Lafayette Hail — Storm History & NOAA Data for Lafayette, IN

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 51 hail storms within 25 miles of Lafayette, IN. Of those, 24 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. 2026 was the most active year on record locally, with 39 documented hail events.

Check Hail History for a Specific Address in Lafayette

Hail Severity Breakdown — Lafayette 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
Severe5 eventsPing pong-size, granule loss and bruising common
Significant17 eventsQuarter-size, the standard insurance damage threshold
Moderate18 eventsMarble-size, possible cosmetic damage
Minor9 eventsPea-size, unlikely to damage modern shingles

Lafayette Hail Storms by Year

YearReported Hail Events Within 25 mi
202639 events
20252 events
20242 events
20238 events

2026 was the busiest hail year on record locally for Lafayette, with 39 documented events inside the 25-mile radius. Storm activity in Lafayette 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 Lafayette Hail Storms

Recent Hail Events Near Lafayette

DateLocationSeveritySizeNOAA Comments
2026-08-19 5 SSE Rossville, IN Minor 0.25" —
2026-08-11 5 N Newtown, IN Severe 1.75" Time estimated from radar.
2026-08-11 2 S Frankfort, IN Moderate 0.50" Report from mPING: Half-inch (0.50 in.).
2026-08-11 1 S Frankfort, IN Minor 0.25" —
2026-08-11 Colfax, IN Minor 0.25" —
2026-08-11 1 NW Darlington, IN Moderate 0.75" Report from mPING: Dime (0.75 in.).
2026-08-11 1 NW Darlington, IN Moderate 0.75" Report from mPING: Dime (0.75 in.).
2026-08-11 1 NW Darlington, IN Moderate 0.88" —
2026-07-28 Rainsville, IN Significant 1.25" Time estimated from radar.
2026-06-16 9 WNW West Lafayette, IN Significant 1.00" —
2026-06-16 MONTMORENCIE, IN Significant 1.00" —
2026-06-16 Oxford, IN Moderate 0.70" —
2026-06-16 TEMPLETON, IN Significant 1.25" —
2026-06-16 2 E Oxford, IN Significant 1.25" —
2026-06-16 Monticello, IN Moderate 0.88" Reported by Trained Spotter.
2026-06-16 2 NE Rockfield, IN Significant 1.25" Report from mPING: Half Dollar (1.25 in.).
2026-06-16 3 WSW Battle Ground, IN Moderate 0.50" —
2026-06-16 4 N West Lafayette, IN Minor 0.25" CR 500-600 and 50-75 just north of Harrison High School.
2026-06-16 ROCKFIELD, IN Significant 1.25" Multiple reports of 1.25 inch hail in Carroll County.
2026-06-16 1 NE Flora, IN Significant 1.25" —

Wind Storm History — Lafayette Area (Last 5 Years)

NOAA has recorded 87 high-wind events within 25 miles of Lafayette, IN in the past five years. Of those, 87 reached severe-thunderstorm thresholds (58+ mph). The highest measured gust was 81 mph.

SeverityCount
Severe15 events
Significant72 events

Recent Wind Events Near Lafayette

DateLocationGust (mph)SeverityNOAA Comments
2026-08-11 2 SW Purdue University, IN 63 Significant —
2026-06-12 4 ESE Oxford, IN 65 Severe Peak gust measured on personal weather station before data stopped being reported.
2026-06-12 1 N Frankfort, IN 59 Significant Measured from personal weather station.
2026-06-12 2 W Colfax, IN 59 Significant measured from personal weather station.
2026-06-11 TEMPLETON, IN 64 Severe A personal weather station measured a wind gust to 65 mph before data stopped being reported.
2026-06-11 GLEN CLIFF, IN 60 Significant Thunderstorm winds downed trees and affected barns across Warren County.
2026-06-11 LAFAYETTE, IN 58 Significant Thunderstorm winds downed large tree onto 9th Street.
2026-06-11 FRANKFORT, IN 59 Significant A 59 mph thunderstorm wind gust was measured at this location.
2026-06-11 BOWERS, IN 59 Significant A 59 mph thunderstorm wind gust was measured at this location.
2026-06-11 CAIRO, IN 63 Significant Two semis blown over by thunderstorm wind gusts on I-65.
2026-06-11 WHITE CO ARPT, IN 60 Significant A member of the public reported several large trees down.
2026-06-09 MONITOR, IN 58 Significant Thunderstorm wind gusts downed a tree.
2026-06-09 2 SW Purdue University, IN 61 Significant KLAF Airport ASOS.
2026-06-09 (LAF)PURDUE UNIV LAF, IN 61 Significant KLAF ASOS measured a 53 kt thunderstorm wind gust.
2026-06-06 LAFAYETTE, IN 58 Significant Several tree limbs downed by thunderstorm winds.
2026-06-06 1 N Frankfort, IN 55 Significant Davis station.
2026-06-06 FRANKFORT, IN 58 Significant Property damage caused by thunderstorm winds.
2026-04-28 2 W Frankfort, IN 60 Significant —
2026-04-28 1 SW Purdue University, IN 60 Significant KLAF ASOS.
2026-04-27 (LAF)PURDUE UNIV LAF, IN 60 Significant KLAF ASOS measured a 52 kt or 60 mph wind gust.

Frequently Asked Questions About Lafayette Hail

When was the last major hail storm in Lafayette, IN?

The most recent quarter-size-or-larger hail storm recorded by NOAA within 25 miles of Lafayette was on August 11, 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 Lafayette?

Lafayette averages roughly 10 reported hail events per year within a 25-mile radius. Significant storms (quarter-size or larger) account for 24 of the 51 events recorded over the last five years.

How big does hail typically get in Lafayette?

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

Most homeowners insurance policies in IN 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 Lafayette address?

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

If your property in or near Lafayette 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 Lafayette's Location Matters for Hail

Lafayette 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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