Skip to content
HailIndex
Guides

South Bend hail storm history

St. Joseph County·NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database·~75-day publication lag

South Bend is located in St. Joseph County in northern Indiana, a region where Lake Michigan significantly influences storm development. The proximity to the Great Lakes combined with continental air masses produces conditions favorable for hail formation, particularly during spring and early summer months.

Events ≥1" (10yr)
72
Significant ≥1.5" (10yr)
20
Avg per year (10yr)
7.2
Largest recorded
2.75"
Most recent
Mar 30, 2025
Total records
116
NOAA storm history
events (10 yr)72
≥1.5" significant20
peak year (35)2023
Free inspection estimate

Check if your roof was damaged by recent hail

Type of damage

How urgent?

Hail in South Bend follows a distinct seasonal pattern, with April, May, and June representing the peak months for storm activity. March and July see secondary activity as lake-effect interactions and frontal systems transition into and out of the primary season. Both lake-enhanced convection and classic supercell storms contribute to hail risk during these periods.

Annual frequency — last 10 years

2025
2024
3
2023
35
2022
4
2021
3
2020
2019
18
2018
6
2017
3
2016
no events
≥2.0" severe≥1.5" significant≥1.0" marginal

When hail hits — monthly pattern

Avg events per month · all years · NOAA data

Jan0
Feb2
Mar17
Apr11
May18
Jun39
Jul22
Aug5
Sep2
Oct0
Nov0
Dec0

All recorded hail events

Of 116 recorded events, 20 (17%) reached 1.5" or larger — the threshold for likely functional damage on standard asphalt shingles.

Mar 30, 20250.75"penny

Report from mPING of 0.75 inch hail.

Picture of nickel size hail.

May 24, 20241"quarter
May 20, 20240.88"penny

ABC57 Mobile weather tracker reports hail ranging from pea to nickel sized.

May 7, 20241"quarter

Hail reported ranging from quarters to golf balls.

Jul 6, 20230.88"penny

Twitter photos show baseball size hail in Plymouth.

Jun 3, 20231"quarter

A photos shows quarter size hail mixed with pea to penny size hail.

Quarter size hail was reported.

Photo on twitter shows quarter sized hail.

Report from MPing.

Report of quarter size hail through social media.

Sep 14, 20210.75"penny

Penny sized hail.

Aug 7, 20211"quarter

Basement flooding also reported.

Reported from MPing.

Jun 20, 20211"quarter

Public report relayed by WNDU through Twitter.

Jun 10, 20200.88"penny
May 24, 20200.75"penny
Apr 8, 20200.75"penny
Sep 12, 20191"quarter
Jun 27, 20191"quarter
Jun 2, 20192"egg

Several spotters reported hail ranging from one to two inches in diameter.

May 19, 20191"quarter

The public posted a picture on Facebook of quarter size hail.

Reported one mile west of the intersection of US 6 and SR 15.

The public shared a picture of hail through social media.

Aug 3, 20170.75"penny

The hail lasted for 10 to 15 minutes.

Jun 19, 20170.75"penny

The public reported hail to the size of nickels fell for around 5 minutes.

May 24, 20170.75"penny

Local media reported dime size hail at Indiana University South Bend campus.

Data source

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 ↗