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St. Cloud hail storm history

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

St. Cloud sits in Stearns County, central Minnesota, where atmospheric conditions during late spring and summer create frequent hailstorm activity. The city's location at the northern edge of the primary Upper Midwest hail belt, combined with afternoon convection triggered by dry line boundaries and low-level jet streams, produces moderate but consistent hail frequency compared to regions further south.

Events ≥1" (10yr)
164
Significant ≥1.5" (10yr)
71
Avg per year (10yr)
16.4
Largest recorded
4"
Most recent
Aug 15, 2025
Total records
206
NOAA storm history
events (10 yr)164
≥1.5" significant71
peak year (46)2022
Free inspection estimate

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Type of damage

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Hail in the St. Cloud area peaks during June and July, when atmospheric instability is highest across central Minnesota. Secondary activity occurs in May and August. Hailstones during these storms typically range from small denominations to larger sizes capable of property damage, with the most severe events concentrated in the peak summer months.

Annual frequency — last 10 years

2025
13
2024
10
2023
15
2022
46
2021
14
2020
9
2019
22
2018
9
2017
9
2016
17
≥2.0" severe≥1.5" significant≥1.0" marginal

When hail hits — monthly pattern

Avg events per month · all years · NOAA data

Jan0
Feb0
Mar12
Apr15
May48
Jun23
Jul70
Aug25
Sep12
Oct1
Nov0
Dec0

All recorded hail events

Of 206 recorded events, 71 (34%) reached 1.5" or larger — the threshold for likely functional damage on standard asphalt shingles.

Aug 15, 20251"quarter
Aug 9, 20250.75"penny

Most hailstones were between quarter and half dollar with several being golf ball to lime sized.

Jun 16, 20250.75"penny

Photo provided on social media of 1.5-inch hail.

Photo provided via social media.

Aug 29, 20240.75"penny

Additionally sent in a photo with hail size measurement.

A photo showed penny sized hail near the intersection of 30th St NE and Hwy 23.

Jul 24, 20231"quarter

Mostly dime size hail with some quarter size hail mixed in. Photo relayed through social media.

Quarter to half dollar size hail via picture on Twitter.

Mar 31, 20230.75"penny
Oct 12, 20220.75"penny

One storm in eastern Morrison County had a report of 3/4 inch hail as relayed via mPing.

May 31, 20221.75"golf ball
May 13, 20221"quarter

Some windows were broken. Vehicles were also damaged.

There was a social media picture of 2 inch hail.

There were multiple vehicles damaged with windows broken. In addition, siding on houses was damaged …

Sep 6, 20201"quarter

Hail accumulated up to 2 inches in depth.

Aug 22, 20201"quarter

There were several reports of large hail in the city of Buffalo, with the largest hailstone measured…

Jul 14, 20201.25"half dollar
Apr 7, 20200.88"penny

There were reports of hail throughout the county, with the largest hailstone being ping pong ball si…

Jun 5, 20191"quarter
Aug 31, 20181.25"half dollar

A picture of half dollar size hail was posted on social media.

A swath of large hail, up to golf ball size, continued into Isanti County from west of Day, to the f…

A swath of large hail was observed from southwest, to northwest of Avon, Minnesota. The largest hail…

A swath of large hail, up to golf ball size, fell west and northwest of Monticello. Some damage to c…

A swath of large hail, up to quarter size, fell east of Royalton, to southwest of Buckman.

Sep 21, 20160.75"penny
Sep 6, 20161.5"ping pong ball

Hail occurred in the Aspen Hills area of Big Lake Township. Damage occurred to a vehicle in this loc…

Aug 30, 20160.75"penny
Jul 21, 20161"quarter

There were several reports of nickel size hail around Sartell.

Hail continued to fall in Kingston for 10 minutes.

Quarter size hail continued for 10 minutes.

May 24, 20161.75"golf ball

An automobile windshield was broken due to the hail stones.

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 ↗