States › South Dakota › Clay County › Hail
Hail in Clay County, South Dakota
177 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.
Clay County, South Dakota, has 177 hail events in the NCEI record since 1950, with at least one in 47 different years.
May is the busiest month, with 57 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 81 events against 71 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 1% of the 17,011 hail events recorded in South Dakota; its 43.0 per 100 square miles compares with 22.4 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 South Dakota
| Measure | Clay County | South Dakota | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hail events since 1950 | 177 | 17,011 | 424,356 |
| Per 100 square miles | 43.0 | 22.4 | 12.0 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 116.8 | 190.0 | 12.8 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 0 | 29 |
| Busiest month | May | June | May |
By year
Seasonality
0Feb
0Mar
1Apr
12May
57Jun
51Jul
22Aug
16Sep
17Oct
1Nov
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
All 177 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 May 2026 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 May 2026 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 May 2026 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jun 2025 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jun 2025 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jun 2025 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Apr 2025 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 May 2024 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jul 2023 | Hail | 1.50 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jul 2023 | Hail | 1.50 in | — | $18K | — | — | County |
| 24 Jun 2023 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | $107K | — | — | County |
| 4 May 2023 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 May 2022 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 May 2022 | Hail | 1.50 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 May 2022 | Hail | 1.25 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 May 2022 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 May 2022 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 May 2022 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 May 2022 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | $6K | — | — | County |
| 8 Jul 2021 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | $85K | — | — | County |
| 11 Oct 2020 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jul 2020 | Hail | 1.25 in | — | $32K | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 2020 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 2020 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jul 2017 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jun 2017 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jun 2017 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Apr 2017 | Hail | 1.25 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Apr 2017 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Apr 2017 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Aug 2016 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Aug 2015 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jun 2015 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Sep 2014 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 2014 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 2014 | Hail | 1.25 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 2014 | Hail | 2.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 2014 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 2014 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 2014 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Aug 2013 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Aug 2013 | Hail | 1.25 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Apr 2012 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Aug 2011 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Apr 2011 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Sep 2010 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Sep 2010 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Sep 2010 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Sep 2010 | Hail | 1.50 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Sep 2010 | Hail | 3.00 in | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Sep 2010 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Sep 2010 | Hail | 1.25 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Sep 2010 | Hail | 2.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jun 2010 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jun 2010 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jul 2009 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jul 2009 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jul 2009 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jul 2009 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jul 2009 | Hail | 1.25 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 2009 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 2009 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 2009 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 2009 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 2009 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 2009 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Mar 2009 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jul 2008 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jun 2008 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jun 2008 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jun 2008 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jun 2008 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jun 2008 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 May 2008 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 May 2008 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 May 2008 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Sep 2007 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Sep 2007 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Sep 2007 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Aug 2007 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jul 2007 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jun 2006 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 May 2006 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 May 2006 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 May 2006 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Apr 2006 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Sep 2005 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Aug 2005 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jul 2005 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jul 2005 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 2005 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 2005 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 2005 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 2005 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 2005 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 2005 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jun 2005 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jun 2005 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jun 2005 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jun 2005 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 May 2005 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 May 2005 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 May 2005 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 May 2005 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 May 2005 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 May 2005 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 May 2005 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Apr 2005 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Sep 2004 | Hail | 1.50 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 May 2004 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 May 2004 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 May 2004 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 May 2004 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 May 2004 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 May 2004 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 May 2004 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 May 2004 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 May 2004 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 May 2004 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 May 2004 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 May 2004 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 May 2004 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 May 2004 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 May 2004 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 May 2004 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jun 2003 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jun 2003 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jun 2003 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 May 2003 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Aug 2002 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Aug 2002 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Aug 2002 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Aug 2002 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Aug 2002 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Aug 2002 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jul 2002 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 May 2002 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 May 2002 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 May 2002 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 May 2002 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Apr 2001 | Hail | 1.50 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jun 2000 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jun 2000 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jun 2000 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jun 2000 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 May 1999 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 May 1999 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jul 1992 | Hail | 1.50 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jul 1991 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 May 1990 | Hail | 1.25 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 May 1988 | Hail | 2.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 May 1987 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jul 1986 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Apr 1986 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 May 1985 | Hail | 1.50 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Apr 1984 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Sep 1983 | Hail | 2.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 1981 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jun 1981 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jun 1981 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jun 1981 | Hail | 4.50 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Sep 1980 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Aug 1980 | Hail | 2.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 May 1980 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 May 1980 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jun 1979 | Hail | 1.50 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jul 1978 | Hail | 1.50 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Aug 1976 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 May 1976 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Apr 1976 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jun 1973 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 May 1972 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 May 1970 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 1969 | Hail | 4.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 1968 | Hail | 1.25 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Aug 1966 | Hail | 1.25 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Sep 1957 | Hail | 2.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many hail events has Clay County had?
177 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 Clay County?
31 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 Clay County?
The hail of 22 Sep 2010, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $250K.
How does Clay County compare with South Dakota for hail?
43.0 events per 100 square miles against 22.4 statewide; the county holds 177 of the state's 17,011 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.