States › South Dakota › Union County › Hail
Hail in Union County, South Dakota
160 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.
Union County, South Dakota, has 160 hail events in the NCEI record since 1950, with at least one in 41 different years.
May is the busiest month, with 48 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 55 events against 90 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 0.9% of the 17,011 hail events recorded in South Dakota; its 34.7 per 100 square miles compares with 22.4 statewide.
34 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 | Union County | South Dakota | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hail events since 1950 | 160 | 17,011 | 424,356 |
| Per 100 square miles | 34.7 | 22.4 | 12.0 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 94.8 | 190.0 | 12.8 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 0 | 29 |
| Busiest month | May | June | May |
By year
Seasonality
0Feb
0Mar
1Apr
21May
48Jun
37Jul
23Aug
18Sep
8Oct
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 160 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 | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 May 2026 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jun 2025 | Hail | 1.25 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jun 2025 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jun 2025 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jun 2025 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jun 2025 | Hail | 1.50 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Apr 2025 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jun 2024 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 May 2024 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Apr 2024 | Hail | 1.25 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jul 2023 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jun 2023 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 May 2023 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Apr 2023 | Hail | 1.25 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Apr 2023 | Hail | 1.50 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Apr 2023 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Mar 2023 | Hail | 1.25 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 May 2022 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | $2K | — | — | County |
| 20 Oct 2021 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Aug 2021 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | $6K | — | — | County |
| 30 Aug 2021 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jul 2021 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Oct 2020 | Hail | 1.50 in | — | $5K | — | — | County |
| 31 May 2019 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Aug 2017 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jun 2017 | Hail | 1.25 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jun 2017 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Apr 2016 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 May 2015 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Apr 2015 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Sep 2014 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 2014 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 2014 | Hail | 1.50 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 May 2014 | Hail | 1.25 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 May 2012 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 May 2012 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 May 2012 | Hail | 1.50 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jun 2011 | Hail | 1.50 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Oct 2010 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Sep 2010 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Sep 2010 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 2010 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Apr 2010 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jul 2009 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jun 2009 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | $100K | — | — | County |
| 17 Jul 2008 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jun 2008 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jun 2008 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 May 2008 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 May 2008 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Sep 2007 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Sep 2007 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 2007 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 2007 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jun 2006 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 May 2006 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 May 2006 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Apr 2006 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Sep 2005 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Aug 2005 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jul 2005 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jul 2005 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jul 2005 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jul 2005 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jul 2005 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jul 2005 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jul 2005 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jul 2005 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 2005 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jun 2005 | Hail | 1.75 in | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jun 2005 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jun 2005 | Hail | 1.75 in | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 May 2005 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 May 2005 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 May 2005 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 May 2005 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Aug 2004 | Hail | 1.25 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Aug 2004 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Aug 2004 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 May 2004 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 May 2004 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 May 2004 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 May 2004 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 May 2004 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 May 2004 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 May 2004 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 May 2004 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 May 2004 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 May 2004 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 May 2004 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 May 2004 | Hail | 1.50 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 May 2004 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 May 2004 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 May 2004 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 May 2004 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 May 2004 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 May 2004 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Apr 2004 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Apr 2004 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Apr 2004 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Apr 2004 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 May 2003 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Oct 2002 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Aug 2002 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Aug 2002 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jul 2002 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jul 2002 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jun 2002 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 May 2002 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 May 2002 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 May 2002 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 May 2002 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Aug 2001 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Aug 2001 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Aug 2001 | Hail | 1.25 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Aug 2001 | Hail | 1.25 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Aug 2001 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jun 2001 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jun 2001 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jun 2001 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Apr 2001 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Apr 2001 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Apr 2001 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Apr 2001 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Apr 2001 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Aug 2000 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jun 1999 | Hail | 2.75 in | $300K | $100K | — | — | County |
| 23 Jun 1998 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 May 1998 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 May 1998 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 May 1998 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 May 1998 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Apr 1998 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jul 1997 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jul 1996 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jul 1996 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jul 1996 | Hail | 1.75 in | $20K | $50K | — | — | County |
| 1 Jul 1996 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 1996 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jun 1994 | Hail | 2.75 in | $5K | $500K | — | — | County |
| 14 Aug 1993 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | $500 | — | — | County |
| 7 May 1993 | Hail | 3.00 in | $5.0M | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jul 1992 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jun 1992 | Hail | 2.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jul 1986 | Hail | 2.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jul 1986 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jun 1984 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Apr 1984 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Apr 1984 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Sep 1983 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jun 1983 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jun 1983 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Sep 1980 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Aug 1980 | Hail | 2.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 1979 | Hail | 2.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Aug 1976 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jun 1973 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jul 1962 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 May 1959 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many hail events has Union County had?
160 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 Union 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 Union County?
The hail of 7 May 1993, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $5.0M.
How does Union County compare with South Dakota for hail?
34.7 events per 100 square miles against 22.4 statewide; the county holds 160 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.