Rapid City hail storm history
Pennington County·NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database·~75-day publication lag
Rapid City, located in Pennington County in western South Dakota, has experienced 30 hail events of at least 1 inch in diameter over the past 10 years, including 6 significant events capable of structural damage. The city's proximity to the Black Hills creates conditions that favor hail formation during the late spring and summer months.
Hail in Rapid City peaks during June and July, with secondary activity in May and August. Storms that develop over and east of the Black Hills benefit from orographic lifting combined with afternoon heating, which can intensify convection and produce large hail as systems mature and move across 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 500 recorded events, 184 (37%) reached 1.5" or larger — the threshold for likely functional damage on standard asphalt shingles.
Public submitted report.
Public submitted photo report.
Estimated hail size report.
Spotter estimated hail report.
Public phone call report.
Media slack post.
Largest hail about the size of a quarter. Most hail was smaller, pea to nickel.
Trained spotter confirmed hail report.
Public submitted report, estimated.
Hail damage to home.
Hail to over baseball size fell for 20 minutes.
A couple of reports of hail to golf ball size in this area.
Strong wind gusts over 50 mph tipped over a camper.
Several roofs were damaged and vehicle windshields were broken by tennis ball sized hail.
Large hail damaged cars and destroyed a garden.
Hail was mostly around quarter size.
Hail larger than golf balls was reported at Reptile Gardens.
The combination of hail and wind broke house windows.
Hail accumulated to two inches deep.
Hail to ping pong ball size lasted around 20 minutes.
Hail covered the ground.
Hail up to quarter size fell for most of 40 minutes.
Hail caused considerable damage at the Mount Rushmore KOA Campground.
Hail damaged home and vehicles.
Automobiles on Interstate 90 were damaged.
Hail up to quarter size covered the ground.
Time estimated from radar.
The ground was covered with hail.
Vehicle damage, including several broken windshields, was noted in the neighborhood.
Winds also gusted to 50 mph.
Rapid City's hail frequency is based on 10 years of NOAA Storm Events Database records for Pennington County. The largest recorded hail event in the county reached 2.5 inches on June 28, 2025, which exceeds the functional damage threshold for all common shingle types. 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