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Garden City hail storm history

Finney County·NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database·~75-day publication lag

Garden City is located in Finney County on the western High Plains, where elevated terrain and strong atmospheric wind shear create conditions favorable for isolated supercell thunderstorms. This geographic position places the city in a corridor where hail events occur regularly but produce different characteristics than those documented in eastern Kansas.

Events ≥1" (10yr)
162
Significant ≥1.5" (10yr)
75
Avg per year (10yr)
16.2
Largest recorded
3.5"
Most recent
Aug 4, 2025
Total records
191
NOAA storm history
events (10 yr)162
≥1.5" significant75
peak year (33)2017
Free inspection estimate

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Hail activity in Garden City peaks during May and June, when atmospheric instability combines with wind shear to support supercell development. Secondary activity occurs in April and August. The strong updrafts associated with these western High Plains supercells can produce unusually large hail stones relative to event frequency, creating concentrated damage risk during the late spring and early summer months.

Annual frequency — last 10 years

2025
10
2024
18
2023
10
2022
4
2021
17
2020
12
2019
15
2018
28
2017
33
2016
15
≥2.0" severe≥1.5" significant≥1.0" marginal

When hail hits — monthly pattern

Avg events per month · all years · NOAA data

Jan0
Feb2
Mar3
Apr9
May61
Jun42
Jul34
Aug21
Sep11
Oct8
Nov0
Dec0

All recorded hail events

Of 191 recorded events, 75 (39%) reached 1.5" or larger — the threshold for likely functional damage on standard asphalt shingles.

Aug 4, 20251.75"golf ball

The Emergency Manager reported 1.75 inch hail.

Jul 10, 20251"quarter

One inch diameter hail was reported by the public.

Jul 9, 20252"egg

Multiple 2 inch hailstones were documented in a photo sent in through social media.

Two inch diameter hail was reported by the Public.

May 28, 20251"quarter

Kearny county emergency manager reported 1 inch hail.

May 18, 20251"quarter

One inch hail was reported though MPING.

Law enforcement reported 1 inch hail in Garden City.

Apr 23, 20251"quarter

Social media report of penny to quarter size hail 2 miles southwest of downtown Garden City.

Jun 18, 20241"quarter
May 29, 20241.25"half dollar

Quarter to half dollar size hail was reported.

May 19, 20240.75"penny

Pea to penny size hail reported but mostly dime size hail fell.

May 4, 20241"quarter
Jul 20, 20232.5"tennis ball
May 14, 20220.88"penny

Hail up to tennis ball sized.

Jul 4, 20211.5"ping pong ball

There were numerous hail stones the size of golf balls.

May 24, 20211.75"golf ball
May 16, 20211.75"golf ball
May 15, 20211"quarter
Jul 1, 20201.5"ping pong ball
Jun 28, 20200.75"penny
Jun 25, 20200.75"penny

The hail lasted 5 minutes.

Jun 4, 20201"quarter
May 25, 20201.25"half dollar
Aug 31, 20190.75"penny

Most of the hail stones were smaller.

Jun 1, 20190.88"penny
May 18, 20191"quarter
May 7, 20191"quarter
Jul 26, 20180.75"penny

There was 75 MPH wind with the hail.

Jun 30, 20181"quarter
Jun 24, 20181"quarter
Jun 23, 20181"quarter
Jun 20, 20180.75"penny

As the dime size hail was falling, winds were estimated to be 60 to 70 MPH.

The hail was mostly dime sized with a few larger stones observed.

Most of the hail was smaller than quarter sized.

Sep 2, 20171"quarter
Aug 27, 20171.5"ping pong ball
Jul 15, 20170.88"penny

Windows were broken at this location.

Jun 17, 20170.88"penny
Mar 23, 20171"quarter

Nickel to quarter sized hail covered the ground.

The hail was mostly nickel size with a few larger stones.

Jul 14, 20160.88"penny
Jun 25, 20161"quarter
Jun 9, 20161"quarter

The hail was mostly pea sized.

May 27, 20161"quarter
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 ↗