Hail in Black Hawk County, IA
Hail turns up in Black Hawk County on a regular basis. NOAA radar has confirmed 10 hail events of 1 inch or larger in Black Hawk County since 2025, the largest 1.8″ (golf ball) on April 14, 2026. The most recent confirmed hail was August 7, 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 Black Hawk County, IA
Black Hawk County lies in northeastern Iowa along the Cedar River, a region of rolling cropland and the urban center of the Cedar Valley. Hail is uncommon and tends to be small, usually arriving with warm-season storms that ride a frontal boundary through humid air. The nearest radar, Des Moines (KDMX), sits roughly 89 miles to the southwest, distant enough that it favors readings of storm tops over fine surface detail.
The hail record for Black Hawk County, IA
Black Hawk County doesn't see hail every month, but it's a recurring visitor, with 10 confirmed events since 2025.
This year has run hot: 6 confirmed events in 2026 already, ahead of the recent pace.
Rather than a single peak, hail turns up from spring through summer in Black Hawk County, most often in April.
Common questions
How often does it hail in Black Hawk County?
NOAA radar has confirmed 10 severe hail events (1 inch or larger) in the Black Hawk County area since 2025.
When is hail season in Black Hawk County?
Black Hawk County sees hail from spring into early summer, most often in April.
What's the largest hail recorded in Black Hawk County?
Radar confirmed 1.8-inch hail, about golf ball size, on April 14, 2026.
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.
Is hail getting worse in Black Hawk County?
Nationally, the research on long-term hail trends is mixed. Better radar coverage since the 1990s makes real increases hard to separate from improved detection. In Black Hawk County, 6 confirmed events have been recorded in 2026 so far, but the tracked record is still short, so it isn't evidence of a lasting trend.
Will it hail again in Black Hawk County this year?
Black Hawk County's record already includes more than one confirmed event in a single season. That's what the data shows so far, not a prediction for any given season.
Did it hail in Black Hawk County in 2026?
Yes, 6 confirmed hail events so far in 2026, most recently August 7, 2026.
Recent confirmed hail near Black Hawk County, IA
What this means for your home
Damage can be invisible from the ground
At Black Hawk 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.
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.
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.
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.