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 171 hail storms within 25 miles of Iowa City, IA. Of those, 143 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 96 documented hail events.
Check Hail History for a Specific Address in Iowa City| Severity | Count | What it means for roofs |
|---|---|---|
| Destructive | 11 events | Egg-size, expect mat fractures and gutter damage |
| Severe | 38 events | Ping pong-size, granule loss and bruising common |
| Significant | 94 events | Quarter-size, the standard insurance damage threshold |
| Moderate | 27 events | Marble-size, possible cosmetic damage |
| Minor | 1 event | Pea-size, unlikely to damage modern shingles |
| Year | Reported Hail Events Within 25 mi |
|---|---|
| 2026 | 96 events |
| 2025 | 5 events |
| 2024 | 22 events |
| 2023 | 38 events |
| 2022 | 10 events |
2026 was the busiest hail year on record locally for Iowa City, with 96 documented events inside the 25-mile radius. Storm activity in Iowa City 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-08-12 | 2 NW East Amana, IA | Moderate | 0.50" | Delayed report. |
| 2026-08-12 | 2 NW East Amana, IA | Moderate | 0.50" | — |
| 2026-07-20 | Fairfax, IA | Significant | 1.00" | Penny to Quarter Sized Hail. |
| 2026-04-17 | CEDAR RAPIDS, IA | Significant | 1.00" | Photo of quarter size hail reported through social media. Time estimated using radar data. |
| 2026-04-17 | 3 ENE Cedar Rapids, IA | Significant | 1.00" | Photo of quarter size hail relayed via social media. Time estimated by radar. |
| 2026-04-16 | Riverside, IA | Significant | 1.00" | — |
| 2026-04-16 | North Liberty, IA | Minor | 0.25" | — |
| 2026-04-15 | RIVERSIDE, IA | Significant | 1.00" | — |
| 2026-04-14 | WELLMAN, IA | Severe | 1.75" | Public report relayed by law enforcement. The time was estimated from radar data. |
| 2026-04-14 | Wellman, IA | Severe | 1.75" | Public report relayed by law enforcement. Time estimated from radar. |
| 2026-04-14 | COVINGTON, IA | Significant | 1.00" | Report received from Mping. |
| 2026-04-14 | 1 NE University Heights, IA | Significant | 1.25" | Report from mPING: Half Dollar (1.25 in.). |
| 2026-04-14 | 2 ENE Cedar Rapids, IA | Severe | 1.75" | — |
| 2026-04-14 | 1 NE Fairfax, IA | Significant | 1.25" | Report from mPING: Half Dollar (1.25 in.). |
| 2026-04-14 | CEDAR RAPIDS, IA | Severe | 1.75" | — |
| 2026-04-14 | BEVERLY, IA | Severe | 1.75" | Report received from Mping. |
| 2026-04-14 | 3 W Cedar Rapids, IA | Significant | 1.00" | Report from mPING: Quarter (1.00 in.). |
| 2026-04-14 | IOWA CITY, IA | Significant | 1.25" | — |
| 2026-04-14 | IOWA CITY, IA | Severe | 1.50" | The time was estimated from radar data. |
| 2026-04-14 | IOWA CITY, IA | Significant | 1.00" | Report received from Mping. |
NOAA has recorded 177 high-wind events within 25 miles of Iowa City, IA in the past five years. Of those, 177 reached severe-thunderstorm thresholds (58+ mph). The highest measured gust was 83 mph.
| Severity | Count |
|---|---|
| Severe | 117 events |
| Significant | 60 events |
| Date | Location | Gust (mph) | Severity | NOAA Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-09-09 | Cedar Rapids Municipali, IA | 69 | Severe | Peak wind gust at the Eastern Iowa Airport. |
| 2026-09-09 | Mount Vernon, IA | 58 | Significant | Estimated 50 to 60 mph winds with power outage for portions of Mt Vernon. |
| 2026-08-12 | Upper South Amana, IA | 67 | Severe | PWS reporting a 67 mph thunderstorm gust. Lots of small branches down. time of the event was estimated using radar,. |
| 2026-08-12 | 1 NW Atalissa, IA | 58 | Significant | — |
| 2026-08-07 | 2 NNE Cedar Rapids, IA | 65 | Severe | Estimated 65-70mph winds. |
| 2026-07-04 | 2 ESE Homestead, IA | 58 | Significant | — |
| 2026-06-17 | NORTH LIBERTY, IA | 70 | Severe | — |
| 2026-06-17 | CEDAR RAPIDS, IA | 70 | Severe | This was an estimated wind gust. Torrential rainfall also occurring at time of report. |
| 2026-06-17 | NORTH LIBERTY, IA | 64 | Severe | — |
| 2026-06-17 | 3 E Cedar Rapids, IA | 70 | Severe | Estimated wind gust. Torrential rainfall also occurring at time of report. |
| 2026-06-17 | NORTH LIBERTY, IA | 64 | Severe | A tree fell and damaged fence on Washington Ave. |
| 2026-06-17 | FAIRFAX, IA | 64 | Severe | A fireworks sales tent collapsed. |
| 2026-06-17 | (CID)CEDAR RAPIDS AR, IA | 78 | Severe | Recorded by the Cedar Rapids Eastern Iowa Airport. |
| 2026-06-17 | 2 NW North Liberty, IA | 60 | Significant | — |
| 2026-06-17 | FAIRFAX, IA | 75 | Severe | — |
| 2026-06-17 | NORTH LIBERTY, IA | 60 | Significant | — |
| 2026-06-17 | 1 ESE Walford, IA | 75 | Severe | — |
| 2026-06-17 | Cedar Rapids Municipali, IA | 78 | Severe | — |
| 2026-06-17 | 1 N North Liberty, IA | 64 | Severe | — |
| 2026-06-17 | (CID)CEDAR RAPIDS AR, IA | 66 | Severe | — |
The most recent quarter-size-or-larger hail storm recorded by NOAA within 25 miles of Iowa City was on July 20, 2026. HailCheck refreshes from the NOAA Storm Events database daily, so newer events appear here as they are reported.
Iowa City averages roughly 34 reported hail events per year within a 25-mile radius. Significant storms (quarter-size or larger) account for 143 of the 171 events recorded over the last five years.
The largest documented hail near Iowa City in the last five years was egg-sized. Most Iowa City-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 Iowa City. 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 Iowa City 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 ValidationIowa City 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.