670
Recorded events
0
Direct deaths
0
Direct injuries
$15.2M
Property damage
Hail in Polk County, Iowa: 670 recorded events between 1956 and 2025. The strongest on record measured 3.25. That places the county #32 nationally and #1 statewide for this hazard.
Decade by decade
Hail in Polk County, Iowa: events per decade
Reporting practice changed over time — early decades are undercounted, not calmer.
The busiest decade for hail in Polk County is the 2000s, when 274 of the county's 670 recorded events were logged. Comparing decades is useful for spotting active periods, but the earliest years are thin because systematic reporting for this hazard began later.
Within the Polk County archive, hail makes up 31.1% of all recorded severe weather across 9 hazard types. Nationally the county sits at #32 for this hazard and #1 within Iowa, putting it in the 99.0 percentile of all U.S. counties.
Seasonality
Events by month
Jun is the peak month for hail in Polk County with 163 recorded events, while Jan is the quietest. Seasonality here is a property of the archive as much as the climate: reports cluster where population and spotter networks are densest.
Most recent
Latest recorded events
| Date | Location | Magnitude | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 19, 2025 | BONDURANT | 1 | $0 |
| May 19, 2025 | ORALABOR | 0.75 | $0 |
| May 19, 2025 | ALTOONA | 0.88 | $0 |
| May 19, 2025 | DES MOINES | 0.75 | $0 |
| May 19, 2025 | COMMERCE | 1 | $0 |
| May 19, 2025 | (DSM)DES MOINES INTL | 1 | $0 |
| Mar 14, 2025 | URBANDALE | 1 | $0 |
| Mar 14, 2025 | LOVINGTON | 0.75 | $0 |
| Mar 14, 2025 | WINDSOR HGTS | 1 | $0 |
| Jul 31, 2024 | CAPITOL HGTS | 1 | $0 |
Other hazards here
More from Polk County
- Thunderstorm Wind 729
- Heavy Rain 348
- Flood 150
- Flash Flood 118
- Tornado 68
- Lightning 42
From the record
What the reports say
Written by National Weather Service staff at the time of the event · public domain
The local media reported hail caused damage to the roofs of Hoover High School and Meredith Middle School, making some spaces unusable. Some classes had to be moved, and some ofthe classes were dismissed early on Friday for repairs to be made. Some of the classrooms were flooded as well.
A trained spotter reported hail up to quarter size along with strong wind gusts. Multiple branches of 6 to 8 inch diameter were downed. Minor hail damage to vehicles and standing water in low lying areas, caused by heavy rain.
Delayed report via social media of two inch diameter hail reported at Valley High School. Many cars with broken windshields. Hail damage to school resulted in water falling into the library with damage to books. Time estimated via radar.
Quick answers
Frequently asked
How many hail events are on record in Polk County, Iowa?
670 hail events are recorded in Polk County between 1956 and 2025, causing 0 direct deaths.
What is the strongest hail recorded in Polk County?
The strongest hail on record in Polk County measured 3.25.
Where does the hail data for Polk County come from?
All events come from the NOAA/NCEI Storm Events Database, the federal public-domain archive of severe weather reports. Dates are UTC, damage is as reported and not inflation-adjusted, and the most recent entries may still be revised.
Cite this page
“Hail in Polk County, Iowa.” Severe Weather History. severeweatherhistory.com/county/iowa/polk-county/hail/ · Data: NOAA/NCEI, FEMA, U.S. Census — public domain.