Northfield Hail — Storm History & NOAA Data for Northfield, MN

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 114 hail storms within 25 miles of Northfield, MN. Of those, 103 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 43 documented hail events.

Check Hail History for a Specific Address in Northfield

Hail Severity Breakdown — Northfield Area (Last 5 Years)

SeverityCountWhat it means for roofs
Catastrophic7 eventsBaseball+ size, structural roof damage likely
Destructive8 eventsEgg-size, expect mat fractures and gutter damage
Severe27 eventsPing pong-size, granule loss and bruising common
Significant61 eventsQuarter-size, the standard insurance damage threshold
Moderate11 eventsMarble-size, possible cosmetic damage

Northfield Hail Storms by Year

YearReported Hail Events Within 25 mi
202643 events
20259 events
202413 events
202328 events
202221 events

2026 was the busiest hail year on record locally for Northfield, with 43 documented events inside the 25-mile radius. Storm activity in Northfield 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 Northfield Hail Storms

Recent Hail Events Near Northfield

DateLocationSeveritySizeNOAA Comments
2026-04-17 KILKENNY, MN Significant 1.00" Report received via NWS Chat.
2026-04-17 Kilkenny, MN Significant 1.00" Delayed report. Confirmed by Emergency Management.
2026-04-17 CANNON CITY, MN Significant 1.00" —
2026-04-17 4 NE Faribault, MN Significant 1.00" —
2026-04-17 CANNON FALLS, MN Significant 1.00" Hail measurement provided via NWS Chat.
2026-04-17 1 S Cannon Falls, MN Significant 1.00" —
2026-04-17 2 SSW Cannon Falls, MN Significant 1.00" Hail measurement photo provided via NWSChat. Time estimated via radar.
2026-04-17 CANNON FALLS, MN Significant 1.00" —
2026-04-17 HASTINGS, MN Moderate 0.88" Photo measurement provided via Facebook.
2026-04-17 Hastings, MN Moderate 0.88" Measurement provided via Facebook. Time estimated via radar.
2026-04-14 1 N Owatonna, MN Significant 1.00" Report from mPING: Quarter (1.00 in.).
2026-04-14 6 SE Morristown, MN Catastrophic 3.00" Photo with measured hail.
2026-04-14 5 W West Concord, MN Severe 1.50" —
2026-04-13 2 W Dennison, MN Severe 1.75" Reported relayed via Slack.
2026-04-13 FARIBAULT, MN Destructive 2.00" —
2026-04-13 MERIDEN, MN Catastrophic 3.00" —
2026-04-13 2 NE Dennison, MN Severe 1.50" —
2026-04-13 OWATONNA, MN Significant 1.00" —
2026-04-13 DENNISON, MN Catastrophic 3.30" —
2026-04-13 CANNON CITY, MN Catastrophic 3.00" —

Wind Storm History — Northfield Area (Last 5 Years)

NOAA has recorded 51 high-wind events within 25 miles of Northfield, MN in the past five years. Of those, 51 reached severe-thunderstorm thresholds (58+ mph). The highest measured gust was 79 mph.

SeverityCount
Severe16 events
Significant35 events

Recent Wind Events Near Northfield

DateLocationGust (mph)SeverityNOAA Comments
2026-07-20 3 NNW Owatonna, MN 51 Significant AWOS station KOWA Owatonna AP.
2025-07-28 MONTGOMERY, MN 69 Severe Large healthy pine tree snapped about 15 feet above ground, with its top resting on a house. This was near the intersection of 3rd Street NE and Linden Avenue. Large limbs snapped nearby.
2025-07-28 OWATONNA ARPT, MN 70 Severe —
2025-07-28 FARIBAULT ARPT, MN 58 Significant A three inch diameter tree was reported down near the airport.
2025-07-28 ST BENEDICT, MN 61 Significant Measured by Scott County mesonet near St. Benedict.
2025-07-28 PRIOR LAKE, MN 63 Significant Large tree down 2 miles west of Prior Lake in the Spring Lake Estates neighborhood.
2025-07-28 PRIOR LAKE, MN 61 Significant Tree down across Cassandra St in Prior Lake.
2025-07-28 CREDIT RIVER, MN 64 Severe Measured at CR27 and Longview two miles southwest of Credit River.
2025-07-28 SAVAGE, MN 62 Significant —
2025-07-28 ROSEMOUNT, MN 62 Significant Report of downed power lines near Highway 3 in Rosemount.
2025-07-28 CANNON FALLS, MN 58 Significant Trees down across Goodhue County, including the town of Cannon Falls. A MNDOT RWIS station located seven miles SSE of Cannon Falls measured a 58-mph wind gust.
2025-04-28 KENYON, MN 75 Severe Photos of roof damage to large commercial warehouse in Kenyon.
2025-04-17 FARIBAULT, MN 58 Significant Large tree branch snapped on the southern side of the Faribault Golf Course.
2024-08-29 FARIBAULT, MN 60 Significant Multiple large trees down with some landing on power lines and resulting in power outages across north Faribault.
2024-08-29 EAGAN, MN 60 Significant Photo provided via social media of snapped maple tree.
2024-08-29 EAGAN, MN 64 Severe Photo provided via social media of significant tree damage near Jefferson Trail NW and South Robert Trail in Eagan.
2024-08-27 EAGAN, MN 58 Significant Large uprooted oak tree reported on social media.
2024-08-27 EAGAN, MN 58 Significant Time estimated from radar. Delayed report of several large tree branches down, power lines also down.
2024-08-27 PRIOR LAKE, MN 58 Significant Large tree branches were down.
2024-08-27 ROSEMOUNT, MN 58 Significant Numerous trees down, including one on a house and one on a truck.

Frequently Asked Questions About Northfield Hail

When was the last major hail storm in Northfield, MN?

The most recent quarter-size-or-larger hail storm recorded by NOAA within 25 miles of Northfield was on April 17, 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 Northfield?

Northfield averages roughly 23 reported hail events per year within a 25-mile radius. Significant storms (quarter-size or larger) account for 103 of the 114 events recorded over the last five years.

How big does hail typically get in Northfield?

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

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.

How do I check hail history for a specific Northfield address?

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

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

Northfield 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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