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HailIndex

St. Joseph hail storm history

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

St. Joseph, located in Buchanan County in northwest Missouri, has recorded zero hailstorms of 1 inch or larger in the past 10 years according to NOAA data. The city sits on the western edge of the Midwest tornado and hail belt, where weather systems moving from the Great Plains can produce severe thunderstorms.

Events ≥1" (10yr)
69
Significant ≥1.5"
17
Avg per year
6.9
Largest recorded
2.75"
Most recent
Apr 2, 2025
Total records
81
NOAA storm history
events (10 yr)56
≥1.5" significant16
peak year (19)2019

Hail risk in St. Joseph peaks during April, May, and June, when large-scale weather patterns favor the development of severe thunderstorms across the region. Secondary risk periods occur in March and July. Storms often originate along the Kansas dryline before tracking into Missouri, with the potential to produce significant hail as they move northeastward.

Annual frequency — last 10 years

2025
2
2024
5
2023
7
2022
5
2021
5
2020
8
2019
21
2018
4
2017
5
≥2.0" severe≥1.5" significant≥1.0" marginal

When hail hits — monthly pattern

Avg events per month · all years · NOAA data

Jan0
Feb0
Mar7
Apr26
May30
Jun9
Jul0
Aug2
Sep3
Oct4
Nov0
Dec0

All recorded hail events

Of 81 recorded events, 17 (21%) reached 1.5" or larger — the threshold for likely functional damage on standard asphalt shingles.

Quarter sized hail reported in Fillmore.

Spotter reported quarter sized hail between 620-624 pm.

Aug 1, 20241"quarter

Video of chaser being hit by hail. Time and location estimated by radar.

Apr 27, 20241.75"golf ball

Golf ball size hail was reported north of Interstate 29 north of Oregon and southeast of Mound City.

Quarter sized hail was reported along Missouri Route 45 south of Lewis and Clark Village.

Quarter sized hail fell in northern Platte County.

Apr 4, 20231"quarter
Jun 8, 20222"egg

This report was received via social media.

Apr 30, 20221"quarter
Apr 24, 20221"quarter
Sep 17, 20211"quarter
Jun 21, 20210.75"penny
Jun 11, 20212"egg
Aug 20, 20191.25"half dollar
Jun 5, 20191"quarter

Reported via mPing.

May 14, 20191"quarter
Apr 18, 20191.25"half dollar
Apr 17, 20191.25"half dollar
Apr 14, 20181"quarter
Oct 21, 20170.88"penny
Jun 16, 20170.75"penny
May 10, 20170.75"penny
About this data

Buchanan County has lower reporting density in the NOAA Storm Events Database compared to more densely populated areas of Missouri, which means some smaller hailstorms may not be formally recorded in the 10-year history. This suggests actual hail exposure in St. Joseph may be higher than the official event count indicates. 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