Austin Hail — Storm History & NOAA Data for Austin, MN

Data current as of 2026-10-16 · Sourced from NOAA Storm Events

Over the past five years, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has recorded 60 hail storms within 25 miles of Austin, MN. Of those, 48 produced hail at least quarter-size — the threshold most insurance carriers consider potentially damaging to asphalt shingles. The largest reported hail in this window was baseball-sized or larger, which can fracture shingle mat and dent metal flashing on contact. 2022 was the most active year on record locally, with 18 documented hail events.

Check Hail History for a Specific Address in Austin

Hail Severity Breakdown — Austin Area (Last 5 Years)

SeverityCountWhat it means for roofs
Catastrophic1 eventBaseball+ size, structural roof damage likely
Destructive1 eventEgg-size, expect mat fractures and gutter damage
Severe16 eventsPing pong-size, granule loss and bruising common
Significant30 eventsQuarter-size, the standard insurance damage threshold
Moderate12 eventsMarble-size, possible cosmetic damage

Austin Hail Storms by Year

YearReported Hail Events Within 25 mi
202615 events
202510 events
20247 events
202310 events
202218 events

2022 was the busiest hail year on record locally for Austin, with 18 documented events inside the 25-mile radius. Storm activity in Austin typically peaks in spring and early summer, when the jet stream pushes Gulf moisture into the area and supercell thunderstorms become more frequent.

Notable Recent Austin Hail Storms

Recent Hail Events Near Austin

DateLocationSeveritySizeNOAA Comments
2026-05-27 2 S Albert Lea, MN Moderate 0.88" Photo of nickel size hail provided via NWS Chat. Time estimated via radar.
2026-05-27 Adams, MN Significant 1.00" —
2026-05-26 ADAMS, MN Significant 1.00" The public reported quarter sized hail near Adams.
2026-05-26 ELKTON, MN Moderate 0.75" The public reported penny sized roughly 3 miles west of Elkton. The report was relayed via mPING.
2026-05-26 3 W Elkton, MN Moderate 0.75" Report from mPING: Dime (0.75 in.).
2026-04-23 Albert Lea, MN Significant 1.00" —
2026-04-23 ALBERT LEA, MN Significant 1.00" —
2026-04-17 1 W Hayfield, MN Severe 1.75" —
2026-04-17 HAYFIELD, MN Significant 1.00" Emergency management reported quarter sized hail 1 mile northeast of Hayfield.
2026-04-17 DEXTER, MN Significant 1.00" The public reported quarter sized hail 1 mile east of Dexter.
2026-04-17 HAYFIELD, MN Severe 1.75" Emergency management reported golf ball sized hail 1 mile west of Hayfield.
2026-04-17 Hayfield, MN Significant 1.00" —
2026-04-17 Hayfield, MN Significant 1.00" —
2026-04-17 Dexter, MN Significant 1.00" —
2026-04-17 Hayfield, MN Significant 1.00" —
2025-09-22 GRAFTON, IA Significant 1.00" Delayed report, time estimated by radar.
2025-09-22 ST ANSGAR ARPT, IA Significant 1.00" The public reported quarter sized hail 2 miles northwest of Saint Ansgar Airport. The reports were relayed from local media.
2025-09-21 BLOOMING PRAIRIE, MN Severe 1.75" Golf ball size hail on Hwy 30 west of Blooming Prairie.
2025-09-21 BIXBY, MN Significant 1.00" Report of a large amount of hail, the largest around quarter sized.
2025-06-12 VARCO, MN Severe 1.50" The public reported ping pong ball sized hail 3 miles southeast of Varco.

Wind Storm History — Austin Area (Last 5 Years)

NOAA has recorded 60 high-wind events within 25 miles of Austin, MN in the past five years. Of those, 60 reached severe-thunderstorm thresholds (58+ mph). The highest measured gust was 83 mph.

SeverityCount
Severe30 events
Significant30 events

Recent Wind Events Near Austin

DateLocationGust (mph)SeverityNOAA Comments
2026-09-02 3 SSW Rose Creek, MN 55 Significant —
2026-07-20 3 S Hope, MN 52 Significant Mesonet station MN096 I-35 - Hope - Mp 30.
2026-05-18 2 WSW Austin, MN 63 Significant —
2026-05-18 Austin Airport, MN 61 Significant —
2026-05-17 GLENVILLE, MN 64 Severe Partial machine shed damage due to thunderstorm winds estimated at 65 mph.
2026-05-17 AUSTIN ACRES, MN 63 Significant The public reported a 63 mph wind gust near Austin.
2026-05-17 AUSTIN, MN 61 Significant The AWOS at Austin Municipal Airport reported a 61 mph wind gust.
2026-04-23 (AEL)ALBERT LEA ARPT, MN 62 Significant AWOS located at Albert Lea Municipal Airport a 62-mph wind gust.
2026-04-23 2 N Albert Lea, MN 62 Significant AWOS station KAEL Albert Lea AP.
2025-07-28 HAYFIELD, MN 69 Severe The public reported numerous soft and hardwood trees down near Blooming Prairie.
2025-07-28 LYLE, MN 58 Significant The mesonet station 4 miles north of Lyle reported a 58 mph wind gust.
2025-07-27 RAMSEY, MN 58 Significant The public reported downed trees 2 miles northwest of Ramsey.
2025-07-27 LYLE, MN 64 Severe A mesonet station 4 miles north-northeast of Lyle measured a 65 mph wind gust.
2025-06-23 DEXTER, MN 69 Severe The Mesonent station at Dexter on Interstate 90 measured a peak wind gust of 69 mph.
2025-06-23 DEXTER, MN 63 Significant A trained spotter reported healthy pine trees snapped at the trunk at the cemetery in Dexter.
2025-06-23 GRAND MEADOW, MN 58 Significant Law enforcement reported trees down in Grand Meadow.
2025-06-12 VARCO, MN 58 Significant Broadcast media relayed photos of fallen large trees and tree limbs near Austin.
2024-09-19 NORTHWOOD, IA 60 Significant Several trees down. Time estimate by radar.
2024-09-19 GORDONSVILLE, MN 60 Significant Multiple trees were down in Gordonsville.
2024-09-19 GORDONSVILLE, MN 69 Severe Dozens of mature trees were down along 810th Avenue north of Gordonsville.

Frequently Asked Questions About Austin Hail

When was the last major hail storm in Austin, MN?

The most recent quarter-size-or-larger hail storm recorded by NOAA within 25 miles of Austin was on May 27, 2026. HailCheck refreshes from the NOAA Storm Events database daily, so newer events appear here as they are reported.

How often does it hail in Austin?

Austin averages roughly 12 reported hail events per year within a 25-mile radius. Significant storms (quarter-size or larger) account for 48 of the 60 events recorded over the last five years.

How big does hail typically get in Austin?

The largest documented hail near Austin in the last five years was baseball-sized or larger. Most Austin-area hail falls in the marble-to-quarter range, with destructive storms (egg-size or larger) appearing roughly once every few years.

Does my insurance cover hail damage in MN?

Most homeowners insurance policies in MN cover hail damage to roofs, siding, and gutters under the dwelling and other-structures coverage. Coverage typically requires the damage to be tied to a verifiable storm date — which is where the NOAA hail history above (and a HAAG-style test square validation) becomes important for the claim file.

How do I check hail history for a specific Austin address?

Use the HailCheck address search to enter any street address in or near Austin. HailCheck returns every NOAA hail event within a configurable radius, along with severity bands, dates, and storm narratives for Pro members.

What a HAAG-Style Test Square Validation Means in Austin

If your property in or near Austin took on hail during one of the storms above, the standard process for documenting damage is a 10×10 foot test square inspection. A HAAG-trained reviewer counts impact indicators — granule displacement, mat fractures, and bruising — within the marked square and produces a PASS or FAIL document for the claim file.

HailCheck offers a $99 photo-based HAAG-style test square validation. You submit photos from the field, our reviewer evaluates the impact indicators and cross-references the NOAA storm dates listed above, and a written PASS/FAIL determination is returned within one business day. We do not send anyone to the roof — the validation is built around the photos you submit.

Learn About $99 HAAG-Style Validation

Why Austin's Location Matters for Hail

Austin sits east of the traditional hail alley, where hail events are less frequent than the central plains but tend to be associated with strong squall lines and tropical systems. Local roof systems are less commonly hardened for hail, which can mean even moderate impacts produce claim-worthy damage.

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