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Lake County, SD hail & severe wind history
116 storm reports on file for Lake County between 2010-06-11 and 2025-07-15 — 55 hail and 61 severe thunderstorm wind. That averages 7.3 reports a year, and Jul is the busiest month.
Hail reports
55
3.4 per year
Largest hail
2"
hen egg size · 2022-10-23
Strongest gust
110 mph
96 kt · 2022-05-12
Reported damage
$311K
property + crop, as filed
Storm days
53
distinct days with a report
Busiest year
2022
22 reports
Search every Lake County report
Filter the full record below — pick a year, narrow to a month, or drag the hail-size slider to see only the storms big enough to dent a roof (1" and up is the usual threshold insurers care about).
116 of 116 reports match.
Reports by month for the current filter — the shape of Lake County’s storm season.
| Date | Type | Size / gust | Nearest location | Report detail |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-07-15 19:45 | Wind | 55 kt 63 mph | 1.99 mi E of Smiths Park | Thunderstorm wind gusts were measured by a personal weather station. |
| 2024-07-31 19:30 | Wind | 52 kt 60 mph | .85 mi NE of Madison | Tree limbs up to 3 inches in diameter were taken down by thunderstorm wind gusts. |
| 2024-06-21 16:27 | Wind | 56 kt 64 mph | .85 mi NW of Orland | Thunderstorm wind gusts just ahead of the storm knocked numerous branches down across the yard. Crop damage is an estimate from insured losses. Information provided by the United States Department of Agriculture. |
| 2024-04-26 14:31 | Hail | 1" quarter | 4.9 mi SW of Ramona | Hail was mostly pea to dime sized, but several were as large as a quarter. |
| 2023-08-10 19:44 | Hail | 1.25" half dollar | 2.48 mi E of Ramona | No narrative filed · source: Storm Chaser |
| 2023-08-10 20:06 | Hail | 1" quarter | 2.07 mi N of Madison Muni Arpt | No narrative filed · source: Trained Spotter |
| 2023-07-13 16:49 | Hail | 1" quarter | 4.04 mi ESE of Nunda | No narrative filed · source: Public |
| 2022-10-23 17:25 | Hail | 2" hen egg | .85 mi NW of Orland | No narrative filed · source: Trained Spotter |
| 2022-10-23 17:33 | Hail | 1" quarter | .85 mi SE of Madison Muni Arpt | No narrative filed · source: Trained Spotter |
| 2022-10-23 17:37 | Hail | 1" quarter | 1.21 mi SW of Madison Muni Arpt | No narrative filed · source: Public |
| 2022-10-23 17:37 | Hail | 1" quarter | .69 mi N of Madison | No narrative filed · source: Public |
| 2022-10-23 17:38 | Hail | 1" quarter | 1.21 mi SW of Madison Muni Arpt | No narrative filed · source: Public |
| 2022-10-23 17:38 | Hail | 1.5" ping pong | .85 mi NE of Madison | No narrative filed · source: Public |
| 2022-06-20 16:58 | Hail | 0.88" nickel | .69 mi S of Nunda | No narrative filed · source: Trained Spotter |
| 2022-05-30 00:45 | Wind | 59 kt 68 mph | 0 mi N of Madison Muni Arpt | A thunderstorm wind gust of 68 mph was measured by the Automated Weather Observing System site KMDS 1 mile east-northeast of Madison. |
| 2022-05-30 13:06 | Hail | 1" quarter | 3.14 mi NNW of Junius | Crop damage is an estimate from insured losses. Information provided by the United States Department of Agriculture. |
| 2022-05-30 17:15 | Wind | 52 kt 60 mph | .5 mi W of Madison Muni Arpt | A thunderstorm wind gust of 60 mph was measured by Automated Weather Observing System site KMDS 1 mile northeast of Madison. |
| 2022-05-12 16:08 | Wind | 84 kt 97 mph | 2.7 mi ENE of Junius | A single-family home lost its front porch overhang and a large portion of the roof. |
| 2022-05-12 16:09 | Wind | 91 kt 105 mph | .57 mi SW of Madison | Two rental storage facilities were destroyed. |
| 2022-05-12 16:09 | Wind | 70 kt 81 mph | .18 mi SSE of Madison | Multiple mobile homes received roof damage. |
| 2022-05-12 16:09 | Wind | 96 kt 110 mph | .68 mi WNW of Madison | A single family home lost large sections of its roof. Another nearby residence had significant damage to its attached garage. Many nearby trees were either uprooted or had large broken branches. |
| 2022-05-12 16:09 | Wind | 84 kt 97 mph | 0 mi N of Madison Muni Arpt | A thunderstorm wind gust of 97 mph was measured by Automated Weather Observing System site KMDS 1 mile east-northeast of Madison. Extensive tree and building damage occurred throughout the city. Five families were displaced as damage to their houses from wind and falling trees rendered residences uninhabitable. Severa… |
| 2022-05-12 16:11 | Wind | 78 kt 90 mph | 1.25 mi N of Madison | A mobile home lost a large section of its roof. |
| 2022-05-12 16:11 | Wind | 91 kt 105 mph | 1.03 mi NNW of Madison | A rental storage facility was destroyed. |
| 2022-05-12 16:14 | Wind | 74 kt 85 mph | 4.25 mi SW of Nunda | Five large trees were knocked down and a roof blown off of a barn. Crop damage is an estimate from insured losses. Information provided by the United States Department of Agriculture. |
| 2022-05-12 16:15 | Wind | 83 kt 96 mph | 2.87 mi SW of Wentworth | A personal weather station measured a thunderstorm wind gust of 96 mph. |
| 2022-05-12 16:16 | Wind | 78 kt 90 mph | 4.07 mi NE of Junius | A personal weather station measured a thunderstorm wind gust of 90 mph. Nearby Lake Herman State Park was closed due to extensive tree damage, with an unoccupied camper crushed by a falling tree. |
| 2022-05-11 09:16 | Hail | 0.75" penny | 2.58 mi WSW of Smiths Park | No narrative filed · source: Public |
| 2022-04-28 15:16 | Hail | 1" quarter | 2.84 mi ESE of Rutland | No narrative filed · source: Public |
| 2021-08-05 18:29 | Hail | 1.25" half dollar | 3.76 mi SSE of Madison Muni Arpt | No narrative filed · source: Social Media |
| 2021-08-05 19:00 | Hail | 1.5" ping pong | 2.84 mi ESE of Wentworth | Crop damage is an estimate from insured losses. Information provided by the United States Department of Agriculture. |
| 2021-08-05 19:00 | Hail | 1.75" golf ball | 2.1 mi ESE of Wentworth | No narrative filed · source: Public |
| 2020-07-06 07:15 | Hail | 1.25" half dollar | 0 mi N of Winfred | The ground was covered by quarter size hail, accompanied by rainfall to around an inch. |
| 2020-06-06 17:26 | Wind | 53 kt 61 mph | 1.47 mi NNE of Franklin | Wind gust was measured by a personal weather station. |
| 2019-08-17 20:49 | Wind | 56 kt 64 mph | .85 mi NE of Chester | Large limb was broken off a cottonwood tree. |
| 2019-08-17 20:50 | Wind | 52 kt 60 mph | 1.21 mi NE of Chester | A large tree limb was broken off in a shelter belt. |
| 2019-08-17 20:53 | Wind | 51 kt 59 mph | .85 mi NE of Madison | No narrative filed · source: ASOS |
| 2019-08-15 18:10 | Hail | 1.5" ping pong | .85 mi NE of Madison | No narrative filed · source: Trained Spotter |
| 2019-08-15 18:26 | Hail | 1" quarter | 1.7 mi NE of Smiths Park | Hail varied between dime and quarter size. |
| 2019-07-28 19:14 | Wind | 51 kt 59 mph | 0 mi N of Madison Muni Arpt | No narrative filed · source: AWOS |
| 2019-07-28 19:20 | Hail | 1" quarter | .85 mi NE of Madison | Strong winds accompanied the hail with 3 to 4 inch diameter branches down. |
| 2019-07-20 06:19 | Wind | 63 kt 72 mph | 3.06 mi WNW of Junius | No narrative filed · source: Trained Spotter |
| 2019-07-20 06:35 | Wind | 65 kt 75 mph | .98 mi WNW of Smiths Park | Four boats were lifted off their racks along the south shore of Lake Madison. |
| 2019-07-03 09:57 | Hail | 1" quarter | 8.98 mi S of Winfred | No narrative filed · source: Public |
| 2019-07-03 10:07 | Hail | 1" quarter | 4.6 mi SSE of Winfred | No narrative filed · source: Public |
| 2019-06-27 04:05 | Hail | 1" quarter | .69 mi N of Madison | Dime to quarter size hail, with most falling as pea to dime size. |
| 2017-09-23 11:49 | Hail | 1" quarter | 3.14 mi NNW of Madison Muni Arpt | No narrative filed · source: Public |
| 2017-09-23 12:23 | Hail | 1" quarter | 3.06 mi ENE of Junius | No narrative filed · source: Trained Spotter |
| 2017-09-23 12:48 | Hail | 1.75" golf ball | 4.52 mi W of Rutland | No narrative filed · source: Public |
| 2017-09-19 22:09 | Wind | 65 kt 75 mph | 2.55 mi NW of Smiths Park | Tree branches downed. Garage doors blown in around Lake Madison. |
| 2017-09-19 22:16 | Wind | 61 kt 70 mph | .5 mi E of Wentworth | Trees damaged, as well as house siding. |
| 2017-09-15 18:05 | Hail | 1" quarter | 2.13 mi NNE of Winfred | No narrative filed · source: Trained Spotter |
| 2017-08-25 18:30 | Wind | 52 kt 60 mph | 0 mi N of Winfred | Tree branches were downed. |
| 2017-08-25 18:50 | Wind | 56 kt 64 mph | 2.58 mi WNW of Madison | Numerous tents, porta potties, and trash cans were blown over at Prairie Village. |
| 2017-08-25 18:50 | Wind | 52 kt 60 mph | 2.58 mi WNW of Madison | Tree branches downed. |
| 2016-08-18 19:31 | Hail | 1" quarter | 2.13 mi NNW of Orland | No narrative filed · source: Emergency Manager |
| 2016-06-17 18:18 | Hail | 1" quarter | .85 mi NE of Madison | No narrative filed · source: Trained Spotter |
| 2016-06-17 18:21 | Hail | 1.75" golf ball | .85 mi NE of Madison | No narrative filed · source: Trained Spotter |
| 2016-06-17 18:35 | Wind | 61 kt 70 mph | .5 mi E of Wentworth | Thunderstorm winds caused tree damage, including several large trees blown down. |
| 2016-06-17 18:40 | Hail | 1" quarter | 2.42 mi NW of Orland | No narrative filed · source: Public |
| 2016-06-17 18:40 | Hail | 1" quarter | 2.81 mi S of Madison | No narrative filed · source: Public |
| 2016-06-03 16:14 | Hail | 1" quarter | 5.62 mi ESE of Nunda | No narrative filed · source: Public |
| 2015-08-09 18:00 | Wind | 61 kt 70 mph | 3.14 mi SSW of Smiths Park | Thunderstorm winds caused tree damage, including several trees blown down. |
| 2015-07-25 20:30 | Wind | 52 kt 60 mph | .5 mi E of Winfred | Thunderstorm winds caused tree damage, including branches blown down. |
| 2015-07-25 20:50 | Wind | 56 kt 64 mph | .85 mi NE of Madison | Thunderstorm winds blew over an empty semi trailer, and blew a manufactured home off another trailer. The winds also caused tree damage, including several large trees blown down. |
| 2015-07-23 22:30 | Hail | 1.75" golf ball | 4.94 mi NNE of Winfred | Large hail caused an unknown amount of damage to crops and vehicles. |
| 2015-07-16 18:36 | Wind | 56 kt 64 mph | .85 mi NE of Madison | Thunderstorm winds caused tree damage, including a tree snapped in half. |
| 2015-06-20 02:00 | Wind | 56 kt 64 mph | .69 mi N of Madison | Thunderstorm winds blew down trees and damaged a fence. |
| 2015-06-19 16:47 | Wind | 56 kt 64 mph | .69 mi S of Madison Muni Arpt | No narrative filed · source: AWOS |
| 2014-07-19 06:04 | Hail | 1" quarter | 1.47 mi NNW of Ramona | No narrative filed · source: Public |
| 2013-06-22 22:49 | Hail | 1.25" half dollar | .85 mi NE of Madison | No narrative filed · source: Emergency Manager |
| 2013-06-21 15:04 | Hail | 1" quarter | 4.46 mi E of Ramona | Large hail was accompanied by 50 mph wind gusts. |
| 2013-06-21 21:53 | Hail | 1" quarter | .85 mi NE of Madison | No narrative filed · source: Public |
| 2013-06-19 20:57 | Hail | 0.88" nickel | 4.18 mi S of Madison | No narrative filed · source: Emergency Manager |
| 2013-06-19 21:09 | Hail | 1" quarter | .85 mi NE of Madison | No narrative filed · source: Emergency Manager |
| 2012-09-04 19:25 | Wind | 58 kt 67 mph | .85 mi SW of Madison Muni Arpt | No narrative filed · source: AWOS |
| 2012-09-04 19:55 | Wind | 56 kt 64 mph | 1.21 mi SW of Madison Muni Arpt | Thunderstorm winds blew down several trees and numerous branches. |
| 2012-08-03 19:00 | Wind | 51 kt 59 mph | 1.64 mi WNW of Madison | No narrative filed · source: Trained Spotter |
| 2012-08-03 19:06 | Wind | 52 kt 60 mph | .5 mi E of Ramona | Thunderstorm winds caused tree damage, including a few trees blown down. |
| 2012-08-03 19:11 | Wind | 68 kt 78 mph | .5 mi W of Madison Muni Arpt | No narrative filed · source: AWOS |
| 2012-06-29 15:55 | Hail | 1.75" golf ball | .69 mi S of Chester | No narrative filed · source: Emergency Manager |
| 2012-05-26 05:44 | Wind | 61 kt 70 mph | .85 mi NE of Madison | Thunderstorm winds blew down trees and power lines. |
| 2012-05-05 09:07 | Hail | 1" quarter | .69 mi S of Chester | No narrative filed · source: Emergency Manager |
| 2012-05-05 19:24 | Hail | 0.88" nickel | 2.3 mi SSE of Winfred | No narrative filed · source: COOP Observer |
| 2012-05-05 19:41 | Wind | 70 kt 81 mph | 3.55 mi W of Orland | Thunderstorm winds caused considerable tree damage, including some trees blown down. |
| 2012-05-05 19:42 | Hail | 1" quarter | 2.1 mi WNW of Junius | Large hail was accompanied by heavy rain, and estimated 45 mph wind gusts. |
| 2012-05-05 19:45 | Hail | 1.75" golf ball | 1.64 mi WNW of Madison | No narrative filed · source: Emergency Manager |
| 2012-05-05 19:49 | Wind | 65 kt 75 mph | .85 mi NW of Madison | Thunderstorm winds caused tree damage, including a few trees blown down. |
| 2012-05-05 20:12 | Hail | 1" quarter | 4.56 mi NW of Madison Muni Arpt | Large hail was accompanied by estimated 60 mph wind gusts. |
| 2012-05-05 20:12 | Wind | 52 kt 60 mph | 4.56 mi NW of Madison Muni Arpt | Thunderstorm winds caused tree damage. The winds were accompanied by quarter size hail. |
| 2012-05-05 20:13 | Hail | 1" quarter | 2.1 mi WNW of Junius | No narrative filed · source: Emergency Manager |
| 2012-05-05 20:30 | Wind | 61 kt 70 mph | 3.49 mi S of Madison | Thunderstorm winds blew a steel pole shed building across a road. The winds also caused tree damage. The winds were accompanied by heavy rain. |
| 2012-05-05 22:30 | Wind | 52 kt 60 mph | 2.1 mi ENE of Wentworth | Thunderstorm winds caused tree damage, including several branches blown down. The winds were accompanied by heavy rain and by half inch diameter hail that covered the ground. |
| 2011-08-22 21:52 | Hail | 1" quarter | 2.49 mi E of Winfred | No narrative filed · source: Emergency Manager |
| 2011-08-22 21:55 | Hail | 1.75" golf ball | 2.3 mi SSE of Winfred | No narrative filed · source: NWS Employee |
| 2011-08-22 22:24 | Hail | 1" quarter | 3.41 mi NW of Franklin | Large hail was accompanied by estimated 40 mph wind gusts. |
| 2011-07-09 23:40 | Wind | 56 kt 64 mph | 4.05 mi WNW of Smiths Park | Thunderstorm winds and resulting waves tipped over several boats and damaged docks on both sides of Lake Madison. |
| 2011-07-09 23:45 | Wind | 56 kt 64 mph | .85 mi NW of Chester | Thunderstorm winds caused tree damage, including a few trees blown down. |
| 2011-07-01 13:45 | Hail | 1" quarter | 3.3 mi WSW of Madison | Large hail, in combination with heavy rain, caused damage to soybean crops. |
| 2011-07-01 13:55 | Hail | 1" quarter | 0 mi N of Madison | No narrative filed · source: Newspaper |
| 2011-07-01 14:00 | Wind | 50 kt 58 mph | .5 mi W of Madison Muni Arpt | No narrative filed · source: AWOS |
| 2011-07-01 14:07 | Wind | 61 kt 70 mph | .5 mi E of Wentworth | Thunderstorm winds caused widespread tree damage, including several trees uprooted or flattened, and others snapped a few feet above the ground. The winds also destroyed a 60 foot by 90 foot shed. Several homes and vehicles were damaged, including a car crushed by a tree and a garage heavily damaged by a falling tree.… |
| 2011-07-01 14:12 | Hail | 1.75" golf ball | .69 mi S of Nunda | Large hail dented a few vehicles and caused crop damage. The amount of property and crop damage was not known. |
| 2011-07-01 14:15 | Wind | 52 kt 60 mph | 3.63 mi SE of Nunda | Thunderstorm winds caused tree damage. |
| 2011-05-30 19:40 | Wind | 56 kt 64 mph | .85 mi NE of Madison | Thunderstorm winds blew down trees and power lines, causing a power outage. At least one house in Madison suffered minor damage from tree debris. |
| 2010-08-19 20:42 | Wind | 56 kt 64 mph | .5 mi E of Ramona | Thunderstorm winds caused tree damage, including several trees snapped off. |
| 2010-07-23 20:27 | Wind | 52 kt 60 mph | .5 mi E of Ramona | Thunderstorm winds caused tree damage, including several branches blown down. |
| 2010-07-23 20:33 | Wind | 52 kt 60 mph | .69 mi N of Junius | Thunderstorm winds caused tree damage, including several branches blown down. |
| 2010-07-23 20:46 | Wind | 56 kt 64 mph | .5 mi E of Wentworth | Thunderstorm winds caused tree damage, including a large tree blown down. |
| 2010-07-17 19:00 | Hail | 0.75" penny | .69 mi S of Nunda | No narrative filed · source: Trained Spotter |
| 2010-07-10 19:45 | Wind | 56 kt 64 mph | 6.51 mi W of Orland | Thunderstorm winds blew down several branches, some up to 5 inches in diameter. |
| 2010-07-07 00:20 | Wind | 52 kt 60 mph | 1.64 mi WNW of Nunda | Thunderstorm winds caused tree damage, including numerous small branches blown down. |
| 2010-06-11 01:24 | Wind | 61 kt 70 mph | 2.04 mi NW of Franklin | Thunderstorm winds caused tree damage, including a two foot diameter tree blown down. |
| 2010-06-11 01:35 | Wind | 56 kt 64 mph | .85 mi SE of Madison Muni Arpt | Thunderstorm winds caused tree damage, including a 20 inch diameter tree blown down. |
| 2010-06-11 01:40 | Wind | 61 kt 70 mph | 3.76 mi SSE of Madison Muni Arpt | Thunderstorm winds blew shingles off roofs, and moved docks on Lake Madison. |
| 2010-06-11 01:50 | Wind | 52 kt 60 mph | 1.38 mi N of Chester | Thunderstorm winds caused tree damage, including up to 6 inch diameter branches blown down. |
Worst storm days in Lake County
| Date | Reports that day | Largest hail | Peak gust |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012-05-05 | 11 | 1.75" (golf ball) | 81 mph |
| 2022-05-12 | 10 | — | 110 mph |
| 2022-10-23 | 6 | 2" (hen egg) | — |
| 2011-07-01 | 6 | 1.75" (golf ball) | 70 mph |
| 2016-06-17 | 5 | 1.75" (golf ball) | 70 mph |
| 2010-06-11 | 4 | — | 70 mph |
| 2021-08-05 | 3 | 1.75" (golf ball) | — |
| 2017-09-23 | 3 | 1.75" (golf ball) | — |
| 2011-08-22 | 3 | 1.75" (golf ball) | — |
| 2022-05-30 | 3 | 1" (quarter) | 68 mph |
Reports by year
Report counts are driven partly by how many people were around to report a storm, so recent years tend to look busier than the early 2010s. Treat the trend as a reporting trend, not purely a weather trend.
Notable large-hail events (2" and up)
| Date | Size | Near | What was reported |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-10-23 | 2" hen egg | .85 mi NW of Orland | No narrative filed |
When does hail hit Lake County?
Across 15 years of records, July produced the most reports (29), followed by the months either side of it. Monthly totals:
| Month | Reports | Share |
|---|---|---|
| January | 0 | 0.0% |
| February | 0 | 0.0% |
| March | 0 | 0.0% |
| April | 2 | 1.7% |
| May | 27 | 23.3% |
| June | 22 | 19.0% |
| July | 29 | 25.0% |
| August | 22 | 19.0% |
| September | 8 | 6.9% |
| October | 6 | 5.2% |
| November | 0 | 0.0% |
| December | 0 | 0.0% |
Nearby counties in South Dakota
Pennington County (1,392)Meade County (831)Custer County (565)Harding County (461)Jackson County (429)Perkins County (405)Brown County (400)Oglala Lakota County (399)Butte County (394)Lawrence County (390)Fall River County (384)Minnehaha County (351)
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About these numbers
Every row above is a report filed with the National Weather Service and archived in the NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (FIPS 46079). Reports are eyewitness, trained-spotter and damage-survey observations, so they cluster near roads and towns and miss storms over empty country. Hail sizes are estimates. Damage figures are preliminary as filed and are never revised in this archive. Use this page for background, not for an insurance claim, a legal filing, or a roof assessment — for those, get the official record from NOAA directly.