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 100 hail storms within 25 miles of Dubuque, IA. Of those, 85 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 egg-sized, which can fracture shingle mat and dent metal flashing on contact. 2026 was the most active year on record locally, with 58 documented hail events.
Check Hail History for a Specific Address in Dubuque| Severity | Count | What it means for roofs |
|---|---|---|
| Destructive | 11 events | Egg-size, expect mat fractures and gutter damage |
| Severe | 29 events | Ping pong-size, granule loss and bruising common |
| Significant | 45 events | Quarter-size, the standard insurance damage threshold |
| Moderate | 14 events | Marble-size, possible cosmetic damage |
| Minor | 1 event | Pea-size, unlikely to damage modern shingles |
| Year | Reported Hail Events Within 25 mi |
|---|---|
| 2026 | 58 events |
| 2025 | 13 events |
| 2024 | 16 events |
| 2023 | 11 events |
| 2022 | 2 events |
2026 was the busiest hail year on record locally for Dubuque, with 58 documented events inside the 25-mile radius. Storm activity in Dubuque typically peaks in spring and early summer, when the jet stream pushes Gulf moisture into the area and supercell thunderstorms become more frequent.
| Date | Location | Severity | Size | NOAA Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-07-03 | Bellevue, IA | Severe | 1.50" | Delayed report, via social media. Time estimated from radar. |
| 2026-07-02 | 2 W Farley, IA | Significant | 1.25" | — |
| 2026-06-24 | 4 W Lancaster, WI | Significant | 1.00" | Report from mPING: Quarter (1.00 in.). |
| 2026-06-24 | FIVE PTS, WI | Significant | 1.00" | The public reported quarter sized hail 1 mile northeast of Five Points. |
| 2026-04-17 | 1 S Cascade, IA | Significant | 1.00" | Report from mPING: Quarter (1.00 in.). |
| 2026-04-17 | TEMPLE HILL, IA | Significant | 1.00" | Reported on Mping. |
| 2026-04-17 | GALENA, IL | Severe | 1.50" | Reported on Mping. |
| 2026-04-17 | RODDEN, IL | Severe | 1.75" | Reported on Mping. |
| 2026-04-17 | 2 S Galena Territory, IL | Severe | 1.75" | Report from mPING: Golf Ball (1.75 in.). |
| 2026-04-17 | RODDEN, IL | Severe | 1.75" | Reported on Mping. |
| 2026-04-17 | RODDEN, IL | Severe | 1.75" | Reported on Mping. |
| 2026-04-17 | 1 SE Galena, IL | Significant | 1.25" | Report from mPING: Half Dollar (1.25 in.). |
| 2026-04-17 | GALENA, IL | Significant | 1.25" | Reported from Mping. |
| 2026-04-17 | RICE, IL | Severe | 1.75" | — |
| 2026-04-17 | 1 E Rodden, IL | Severe | 1.75" | Report from mPING: Golf Ball (1.75 in.). |
| 2026-04-17 | 1 E Galena Territory, IL | Significant | 1.00" | Report from mPING: Quarter (1.00 in.). |
| 2026-04-17 | 2 S Galena Territory, IL | Severe | 1.75" | Report from mPING: Golf Ball (1.75 in.). |
| 2026-04-17 | 2 W Galena Territory, IL | Severe | 1.50" | Report from mPING: Ping Pong Ball (1.50 in.). |
| 2026-04-17 | 2 N Rodden, IL | Severe | 1.75" | Report from mPING: Golf Ball (1.75 in.). |
| 2026-04-17 | GALENA, IL | Severe | 1.50" | Reported on Mping. |
NOAA has recorded 145 high-wind events within 25 miles of Dubuque, IA in the past five years. Of those, 145 reached severe-thunderstorm thresholds (58+ mph). The highest measured gust was 97 mph.
| Severity | Count |
|---|---|
| Destructive | 1 event |
| Severe | 90 events |
| Significant | 54 events |
| Date | Location | Gust (mph) | Severity | NOAA Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-08-11 | 1 WSW Farley, IA | 85 | Severe | Measured 85 MPH wind gust just west of town. The roof on a commercial building was removed by the storm. |
| 2026-08-11 | 2 S Dyersville, IA | 77 | Severe | Estimated winds to 77mph. No damage visible at my location at this time. Winds to 65mph still occurring. |
| 2026-08-11 | Farley, IA | 80 | Severe | — |
| 2026-08-11 | 2 S Dyersville, IA | 85 | Severe | Estimated sporadic 85+ mph gusts along backside of storms under the rear inflow jet. |
| 2026-08-11 | Dubuque Regional Arpt, IA | 65 | Severe | REPORTED AT DUBUQUE REGIONAL AIRPORT. |
| 2026-07-02 | 4 N Tennyson, WI | 73 | Severe | Personal weather station. |
| 2026-07-02 | 1 NW Tennyson, WI | 60 | Significant | — |
| 2026-07-02 | 4 SSE Platteville, WI | 78 | Severe | — |
| 2026-06-24 | ELK GROVE, WI | 58 | Significant | Power lines were reported down south of Belmont. |
| 2026-06-10 | CENTRALIA, IA | 81 | Severe | Widespread large trees reporrted blown down. |
| 2026-06-10 | EPWORTH, IA | 69 | Severe | Tree down one mile West of Epworth reported by off duty NWS Employee. |
| 2026-06-10 | Dubuque Regional Arpt, IA | 74 | Severe | Peak wind gust at Dubuque Regional Airport. |
| 2026-06-10 | (DBQ)DUBUQUE MUNI AR, IA | 74 | Severe | Peak wind gust reported at Dubuque Regional Airport. |
| 2026-06-10 | (DBQ)DUBUQUE MUNI AR, IA | 81 | Severe | Several trees were blown down east of Peosta. Reported by off duty NWS Employee. The time of the event was estimated using radar. |
| 2026-06-10 | GALENA, IL | 75 | Severe | Few dozen trees and wires down. A couple houses were hit by falling trees. |
| 2026-06-10 | GALENA, IL | 58 | Significant | Several dozen small branches down, several large branches. |
| 2026-06-10 | Kieler, WI | 60 | Significant | — |
| 2026-06-10 | DICKEYVILLE, WI | 58 | Significant | The public reported a large tree uprooted near Dickeyville. The report was relayed via social media. |
| 2026-06-10 | Potosi, WI | 61 | Significant | — |
| 2026-06-10 | CENTER GROVE, IA | 60 | Significant | Six inch diameter tree limbs snapped. Time estimated by radar. |
The most recent quarter-size-or-larger hail storm recorded by NOAA within 25 miles of Dubuque was on July 3, 2026. HailCheck refreshes from the NOAA Storm Events database daily, so newer events appear here as they are reported.
Dubuque averages roughly 20 reported hail events per year within a 25-mile radius. Significant storms (quarter-size or larger) account for 85 of the 100 events recorded over the last five years.
The largest documented hail near Dubuque in the last five years was egg-sized. Most Dubuque-area hail falls in the marble-to-quarter range, with destructive storms (egg-size or larger) appearing roughly once every few years.
Most homeowners insurance policies in IA 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.
Use the HailCheck address search to enter any street address in or near Dubuque. HailCheck returns every NOAA hail event within a configurable radius, along with severity bands, dates, and storm narratives for Pro members.
If your property in or near Dubuque 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 ValidationDubuque 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.