States › South Dakota › Potter County › Hail
Hail in Potter County, South Dakota
134 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 134 hail events in Potter County, South Dakota, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 40 years.
August is the busiest month, with 49 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 62 events against 58 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 0.8% of the 17,011 hail events recorded in South Dakota; its 15.6 per 100 square miles compares with 22.4 statewide.
41 of the hail reports with a recorded size were golf-ball size (1.75 inches) or larger; the largest recorded stone was 3.00 inches (tea cup size).
Compared with South Dakota
| Measure | Potter County | South Dakota | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hail events since 1950 | 134 | 17,011 | 424,356 |
| Per 100 square miles | 15.6 | 22.4 | 12.0 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 541.4 | 190.0 | 12.8 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 0 | 29 |
| Busiest month | August | June | May |
By year
Seasonality
0Feb
0Mar
0Apr
4May
11Jun
26Jul
36Aug
49Sep
4Oct
4Nov
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 134 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Aug 2025 | Hail | 3.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Aug 2025 | Hail | 1.50 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 2025 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 2025 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 May 2024 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 May 2024 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Apr 2024 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jul 2023 | Hail | 1.25 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jul 2023 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jun 2022 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 May 2022 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 May 2022 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Apr 2022 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Aug 2021 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jun 2021 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jul 2020 | Hail | 1.25 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jun 2020 | Hail | 1.25 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Aug 2019 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Aug 2019 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Aug 2019 | Hail | 2.50 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Aug 2019 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jul 2019 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Sep 2018 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Aug 2018 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Aug 2017 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jul 2017 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jun 2017 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Aug 2016 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Aug 2016 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jul 2016 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jul 2016 | Hail | 1.25 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 2014 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 2014 | Hail | 2.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jun 2014 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 May 2012 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 May 2012 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Aug 2011 | Hail | 2.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Aug 2011 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Aug 2011 | Hail | 3.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Aug 2011 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Aug 2011 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jul 2011 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jul 2011 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jul 2011 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jul 2011 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jul 2011 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jul 2011 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jun 2011 | Hail | 2.50 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jul 2010 | Hail | 1.50 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jul 2009 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jul 2009 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jul 2009 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jul 2008 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jul 2008 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Oct 2007 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Aug 2007 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Aug 2007 | Hail | 1.50 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Aug 2007 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 2007 | Hail | 1.50 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 2007 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 2007 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Apr 2007 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Aug 2006 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Aug 2006 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Aug 2006 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Aug 2006 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Aug 2006 | Hail | 1.50 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Aug 2006 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Aug 2006 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Aug 2006 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Aug 2006 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Aug 2006 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jun 2006 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jun 2006 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jun 2006 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 May 2006 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Sep 2005 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Aug 2005 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Aug 2005 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Oct 2004 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Aug 2004 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Aug 2004 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Aug 2004 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 May 2004 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Aug 2003 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 2003 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Aug 2002 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Aug 2002 | Hail | 1.25 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Aug 2002 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Aug 2002 | Hail | 1.25 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jun 2002 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jul 2001 | Hail | 2.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jul 2001 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 May 2001 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 May 2001 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Aug 2000 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Aug 2000 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jun 2000 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jun 2000 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jun 2000 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jul 1999 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Aug 1997 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jul 1997 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jul 1997 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jul 1997 | Hail | 3.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jul 1997 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jun 1997 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Aug 1995 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 1995 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 1995 | Hail | 0.75 in | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 1995 | Hail | 2.75 in | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Aug 1993 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Aug 1993 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Aug 1993 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Sep 1992 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Sep 1992 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jun 1991 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jul 1989 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Aug 1987 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jul 1987 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Aug 1986 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Aug 1986 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Oct 1985 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Oct 1985 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jul 1985 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jul 1985 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Apr 1985 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 May 1980 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jul 1979 | Hail | 1.50 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jun 1979 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jun 1978 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jun 1974 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jul 1963 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jul 1960 | Hail | 2.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many hail events has Potter County had?
134 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 Potter County?
5 Aug 2025 (Hail, 1.50 in). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging hail event recorded in Potter County?
The hail of 21 Jun 1995, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $5K.
How does Potter County compare with South Dakota for hail?
15.6 events per 100 square miles against 22.4 statewide; the county holds 134 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.