODOT assistance to clear Highway 54. This frequency places Jefferson City in a moderate hail risk zone for central Missouri.
Hail in Jefferson City peaks during April, May, and June as organized storm systems track northeast from the Great Plains into the Missouri River corridor. Secondary risk occurs in March and July when atmospheric conditions occasionally support severe convection. The city's location in central Missouri makes it susceptible to spring and early summer storm systems that develop when warm, moist air collides with cold fronts moving through the region.
Annual frequency — last 10 years
When hail hits — monthly pattern
Avg events per month · all years · NOAA data
All recorded hail events
Of 64 recorded events, 22 (34%) reached 1.5" or larger — the threshold for likely functional damage on standard asphalt shingles.
Photos from social media showed several hail stones between half dollar and golf ball size hail. A…
Report of quarter size hail.
Hail to ping pong balls in size occurred in the city of Eldon. Minor roof and vehicle damage occurre…
Quarter sized hail was reported.
Up to 1 inch hail was reported in Bonnots Mill and Linn.
A right split intensified as it neared Jefferson City, producing up to 1.25 inch hail just west of t…
First responders in Rhineland reported quarter sized hail covering the ground as a thunderstorm spli…
Quarter sized hail was reported.
Hail up to quarters in size was reported.
Ping pong ball sized hail was reported.
Large hail up to 1.25 inches fell between Loose Creek and Linn.
A wide swath of large hail fell between St. Martins and Jefferson City. The largest hail stones were…
Quarter sized hail was reported covering a mile long stretch of Highway 63.
Nickle sized hail was reported.
Quarter size hail was reported.
Hail was covering the ground. Some of the hail stones were an inch in diameter.
A wide swath of large hail fell from 5 miles west of New Bloomfield to the southwest side of Fulton.…
Cole County's hail event record is based on NOAA Storm Events Database entries, which rely on trained spotters, emergency management reports, and public submissions. A low event count over 10 years does not indicate zero risk—it reflects reporting density and the random nature of storm paths. Insurance claims and local damage reports often document hail that does not appear in NOAA records. 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