Hail in Walworth County, SD
Hail turns up in Walworth County on a regular basis. NOAA radar has confirmed 7 hail events of 1 inch or larger in Walworth County since 2025, the largest 1.7″ (half dollar) on July 8, 2026. The most recent confirmed hail was July 8, 2026.
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About Walworth County, SD
Walworth County lies in north-central South Dakota along the Missouri River, open prairie on the rolling Coteau country. Hail is uncommon and tends to surface only when warm-season storms gather enough moisture and instability over the northern Plains. The Bismarck radar (KBIS) is fairly distant at about 99 miles to the north, a range at which it reads storm tops more clearly than near-ground structure.
The hail record for Walworth County, SD
Walworth County doesn't see hail every month, but it's a recurring visitor, with 7 confirmed events since 2025.
This year has run hot: 5 confirmed events in 2026 already, ahead of the recent pace.
July does most of the damage here; Walworth County is comparatively quiet the rest of the year.
Common questions
How often does it hail in Walworth County?
NOAA radar has confirmed 7 severe hail events (1 inch or larger) in the Walworth County area since 2025.
When is hail season in Walworth County?
Hail in Walworth County is concentrated in July, within a season that runs spring into early summer.
What's the largest hail recorded in Walworth County?
Radar confirmed 1.7-inch hail, about half dollar size, on July 8, 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 Walworth County's hail big enough to damage a roof?
It can be. Asphalt shingles can begin showing functional damage in the ¾-to-1-inch range, and Walworth County's confirmed hail reaches 1.7″. At these sizes damage is often hard to see from the ground, so whether it's a claimable loss depends on shingle type, age, and an inspection.
Is hail getting worse in Walworth 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 Walworth County, 5 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.
Recent confirmed hail near Walworth County, SD
What this means for your home
If you were just hit
With recent hail in Walworth 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 Walworth 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.
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.
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 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.