Hays Hail — Storm History & NOAA Data for Hays, KS

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 84 hail storms within 25 miles of Hays, KS. Of those, 70 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. 2024 was the most active year on record locally, with 40 documented hail events.

Hail Severity Breakdown — Hays Area (Last 5 Years)

Hays Hail Storms by Year

2024 was the busiest hail year on record locally for Hays, with 40 documented events inside the 25-mile radius. Storm activity in Hays 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 Hays Hail Storms

• July 4, 2026 — Significant hail (quarter-sized or larger) reported near 10 NNE Ogallah. This storm met the quarter-size insurance damage threshold and is a candidate date when filing a claim for Hays-area properties.
• June 9, 2026 — Severe hail (ping pong ball-sized) reported near 2 WNW Catherine. This storm met the quarter-size insurance damage threshold and is a candidate date when filing a claim for Hays-area properties.
• June 9, 2026 — Significant hail (quarter-sized or larger) reported near 1 N Hays. This storm met the quarter-size insurance damage threshold and is a candidate date when filing a claim for Hays-area properties.
• June 9, 2026 — Significant hail (quarter-sized or larger) reported near 1 ENE Codell. This storm met the quarter-size insurance damage threshold and is a candidate date when filing a claim for Hays-area properties.
• June 9, 2026 — Significant hail (quarter-sized or larger) reported near 3 E Codell. This storm met the quarter-size insurance damage threshold and is a candidate date when filing a claim for Hays-area properties.

Recent Hail Events Near Hays

Wind Storm History — Hays Area (Last 5 Years)

NOAA has recorded 81 high-wind events within 25 miles of Hays, KS in the past five years. Of those, 81 reached severe-thunderstorm thresholds (58+ mph). The highest measured gust was 91 mph.

Recent Wind Events Near Hays

Frequently Asked Questions About Hays Hail

When was the last major hail storm in Hays, KS?

The most recent quarter-size-or-larger hail storm recorded by NOAA within 25 miles of Hays was on July 4, 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 Hays?

Hays averages roughly 17 reported hail events per year within a 25-mile radius. Significant storms (quarter-size or larger) account for 70 of the 84 events recorded over the last five years.

How big does hail typically get in Hays?

The largest documented hail near Hays in the last five years was baseball-sized or larger. Most Hays-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 KS?

Most homeowners insurance policies in KS 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 Hays address?

Use the HailCheck address search to enter any street address in or near Hays. 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 Hays

If your property in or near Hays 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.

Why Hays's Location Matters for Hail

Hays sits inside the central United States hail belt, where warm Gulf moisture collides with cold continental air to produce supercell thunderstorms capable of dropping the hail documented above. Properties in this zone typically see at least one significant hail event every two to four years.

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