Aberdeen hail storm history
Brown County·NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database·~75-day publication lag
Aberdeen, located in Brown County, experienced 13 hail events of 1 inch or larger over the past 10 years, with 10 of those classified as significant storms capable of structural damage. The largest recorded hailstone in Brown County measured 3.5 inches in diameter on July 28, 2025—a severe threshold where functional roof loss occurs on all common shingle types. This frequency reflects Aberdeen's position in eastern South Dakota, where atmospheric conditions favor hail formation during the late spring and summer months.
Hail storms in the Aberdeen area peak during June and July, with secondary activity in May and August. The seasonal timing reflects the interaction of Gulf moisture, elevated terrain to the west, and the low-level jet stream typical of this latitude—conditions that produce intense hail events later in the season compared to the Southern Plains. June and July storms in Brown County have produced baseball-sized and larger hail with documented vehicle and structural damage.
Annual frequency — last 10 years
When hail hits — monthly pattern
Avg events per month · all years · NOAA data
All recorded hail events
Of 141 recorded events, 44 (31%) reached 1.5" or larger — the threshold for likely functional damage on standard asphalt shingles.
Hail with a diameter of 3.5 inches was measured five miles north of Cresbard.
Quarter-size hail nearly covered the ground.
The report of severe hail came from mPING.
A hail swath determined by high resolution satellite imagery along with surface reports occurred fro…
The 13 recorded events ≥1 inch in Brown County over 10 years represent NOAA Storm Events Database reports, which depend on trained spotters, emergency management reports, and damage surveys. Smaller hail events or storms affecting rural areas may not be recorded in the official 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