States › North Dakota › Ward County › Hail
Hail in Ward County, North Dakota
290 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.
Ward County, North Dakota, has 290 hail events in the NCEI record since 1950, with at least one in 50 different years.
July is the busiest month, with 97 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 154 events against 108 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 2.9% of the 10,026 hail events recorded in North Dakota; its 14.4 per 100 square miles compares with 14.5 statewide.
88 of the hail reports with a recorded size were golf-ball size (1.75 inches) or larger; the largest recorded stone was 2.75 inches (baseball size).
Compared with North Dakota
| Measure | Ward County | North Dakota | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hail events since 1950 | 290 | 10,026 | 424,356 |
| Per 100 square miles | 14.4 | 14.5 | 12.0 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 42.0 | 129.4 | 12.8 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 0 | 29 |
| Busiest month | July | July | May |
By year
Seasonality
0Feb
0Mar
0Apr
4May
38Jun
71Jul
97Aug
70Sep
10Oct
0Nov
0Dec
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
The 192 events kept for this page are the 120 most recent plus the 80 with the most damage, deaths or injuries out of 290. Magnitude is hail size, tornado rating or wind speed as recorded.
| Date | Event type | Magnitude | Property damage | Crop damage | Deaths | Injuries | Geography |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 Jul 2025 | Hail | 1.50 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Aug 2024 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Aug 2024 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Aug 2024 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jul 2024 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jul 2024 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | $50K | — | — | County |
| 30 Jul 2024 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 2024 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 2024 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jul 2024 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Aug 2023 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Aug 2023 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Aug 2023 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jun 2023 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jul 2022 | Hail | 1.25 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jun 2022 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jun 2022 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jun 2022 | Hail | 1.25 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Aug 2021 | Hail | 1.25 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jul 2021 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jun 2021 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Aug 2020 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Aug 2020 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Aug 2020 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jul 2020 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jul 2020 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jul 2020 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jul 2020 | Hail | 2.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jul 2020 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jun 2020 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jun 2020 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jun 2020 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jun 2020 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jun 2020 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jun 2020 | Hail | 1.25 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Sep 2019 | Hail | 1.50 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Sep 2019 | Hail | 2.75 in | $200K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Sep 2019 | Hail | 2.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Sep 2019 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Sep 2019 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Aug 2019 | Hail | 1.75 in | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Aug 2019 | Hail | 1.50 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Aug 2019 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Aug 2019 | Hail | 1.25 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Aug 2019 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Jul 2019 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Jul 2019 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jul 2018 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jun 2018 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jun 2018 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jun 2018 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jun 2018 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jun 2018 | Hail | 2.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jun 2018 | Hail | 1.50 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jun 2018 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jun 2018 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jul 2017 | Hail | 1.25 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jul 2017 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jul 2017 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Aug 2016 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Aug 2016 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jul 2016 | Hail | 2.75 in | $100K | $50K | — | — | County |
| 20 Jul 2016 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jul 2016 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jul 2016 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jun 2016 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jun 2016 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jun 2016 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 2015 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jun 2015 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jun 2015 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Sep 2014 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Aug 2014 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jun 2014 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jun 2014 | Hail | 1.25 in | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Aug 2013 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Aug 2013 | Hail | 1.50 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Aug 2013 | Hail | 2.50 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Aug 2013 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Aug 2013 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Aug 2013 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Aug 2013 | Hail | 1.75 in | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Aug 2013 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Aug 2012 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Aug 2012 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Aug 2012 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Aug 2012 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Aug 2012 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jul 2012 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jul 2012 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jun 2012 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jun 2012 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jun 2012 | Hail | 1.00 in | $4K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 May 2012 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 May 2012 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jul 2011 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jul 2011 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jul 2011 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jul 2011 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jul 2011 | Hail | 2.50 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jul 2011 | Hail | 2.50 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jun 2011 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 May 2011 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 May 2011 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Aug 2010 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Aug 2010 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Aug 2010 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jul 2010 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jul 2010 | Hail | 2.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jul 2010 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jul 2010 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jul 2010 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 2010 | Hail | 1.75 in | $35K | $250K | — | — | County |
| 3 Jul 2010 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jul 2010 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 May 2010 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 May 2010 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 May 2010 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 May 2010 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 May 2010 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jun 2000 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jun 2000 | Hail | 2.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jun 2000 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jun 2000 | Hail | 2.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jun 2000 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Aug 1999 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 1999 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 1999 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 1999 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 1999 | Hail | 2.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 1999 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 1999 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 1999 | Hail | 2.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 1999 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jul 1998 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jul 1998 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jul 1998 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jul 1998 | Hail | 2.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jul 1998 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jul 1998 | Hail | 2.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jul 1998 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 1998 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 May 1998 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 May 1998 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jul 1997 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jul 1997 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jul 1997 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jun 1997 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Sep 1996 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jun 1996 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Aug 1995 | Hail | 1.50 in | $40M | $10M | — | 3 | County |
| 18 Jul 1994 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 May 1994 | Hail | 0.75 in | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 May 1994 | Hail | 0.75 in | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jul 1992 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 1992 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 1992 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 May 1991 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 May 1991 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jul 1990 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jul 1990 | Hail | 2.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jul 1990 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jul 1990 | Hail | 2.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jul 1990 | Hail | 2.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 May 1985 | Hail | 1.50 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 May 1985 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 May 1985 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Aug 1983 | Hail | 1.50 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Aug 1983 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Aug 1983 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 1983 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Aug 1982 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jul 1982 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Apr 1982 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jul 1981 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jul 1981 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Aug 1980 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 1980 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jun 1980 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Aug 1979 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 May 1979 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jun 1978 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Aug 1974 | Hail | 2.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jun 1974 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Aug 1973 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jun 1972 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 May 1972 | Hail | 2.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jul 1968 | Hail | 2.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jun 1965 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jul 1964 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Aug 1963 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 May 1957 | Hail | 2.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many hail events has Ward County had?
290 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 Ward County?
26 Jul 2025 (Hail, 1.50 in). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging hail event recorded in Ward County?
The hail of 18 Aug 1995, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $40M and crop damage at $10M.
How does Ward County compare with North Dakota for hail?
14.4 events per 100 square miles against 14.5 statewide; the county holds 290 of the state's 10,026 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.