Iowa City hail storm history
Johnson County·NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database·~75-day publication lag
Iowa City is located in Johnson County, eastern Iowa, where organized mesoscale convective systems and squall lines tracking northeast from the central Plains produce widespread hail during spring and early summer. This geographic position places Johnson County in a corridor where severe thunderstorms regularly develop and intensify before moving across the region.
Check if your roof was damaged by recent hail
Hail in Iowa City occurs most frequently during May and June, when atmospheric conditions favor organized storm development. April and July also see elevated hail activity. Derecho events—fast-moving, destructive thunderstorm complexes—are common in this corridor during summer months and can produce hail as part of their broader severe weather threat.
Annual frequency — last 10 years
When hail hits — monthly pattern
Avg events per month · all years · NOAA data
All recorded hail events
Of 150 recorded events, 30 (20%) reached 1.5" or larger — the threshold for likely functional damage on standard asphalt shingles.
Time estimated by radar.
Reported via Mping.
Spotter also reported 40 to 50 mph winds.
Public report of 1 inch hail east of Kalona.
Ping pong ball size hail fell for 10 minutes.
This public report was received through social media.
Report received from Mping.
Report from Mping.
Trained spotter reported that hail was occurring at the moment of the report.
A public report of hail increasing in size to 1 inch. Also reported that sheet metal and insulating …
Time estimated using radar.
Amateur radio operator relayed the report from the fire chief.
A HAM radio operator reported dime to quarter sized hail.
Received a public report of three quarter inch hail.
CBS2 Meteorologist storm chasing reported lots of quarter size hail and few half dollar size.
Penny size hail was reported.
Quarter to golf ball sized hail lasted 5 minutes.
The reported arrived from social media.
A public report was received of penny sized hail.
Received an amateur radio report of nickel sized hail six miles southwest of Washington on Highway 1…
A trained spotter reported hail up to the size of 1 inch in diameter.
The time of the event was estimated using radar.
Pictures of hail the size of quarters received via the KCRG Facebook page.
The county emergency manager reported pea to dime sized hail on the east side of Iowa City at 7th an…
A picture from the public of hail was received via Twitter. The time was estimated from radar.
A public report was received of quarter sized hail, also winds up to 55 MPH and heavy rain.
The public reported many hailstones the size of nickles with a few stones the size of quarters that …
A trained spotter reported quarter size hail.
A spotter reports 1.25 to 1.50 hail falling along Interstate 80.
Spotters reported nickel size hail. The time was estimated from radar data.
Trained spotters reported 5 to 6 minutes of dime size hail.
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information Storm Events Database. Publication lag is approximately 75 days — current-year events may be incomplete.
NOAA Storm Events Database ↗