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Topeka hail storm history

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

Topeka, located in Shawnee County in the central Great Plains, sits within one of North America's most active hail corridors. The city's position along the dryline—the boundary between warm, moist air from the Gulf of Mexico and drier continental air masses—makes it a zone where large hail-producing supercells develop regularly during spring and early summer.

Events ≥1" (10yr)
247
Significant ≥1.5" (10yr)
80
Avg per year (10yr)
24.7
Largest recorded
4.5"
Most recent
Sep 3, 2025
Total records
296
NOAA storm history
events (10 yr)247
≥1.5" significant80
peak year (45)2017
Free inspection estimate

Check if your roof was damaged by recent hail

Type of damage

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Hail activity in Topeka peaks during May and June, when atmospheric instability reaches its maximum and late-afternoon storms produce the largest hail. Secondary activity occurs in April and July. During peak season, conditions favor supercells that can persist for hours, generating hail well above 1 inch in diameter and occasional larger events.

Annual frequency — last 10 years

2025
14
2024
9
2023
30
2022
9
2021
8
2020
43
2019
38
2018
16
2017
45
2016
35
≥2.0" severe≥1.5" significant≥1.0" marginal

When hail hits — monthly pattern

Avg events per month · all years · NOAA data

Jan0
Feb0
Mar16
Apr57
May81
Jun46
Jul22
Aug37
Sep29
Oct4
Nov2
Dec2

All recorded hail events

Of 296 recorded events, 80 (27%) reached 1.5" or larger — the threshold for likely functional damage on standard asphalt shingles.

Report from mping.

May 19, 20251.25"half dollar

Half dollar size hail north of Dover.

Quarter size hail.

Quarter size hail. Time estimated from radar.

Aug 28, 20241.25"half dollar
May 20, 20241"quarter

Quarter size hail near Eskridge.

Report from mping.

Tennis ball sized hail reported by the emergency manager.

Golf ball sized hail reported.

Jul 5, 20231"quarter

Emergency manager reported quarter sized hail.

Half dollar sized hail reported.

Quarter sized hail reported.

Picture on social media of tennis ball sized hail.

May 9, 20231"quarter

Quarter sized hail reported.

Quarter sized hail reported from mping.

Apr 15, 20230.88"penny

Nickel sized hail reported.

Quarter sized hail reported.

Jun 10, 20221"quarter

Wind driven hail stripped leaves from trees, and 10 inch diameter walnut tree limb snapped.

Jun 8, 20220.88"penny

Nickel sized hail.

Report from mping.

Nickel sized hail reported.

Quarter to half dollar sized hail reported.

Nickel sized hail reported.

EM reports quarter sized hail at 4104 Delaware Rd near Pomona.

Oct 24, 20210.88"penny

Report of hail slightly less than 1 inch in diameter.

Aug 13, 20211"quarter

Quarter sized hail reported.

Jun 25, 20211"quarter

Relayed by emergency manager.

Jun 24, 20211"quarter

Quarter size hail reported.

From photo on social media.

Jun 11, 20211"quarter

Report of quarter size hail.

Mar 17, 20211"quarter

We received a report from mPING of quarter size hail.

Spotter reported hail accumulating on the ground.

Spotter reported hail as large as 3.5 inches in diameter.

Jun 28, 20201"quarter
May 15, 20201"quarter

Quarter size hail reported from mping.

May 14, 20201"quarter

Quarter size hail reported. Time estimated based on radar.

Quarter hail reported.

Reported at K-4 Highway and 62nd St.

Report via Mping.

Half dollar size hail stones.

Report from NWS Topeka at Billard Airport.

Jul 31, 20190.88"penny
Jul 21, 20190.88"penny
Jun 22, 20191"quarter
Jun 16, 20191"quarter

Report was received via WIBW 13 weather social media.

Jun 3, 20190.88"penny
May 24, 20190.88"penny
Mar 29, 20190.88"penny

Hail up to nickel size was reported.

Aug 16, 20181"quarter

Quarter size hail reported.

Report received via social media with picture near 6th and Macvicar.

Quarter to golf ball size hail reported.

Oct 21, 20171.5"ping pong ball

The report was delayed via social media.

Sep 17, 20171"quarter
Jul 22, 20170.88"penny

Delayed report. Size was estimated from photo online. Time and location was estimated as well.

Time was estimated from radar.

Jun 16, 20171"quarter

Very heavy rainfall and winds near 55 mph were also reported.

Hail lasted for three minutes.

Mostly dime size hail with a few nickels reported.

Report from 46th and Button Road.

Apr 16, 20170.88"penny
Mar 29, 20171"quarter

Mostly nickel size hail with a few quarters as well.

Mar 9, 20170.88"penny

Reported at KSNT studios.

Penny size hail observed. Heavy rain was also occurring.

Via social media.

Time was estimated by radar.

Jul 13, 20161"quarter

Report via a picture on social media. Time estimated by radar.

Local Fire Department reported the hail.

May 24, 20160.88"penny

Winds were also estimated to be 60 MPH.

May 9, 20160.88"penny

Mostly dime size hail with a few nickel size stones.

Law enforcement estimated quarter size hail.

Half-dollar size hail reported by Emergency Manager.

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 ↗