Hail in Cottonwood County, MN
Hail turns up in Cottonwood County on a regular basis. NOAA radar has confirmed 11 hail events of 1 inch or larger in Cottonwood County since 2025, the largest 1.8″ (golf ball) on July 19, 2025. The most recent confirmed hail was July 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 Cottonwood County, MN
Cottonwood County lies in southwestern Minnesota, flat prairie farmland on the gentle rise of the Coteau des Prairies. Midsummer storms feed on warm, humid air drawn up from the plains, and the stronger ones can grow hail of fair size. The nearest radar, KFSD out of Sioux Falls, sits roughly 83 miles to the west, so its lowest beams pass well above the ground here and capture storm tops more than near-surface detail.
The hail record for Cottonwood County, MN
Cottonwood County doesn't see hail every month, but it's a recurring visitor, with 11 confirmed events since 2025.
The dangerous window runs spring into early summer, with July the busiest month on record.
Common questions
How often does it hail in Cottonwood County?
NOAA radar has confirmed 11 severe hail events (1 inch or larger) in the Cottonwood County area since 2025.
When is hail season in Cottonwood County?
Hail in Cottonwood County is concentrated in July, within a season that runs spring into early summer.
What's the largest hail recorded in Cottonwood County?
Radar confirmed 1.8-inch hail, about golf ball size, on July 19, 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.
How do I know if my roof was damaged by hail?
Common signs are granules collecting in gutters and downspouts, bruised or cracked shingles, and dents on soft metals like vents, flashing, and gutter tops. A lot of hail damage isn't visible from the ground, so a professional inspection is the reliable check.
Hail just hit, what should I do?
Safely photograph any hail and note the time, then confirm what radar recorded at your address before calling your insurer. Most policies require prompt notice after a hail event, and deadlines vary by policy and state, so don't wait to document it.
Will it hail again in Cottonwood County this year?
Cottonwood 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.
Recent confirmed hail near Cottonwood County, MN
What this means for your home
If you were just hit
With recent hail in Cottonwood County, you're still in the window to document and report it. Photograph any damage, note the storm date, confirm what radar detected at your address, and review your policy's reporting requirements. Deadlines vary.
Damage can be invisible from the ground
At Cottonwood 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.
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.
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.
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.