Rapid City hail storm history
Pennington County·NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database·~75-day publication lag
Rapid City lies in Pennington County near the Black Hills, a geography that makes the region particularly susceptible to hail-producing thunderstorms. The elevated terrain of the Black Hills forces moisture-laden air upward, triggering the atmospheric instability needed to develop severe convection. This orographic effect, combined with afternoon heating across western South Dakota, creates conditions favoring hail formation from late spring through midsummer.
Check if your roof was damaged by recent hail
Hail activity in Rapid City peaks during June and July, when warm surface temperatures and upper-level wind shear align to produce organized thunderstorms. May and August also see elevated storm activity, extending the hail season on either end. Storms developing over and east of the Black Hills can mature into supercells capable of producing large hail as they move across Pennington County.
Annual frequency — last 10 years
When hail hits — monthly pattern
Avg events per month · all years · NOAA data
All recorded hail events
Of 980 recorded events, 360 (37%) reached 1.5" or larger — the threshold for likely functional damage on standard asphalt shingles.
Public submitted report.
Public submitted photo report.
Public report, estimated.
Spotter estimated hail report.
Spotter phone call report.
Nickel to quarter size hail reported.
Spotter reported hail covered the ground.
Trained Spotter confirmed hail size.
Public report.
Hail damage to home.
Hail to over baseball size fell for 20 minutes.
A couple of reports of hail to golf ball size in this area.
Strong wind gusts over 50 mph tipped over a camper.
Several roofs were damaged and vehicle windshields were broken by tennis ball sized hail.
Large hail damaged cars and destroyed a garden.
Hail was mostly around quarter size.
Hail larger than golf balls was reported at Reptile Gardens.
The combination of hail and wind broke house windows.
Hail accumulated to two inches deep.
Hail to ping pong ball size lasted around 20 minutes.
Hail covered the ground.
Hail up to quarter size fell for most of 40 minutes.
Hail caused considerable damage at the Mount Rushmore KOA Campground.
Hail damaged home and vehicles.
Automobiles on Interstate 90 were damaged.
Hail up to quarter size covered the ground.
Time estimated from radar.
A woman was hit in the head by giant hailstones.
Vehicle damage, including several broken windshields, was noted in the neighborhood.
Winds also gusted to 50 mph.
Hail was mostly to quarter size, with a few near golf ball size, and accumulated to six inches deep,…
Wind gusts to 50 mph accompanied the storm.
Multiple house windows were broken.
The ground was covered by hail.
Large amounts of hail to quarter size was drifted along Highway 385.
Hail accumulated four inches deep.
Wind gusts to 50 mph accompanied the storm.
The storm also produced wind gusts to 50 mph.
Hail to ping-pong ball size fell for about 30 minutes.
Mostly smaller hail with some to quarter size accumulated to four inches deep.
The combination of large hail and strong wind gusts damaged vehicles.
Quarter sized hail was reported at the Custer State Park Headquarters office.
Hail to baseball size covered the ground.
Hail to golf ball size covered the ground.
Hail covered the ground.
Highway 385 was covered with hail several inches deep from Sheridan Lake Road to Calumet Road.
The storm also produced wind gusts around 55 mph and torrential rain.
Hail to quarter size covered the ground.
The ground was covered with hail.
Baseball sized hail was reported at Sylvan Lake in Custer State Park.
Hail from golf ball to almost tennis ball size fell off and on for one hour.
A few hail stones were golf ball size, although most were penny size or smaller.
Golf ball sized hail fell at the Medicine Mountain Boy Scout Camp.
Ping pong ball sized hail fell at the Custer State Park headquarters.
Hail to quarter size lasted about 30 minutes and accumulated an inch or two along the house.
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 ↗