Hail in Des Moines, IA
Des Moines is one of the more hail-prone places in the country. NOAA radar has confirmed 21 hail events of 1 inch or larger in Des Moines since 2025, the largest 2.3″ (golf ball) on March 31, 2026. The most recent confirmed hail was July 2, 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 Des Moines, IA
Des Moines sits near the center of Iowa on the rolling till plains of the Midwest, in the heart of the region where cold Canadian air masses and warm Gulf moisture collide across a long storm season. Hail events occur regularly, though the city's profile leans toward more modest sizes, and the Des Moines (KDMX) radar just south of the city provides close-range coverage of approaching storms.
The hail record for Des Moines, IA
Des Moines sits squarely in the country's busy zone for hail.
This year has run hot: 16 confirmed events in 2026 already, ahead of the recent pace.
Des Moines's hail isn't confined to one stretch of the calendar; it recurs from spring into summer, heaviest in March.
Common questions
How often does it hail in Des Moines?
NOAA radar has confirmed 21 severe hail events (1 inch or larger) in the Des Moines area since 2025.
When is hail season in Des Moines?
Des Moines sees hail from spring into early summer, most often in March.
What's the largest hail recorded in Des Moines?
Radar confirmed 2.3-inch hail, about golf ball size, on March 31, 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.
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.
Is hail getting worse in Des Moines?
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 Des Moines, 16 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.
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.
Recent confirmed hail near Des Moines, IA
What this means for your home
If you were just hit
With recent hail in Des Moines, 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 Des Moines'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.
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.
Get more than one estimate
After a damaging storm, reputable local roofers get busy and out-of-town crews flood in. Get multiple written estimates and verify licensing and local references before signing anything.
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.
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 city by warning-area overlap. Federal public-domain data. A confirmed event indicates radar-detected hail over the area, not a guarantee of damage to any specific property.