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Mankato hail storm history

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

Mankato sits in Blue Earth County, located in central Minnesota where afternoon thunderstorm development is frequent from late spring through mid-summer. The city occupies terrain at the northern edge of the primary North American hail belt, positioned where dry line dynamics and low-level wind patterns create conditions favorable for hail-producing convection.

Events ≥1" (10yr)
109
Significant ≥1.5" (10yr)
37
Avg per year (10yr)
10.9
Largest recorded
4"
Most recent
Sep 21, 2025
Total records
130
NOAA storm history
events (10 yr)109
≥1.5" significant37
peak year (21)2022
Free inspection estimate

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Type of damage

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Hail activity in Mankato peaks during June and July, when atmospheric instability and wind shear align to produce organized thunderstorms capable of generating large hail. May and August represent secondary risk months when storm frequency declines but individual events can still produce significant hail. The seasonal pattern reflects typical central Minnesota convective behavior, though individual storm timing and intensity vary year to year.

Annual frequency — last 10 years

2025
16
2024
6
2023
12
2022
21
2021
10
2020
12
2019
9
2018
1
2017
13
2016
9
≥2.0" severe≥1.5" significant≥1.0" marginal

When hail hits — monthly pattern

Avg events per month · all years · NOAA data

Jan0
Feb0
Mar1
Apr20
May19
Jun22
Jul34
Aug23
Sep9
Oct2
Nov0
Dec0

All recorded hail events

Of 130 recorded events, 37 (28%) reached 1.5" or larger — the threshold for likely functional damage on standard asphalt shingles.

Report of hail covering the ground, with the largest stone being quarter-sized. Also tree branches d…

Jul 29, 20251.25"half dollar

Quarter to golf ball sized hail.

Photo measurement provided via X.

Aug 5, 20241.5"ping pong ball
Aug 1, 20241"quarter
Jul 31, 20241"quarter
May 27, 20241"quarter
Jul 28, 20230.75"penny
Jul 14, 20231"quarter

A CoCoRaHS measured golfball size hail.

May 9, 20230.88"penny

Nickel size hail just east of Madelia.

Jul 23, 20221.5"ping pong ball
Jun 13, 20221"quarter
Aug 24, 20211"quarter

There was a social media picture of golf ball size hail in the western portion of Mankato.

Jun 18, 20211"quarter
Jun 17, 20212"egg

Social media had a picture of 2 inch hail in northern Le Sueur County.

Mar 10, 20211"quarter
Sep 6, 20201.25"half dollar
Aug 14, 20201"quarter
Aug 10, 20201.75"golf ball
Jul 11, 20200.75"penny
Jul 9, 20201"quarter

A local trained spotter reported dime to occasional quarter size hail in the town of Belle Plaine. R…

There was a large swath of very large hail, up to 2.5 inches in diameter, that fell from Lake Crysta…

Sep 25, 20191"quarter

There was a swath of large hail, which moved from Le Sueur, northeast to around Heidelberg.

Aug 26, 20190.88"penny

In addition to the large hail stone, there was a power pole blown down in Waseca.

Aug 5, 20191"quarter
Jun 20, 20192"egg

A fire department spotter reported hail as large as two inches fell for around 15 minutes at Lake Ha…

Jun 4, 20191"quarter
Jul 25, 20181"quarter
Jun 22, 20171.5"ping pong ball

There were several reports of large hail, up to 2 inches in diameter, that fell from southwest of Sh…

Sep 21, 20161.75"golf ball
Aug 11, 20161"quarter

Some minor crop damage also occurred with wind driven hail.

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 ↗