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 93 hail storms within 25 miles of Mankato, MN. Of those, 82 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 45 documented hail events.
Check Hail History for a Specific Address in Mankato| Severity | Count | What it means for roofs |
|---|---|---|
| Catastrophic | 6 events | Baseball+ size, structural roof damage likely |
| Destructive | 17 events | Egg-size, expect mat fractures and gutter damage |
| Severe | 21 events | Ping pong-size, granule loss and bruising common |
| Significant | 38 events | Quarter-size, the standard insurance damage threshold |
| Moderate | 11 events | Marble-size, possible cosmetic damage |
| Year | Reported Hail Events Within 25 mi |
|---|---|
| 2026 | 45 events |
| 2025 | 13 events |
| 2024 | 5 events |
| 2023 | 11 events |
| 2022 | 19 events |
2026 was the busiest hail year on record locally for Mankato, with 45 documented events inside the 25-mile radius. Storm activity in Mankato 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-09-02 | 3 S Waldorf, MN | Significant | 1.00" | quarter sized hail reported on spotter network. |
| 2026-08-09 | 2 ENE Lewisville, MN | Moderate | 0.88" | Phoned in hail diameter measurement. Time estimated via radar. |
| 2026-08-07 | 5 E Hanska, MN | Significant | 1.00" | — |
| 2026-07-02 | 3 SSE Skyline, MN | Moderate | 0.70" | — |
| 2026-05-24 | New Ulm, MN | Significant | 1.00" | — |
| 2026-05-24 | NEW ULM, MN | Significant | 1.00" | — |
| 2026-05-24 | 1 W Le Sueur, MN | Significant | 1.25" | Report from mPING: Half Dollar (1.25 in.). |
| 2026-05-24 | Le Sueur, MN | Moderate | 0.75" | Report from mPING: Dime (0.75 in.). |
| 2026-05-24 | HENDERSON, MN | Significant | 1.25" | Dime to half dollar size. |
| 2026-04-17 | New Ulm, MN | Significant | 1.00" | Photo measurement provided via NWSChat. Time estimated via radar. |
| 2026-04-17 | KILKENNY, MN | Significant | 1.00" | Report received via NWS Chat. |
| 2026-04-17 | Kasota, MN | Significant | 1.00" | Report received via NWSChat. Time estimated via radar. |
| 2026-04-17 | Kilkenny, MN | Significant | 1.00" | Delayed report. Confirmed by Emergency Management. |
| 2026-04-17 | KASOTA, MN | Significant | 1.00" | Report received via NWS Chat. |
| 2026-04-14 | 3 SSW Skyline, MN | Severe | 1.50" | — |
| 2026-04-14 | 4 WNW Lake Crystal, MN | Destructive | 2.75" | — |
| 2026-04-14 | 2 SW Judson, MN | Destructive | 2.00" | — |
| 2026-04-14 | Lake Crystal, MN | Catastrophic | 3.00" | — |
| 2026-04-14 | 1 W Lake Crystal, MN | Severe | 1.75" | Report from mPING: Golf Ball (1.75 in.). |
| 2026-04-14 | Lake Crystal, MN | Catastrophic | 3.50" | — |
NOAA has recorded 40 high-wind events within 25 miles of Mankato, MN in the past five years. Of those, 40 reached severe-thunderstorm thresholds (58+ mph). The highest measured gust was 85 mph.
| Severity | Count |
|---|---|
| Severe | 14 events |
| Significant | 26 events |
| Date | Location | Gust (mph) | Severity | NOAA Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-05-24 | NICOLLET, MN | 60 | Significant | Several trained spotters reported blowing dust as thunderstorms impacted the county. Spotter estimated 50-60 MPH winds during the peak gusts. |
| 2026-05-24 | 1 N Nicollet, MN | 60 | Significant | Lots of blowing dust ahead of severe warned thunderstorms. Spotter estimated 50-60 MPH winds. |
| 2025-08-17 | SEARLES, MN | 58 | Significant | Thunderstorm winds estimated at 58 mph snapped a large tree branch that fell onto a truck in Judson Township. |
| 2025-07-28 | LE CENTER, MN | 58 | Significant | Report of a tree down in Le Center. |
| 2025-07-28 | CLEVELAND, MN | 58 | Significant | Report of a tree down in the town of Cleveland or four miles west of St. Peter. |
| 2025-06-02 | NEW ULM, MN | 60 | Significant | Thunderstorm winds estimated at 60 mph snapped several large trees snapped at their base in German Park, downed a dead, 2 foot diameter tree along 5th North Street, and downed several trees near the New Ulm Medical Center. |
| 2025-04-28 | MINNESOTA LAKE, MN | 58 | Significant | Photo of large pine tree blown over. |
| 2025-03-28 | GARDEN CITY, MN | 61 | Significant | A 61 mph wind gust was measured using a personal weather instrument by a storm chaser. |
| 2024-08-29 | NORTH MANKATO, MN | 64 | Severe | County dispatch reported a power line down near the intersection of Webster Ave and Center St. |
| 2024-08-29 | NEW ULM, MN | 70 | Severe | Multiple downed trees blocked roads throughout New Ulm. |
| 2024-08-05 | WASECA MUNI ARPT, MN | 85 | Severe | Photos submitted of damage of a destroyed grain bin and crop damage. |
| 2024-08-05 | EAGLE LAKE, MN | 70 | Severe | Several tree branches down on power lines. |
| 2024-07-31 | LE CENTER, MN | 60 | Significant | A large pine tree was down on a power line. |
| 2024-07-31 | HENDERSON, MN | 60 | Significant | A trained spotter reported numerous 3 inch diameter branches down as well as a 10 inch diameter pine tree that was uprooted. |
| 2024-07-31 | LE SUEUR, MN | 63 | Significant | Multiple large trees were blown down. |
| 2024-06-17 | MAPLETON, MN | 59 | Significant | Measured by a MNDOT Road Weather Information System. |
| 2024-05-24 | WALDORF, MN | 63 | Significant | A baseball field dugout was destroyed and a large tree was split. Large branches were also downed. Pictures were relayed via Slack. Time estimated by radar. |
| 2023-08-10 | NEW ULM, MN | 58 | Significant | A report of a tree down in the city of New Ulm was related by dispatch. The New Ulm airport west of town had a measured wind gust of 56 mph. |
| 2023-08-10 | NORTH MANKATO, MN | 58 | Significant | A tree was down on a highway. |
| 2023-07-27 | NORTH MANKATO, MN | 58 | Significant | Photo of large tree branches downed by strong thunderstorm winds in Spring Lake Park. Mankato Regional Airport reported a 50 mph wind gusts at 11:56 PM. |
The most recent quarter-size-or-larger hail storm recorded by NOAA within 25 miles of Mankato was on September 2, 2026. HailCheck refreshes from the NOAA Storm Events database daily, so newer events appear here as they are reported.
Mankato averages roughly 19 reported hail events per year within a 25-mile radius. Significant storms (quarter-size or larger) account for 82 of the 93 events recorded over the last five years.
The largest documented hail near Mankato in the last five years was baseball-sized or larger. Most Mankato-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 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.
Use the HailCheck address search to enter any street address in or near Mankato. 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 Mankato 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 ValidationMankato 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.