States › South Dakota › Mellette County › Hail
Hail in Mellette County, South Dakota
164 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.
NCEI records 164 hail events in Mellette County, South Dakota, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 36 years.
August is the busiest month, with 51 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 82 events against 75 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 12.5 per 100 square miles compares with 22.4 statewide.
36 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 | Mellette County | South Dakota | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hail events since 1950 | 164 | 17,011 | 424,356 |
| Per 100 square miles | 12.5 | 22.4 | 12.0 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 859.5 | 190.0 | 12.8 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 0 | 29 |
| Busiest month | August | June | May |
By year
Seasonality
0Feb
0Mar
1Apr
0May
22Jun
46Jul
40Aug
51Sep
4Oct
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
All 164 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29 Jun 2026 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jun 2026 | Hail | 1.50 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jul 2025 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jul 2025 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jul 2024 | Hail | 1.50 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jul 2024 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Sep 2023 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Sep 2023 | Hail | 1.25 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jul 2023 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jul 2023 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jun 2023 | Hail | 1.25 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 May 2023 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jun 2022 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jun 2022 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jun 2022 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jun 2022 | Hail | 1.50 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Aug 2021 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Aug 2021 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jul 2021 | Hail | 1.25 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jul 2021 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jul 2021 | Hail | 1.50 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Aug 2020 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Aug 2020 | Hail | 2.50 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Aug 2020 | Hail | 4.50 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Aug 2020 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Aug 2020 | Hail | 1.50 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jul 2020 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jun 2020 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jun 2020 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jun 2020 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Sep 2019 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Aug 2019 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Aug 2019 | Hail | 2.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Aug 2019 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Aug 2019 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Aug 2019 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Aug 2019 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Aug 2019 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jun 2019 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jun 2019 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Aug 2018 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jul 2018 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jun 2018 | Hail | 1.25 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Aug 2017 | Hail | 1.25 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Aug 2017 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jul 2016 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jul 2013 | Hail | 2.50 in | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jul 2013 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 May 2012 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 May 2012 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 May 2012 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Sep 2011 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Aug 2011 | Hail | 2.75 in | $40K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Aug 2011 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Aug 2011 | Hail | 1.25 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Aug 2011 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Aug 2011 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jul 2011 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jun 2011 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 2010 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jun 2010 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jun 2010 | Hail | 1.50 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jun 2010 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Aug 2009 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Aug 2009 | Hail | 1.75 in | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 2009 | Hail | 2.75 in | $40K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 2009 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 2009 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 2009 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 2009 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 2009 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jun 2009 | Hail | 1.25 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 May 2009 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jul 2008 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jun 2008 | Hail | 1.25 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 2008 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 May 2008 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Aug 2007 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jun 2007 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jun 2007 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 May 2007 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 May 2007 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Aug 2006 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Aug 2006 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Aug 2006 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Aug 2006 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Aug 2006 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 2006 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jun 2006 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 May 2006 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 May 2006 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 May 2006 | Hail | 1.75 in | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jul 2005 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jul 2005 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 2005 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jun 2005 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 May 2005 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Aug 2004 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Aug 2004 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Aug 2004 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Aug 2004 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Aug 2004 | Hail | 1.25 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jul 2004 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 May 2004 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 2003 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jul 2003 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jun 2003 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jun 2003 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jun 2003 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 2003 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jun 2003 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 May 2003 | Hail | 2.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Aug 2002 | Hail | 1.25 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Aug 2002 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Aug 2002 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Aug 2002 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Aug 2002 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Aug 2002 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jun 2002 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jul 2001 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jul 2001 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jul 2001 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jul 2001 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 May 2001 | Hail | 1.25 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 May 2001 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Aug 2000 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Aug 2000 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Aug 2000 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jul 2000 | Hail | 2.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jul 2000 | Hail | 1.25 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jul 2000 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jul 2000 | Hail | 2.75 in | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jul 2000 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 May 2000 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Mar 2000 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Aug 1999 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jun 1999 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jun 1999 | Hail | 1.25 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jun 1998 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jun 1998 | Hail | 2.75 in | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 1998 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Aug 1997 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Aug 1997 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jul 1997 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jun 1997 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jun 1997 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jun 1997 | Hail | 2.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jun 1997 | Hail | 3.00 in | — | $25K | — | — | County |
| 1 Jun 1997 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jun 1997 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 May 1994 | Hail | 0.50 in | $5K | $50K | — | — | County |
| 15 Jun 1992 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 May 1992 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 May 1992 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 May 1992 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 May 1992 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jul 1987 | Hail | 2.50 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Aug 1986 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Aug 1982 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Aug 1982 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 1982 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jul 1978 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Aug 1973 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jun 1971 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many hail events has Mellette County had?
164 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 Mellette County?
29 Jun 2026 (Hail, 1.00 in). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging hail event recorded in Mellette County?
The hail of 3 May 1994, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $5K and crop damage at $50K.
How does Mellette County compare with South Dakota for hail?
12.5 events per 100 square miles against 22.4 statewide; the county holds 164 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.