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Hail in Lee County, Iowa
155 hail events in the NCEI Storm Events record, 1950 to 2026. Event types counted: Hail.
NCEI notes that Storm Data is compiled from a variety of sources including the National Weather Service, other federal, state and local agencies, the media and the public; that property and crop damage figures are estimates; and that some events are recorded by NWS forecast zone rather than by county. FEMA notes that NFIP claim records are redacted and aggregated to protect the privacy of policyholders. Storm records through 30 Jun 2026.
Lee County, Iowa, has 155 hail events in the NCEI record since 1950, with at least one in 43 different years.
April is the busiest month, with 44 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 84 events against 56 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 1% of the 15,950 hail events recorded in Iowa; its 29.9 per 100 square miles compares with 28.6 statewide.
30 of the hail reports with a recorded size were golf-ball size (1.75 inches) or larger; the largest recorded stone was 4.50 inches (grapefruit size).
Compared with Iowa
| Measure | Lee County | Iowa | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hail events since 1950 | 155 | 15,950 | 424,356 |
| Per 100 square miles | 29.9 | 28.6 | 12.0 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 46.7 | 50.0 | 12.8 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 4 | 29 |
| Busiest month | April | June | May |
By year
Seasonality
0Feb
3Mar
14Apr
44May
43Jun
27Jul
12Aug
4Sep
6Oct
1Nov
1Dec
0
Magnitude distribution
NWS hail-size descriptors
- under 1 in
- pea to quarter
- 1–1.74 in
- quarter to golf ball
- 1.75–2.74 in
- golf ball to baseball
- 2.75–3.99 in
- baseball to softball
- 4 in and larger
- softball and larger
Hail size in inches as recorded by NCEI; events without a size are not binned.
Recorded events
All 155 events, most recent first. Magnitude is hail size, tornado rating or wind speed as recorded.
| Date | Event type | Magnitude | Property damage | Crop damage | Deaths | Injuries | Geography |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 May 2026 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Mar 2026 | Hail | 1.50 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jul 2025 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jul 2024 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Apr 2024 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Apr 2024 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Mar 2024 | Hail | 1.50 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Mar 2024 | Hail | 1.50 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Mar 2024 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jun 2023 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 May 2023 | Hail | 1.25 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 May 2023 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 May 2023 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 May 2023 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 May 2023 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 May 2023 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 May 2023 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Sep 2022 | Hail | 1.50 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Sep 2022 | Hail | 2.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 May 2022 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jul 2021 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Apr 2020 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Apr 2020 | Hail | 4.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Apr 2020 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Sep 2019 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Sep 2019 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Sep 2019 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jul 2019 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jun 2019 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jun 2019 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 May 2019 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jul 2018 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jul 2018 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Aug 2017 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jun 2017 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Apr 2017 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Feb 2017 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Oct 2016 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Mar 2016 | Hail | 1.25 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Mar 2016 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Mar 2016 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Mar 2016 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Mar 2016 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Mar 2016 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Mar 2016 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 May 2015 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Apr 2015 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 May 2014 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 May 2014 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 May 2014 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 May 2014 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 May 2014 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Apr 2014 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Feb 2014 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 May 2013 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 May 2013 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 May 2013 | Hail | 2.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 May 2013 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Apr 2012 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Apr 2012 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jun 2011 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jun 2011 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Apr 2011 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jul 2010 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jul 2010 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 2010 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 2010 | Hail | 1.25 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 2010 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 2010 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jun 2010 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 May 2010 | Hail | 1.50 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 May 2010 | Hail | 1.25 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Apr 2010 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Apr 2010 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jun 2009 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jun 2009 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 May 2009 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Mar 2009 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Mar 2009 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jun 2008 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jun 2008 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Apr 2008 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jul 2007 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jun 2007 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jun 2006 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | $2K | — | — | County |
| 22 Jun 2006 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jun 2006 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Apr 2006 | Hail | 1.00 in | $4K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Apr 2006 | Hail | 1.00 in | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Apr 2006 | Hail | 1.25 in | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Apr 2006 | Hail | 1.00 in | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Apr 2006 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Apr 2006 | Hail | 1.00 in | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Mar 2006 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Nov 2005 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 May 2004 | Hail | 1.75 in | $4K | $4K | — | — | County |
| 30 May 2004 | Hail | 1.00 in | $4K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Sep 2003 | Hail | 1.25 in | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 2003 | Hail | 0.88 in | $15K | $5K | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 2003 | Hail | 1.00 in | $60K | $5K | — | — | County |
| 10 May 2003 | Hail | 2.00 in | $500K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 May 2003 | Hail | 2.50 in | $2.0M | — | — | — | County |
| 8 May 2003 | Hail | 1.75 in | $2.0M | — | — | — | County |
| 8 May 2003 | Hail | 1.25 in | $1.0M | — | — | — | County |
| 8 May 2003 | Hail | 1.75 in | $2.0M | — | — | — | County |
| 8 May 2003 | Hail | 1.75 in | $2.0M | — | — | — | County |
| 8 May 2003 | Hail | 2.00 in | $15M | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Apr 2003 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Apr 2003 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jun 2002 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Apr 2002 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Apr 2002 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jun 2000 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jun 2000 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Apr 2000 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Apr 2000 | Hail | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jun 1999 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Apr 1999 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 May 1998 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 May 1998 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 May 1998 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Apr 1998 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 May 1996 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Apr 1996 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Feb 1996 | Hail | 1.50 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 May 1995 | Hail | 0.75 in | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 May 1995 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 May 1995 | Hail | 0.88 in | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 May 1995 | Hail | 0.80 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Apr 1995 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Apr 1995 | Hail | 1.75 in | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Apr 1995 | Hail | 0.75 in | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Apr 1995 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Apr 1994 | Hail | 1.00 in | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Apr 1994 | Hail | 0.75 in | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Apr 1994 | Hail | 0.80 in | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 1992 | Hail | 4.50 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 1990 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Apr 1989 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 May 1987 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 May 1986 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jun 1980 | Hail | 2.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Aug 1976 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jun 1976 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 May 1975 | Hail | 1.50 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Apr 1974 | Hail | 1.50 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Apr 1974 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jul 1967 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Apr 1967 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Apr 1967 | Hail | 2.50 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Apr 1967 | Hail | 1.25 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Apr 1967 | Hail | 2.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Apr 1967 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Aug 1965 | Hail | 3.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Aug 1959 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many hail events has Lee County had?
155 events in the NCEI Storm Events record between 1950 and 2026. Reporting of hail became far more complete after 1996, so early decades undercount.
When was the last recorded hail event in Lee County?
4 May 2026 (Hail, 1.00 in). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging hail event recorded in Lee County?
The hail of 8 May 2003, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $15M.
How does Lee County compare with Iowa for hail?
29.9 events per 100 square miles against 28.6 statewide; the county holds 155 of the state's 15,950 recorded events.
Provenance
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, yearly details files through 30 Jun 2026, public domain. County-recorded events plus zone-recorded events whose forecast zone is named for the county (marked "Forecast zone"). Population and area from the US Census Bureau (2021). Built 1 Oct 2026. See the methodology, the Hail hub and the county page.