Hail in Aurora County, SD
NOAA radar has confirmed 5 hail events of 1 inch or larger in Aurora County since 2025, the largest 2″ (golf ball) on June 16, 2025. The most recent confirmed hail was May 17, 2026.
Did hail hit your exact address?
This page covers the whole area. Enter your address to see what NOAA radar detected over your specific roof - free, in seconds.
About Aurora County, SD
Aurora County occupies the rolling prairie of south-central South Dakota near the James River, open farm and ranch country around Plankinton. Early-summer storms drawing warm, moist air beneath cooler air aloft can grow into towering cells over the plains and drop large hail. The Aberdeen (KABR) radar is the nearest, but it sits about 120 miles to the north, far enough that it captures only the upper portions of storms over this county; closer detail relies on storms moving within better range.
The hail record for Aurora County, SD
Rather than a single peak, hail turns up from spring through summer in Aurora County, most often in August.
Aurora County is no Plains hot spot, but the storms that do reach it have still dropped hail up to 2″.
Common questions
How often does it hail in Aurora County?
NOAA radar has confirmed 5 severe hail events (1 inch or larger) in the Aurora County area since 2025.
When is hail season in Aurora County?
Aurora County sees hail from spring into early summer, most often in August.
What's the largest hail recorded in Aurora County?
Radar confirmed 2-inch hail, about golf ball size, on June 16, 2025.
Does homeowner's insurance cover hail damage?
Hail is a covered peril under most standard homeowner's policies (typically HO-3), subject to your deductible. Whether you have replacement-cost or actual-cash-value coverage makes a big difference in what's paid out. Your declarations page will say which.
Did it hail in Aurora County in 2026?
Yes, 1 confirmed hail event so far in 2026, most recently May 17, 2026.
How much does hail roof damage cost to repair?
It ranges widely. Minor repairs can run a few hundred dollars, while a full roof replacement on an average home often runs $8,000–$20,000+ depending on size, pitch, and material. What you actually pay depends on your deductible and whether your policy is replacement-cost or actual-cash-value.
Can I protect my roof from hail?
You can't stop hail, but impact-resistant (Class 4) shingles hold up far better than standard asphalt and often earn an insurance discount. If you're replacing a roof in a hail-prone area, they're worth pricing out.
Recent confirmed hail near Aurora County, SD
What this means for your home
Damage can be invisible from the ground
At Aurora County's typical sizes, hail often bruises shingles and loosens granules without obvious holes, shortening roof life in ways that are easy to miss until the next storm or an inspection.
Document before you repair
If you suspect hail damage, photograph it and note the storm's date before making any repairs. Undocumented or already-fixed damage is much harder to claim later.
Replacement cost vs. actual cash value
An RCV policy pays to replace your roof at today's prices; an ACV policy subtracts depreciation for the roof's age, which can mean a much smaller check on an older roof. Knowing which you carry shapes what a hail claim is actually worth.
Keep a 'before' record
Photos of your roof and exterior in good condition make new hail damage much easier to prove later. A few shots now, before the next storm, can save an argument with an adjuster over what's old wear and what's storm damage.
Know your hail deductible
Many policies in hail-prone states use a percentage deductible, often 1–2% of the home's insured value rather than a flat dollar amount. On a $400,000 home that can be $4,000–$8,000 out of pocket before coverage starts, so it's worth checking your declarations page before a storm.
Claims have deadlines
Policies set a deadline for hail-damage claims, and state law may also apply. Windows range from months to several years depending on your state and policy. Knowing the exact date hail hit your address helps you file on time.
Before you call your insurer
Get the radar evidence for your address.
A NOAA Radar Evidence Report documents exactly what federal radar recorded at your address - hail size, date, and signature - in a formatted PDF you can attach to a claim. Built entirely from public NOAA data.
Events are NOAA/NWS Severe Thunderstorm Warnings with confirmed hail ≥ 1 inch, matched to this county by the warning centroid. Federal public-domain data. A confirmed event indicates radar-detected hail over the area, not a guarantee of damage to any specific property.