Rochester Hail — Storm History & NOAA Data for Rochester, 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 122 hail storms within 25 miles of Rochester, MN. Of those, 87 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. 2022 was the most active year on record locally, with 36 documented hail events.

Check Hail History for a Specific Address in Rochester

Hail Severity Breakdown — Rochester Area (Last 5 Years)

SeverityCountWhat it means for roofs
Destructive3 eventsEgg-size, expect mat fractures and gutter damage
Severe25 eventsPing pong-size, granule loss and bruising common
Significant59 eventsQuarter-size, the standard insurance damage threshold
Moderate32 eventsMarble-size, possible cosmetic damage
Minor3 eventsPea-size, unlikely to damage modern shingles

Rochester Hail Storms by Year

YearReported Hail Events Within 25 mi
202635 events
202519 events
202414 events
202318 events
202236 events

2022 was the busiest hail year on record locally for Rochester, with 36 documented events inside the 25-mile radius. Storm activity in Rochester 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 Rochester Hail Storms

Recent Hail Events Near Rochester

DateLocationSeveritySizeNOAA Comments
2026-08-18 Saint Charles, MN Significant 1.00" —
2026-08-18 2 SSE Viola, MN Significant 1.00" —
2026-07-01 5 WSW Cummingsville, MN Moderate 0.70" —
2026-06-10 3 NNE Rochester, MN Significant 1.25" —
2026-06-10 3 NNE Rochester, MN Significant 1.00" —
2026-06-10 ROCHESTER, MN Moderate 0.88" Trained spotters reported nickel sized hail 3 miles north of Rochester.
2026-06-10 ROCHESTER, MN Significant 1.25" Broadcast Media reported half dollar sized hail 2 miles north-northeast of Rochester.
2026-06-10 4 N Rochester, MN Moderate 0.88" —
2026-04-24 5 N Stewartville, MN Moderate 0.70" —
2026-04-17 1 W Hayfield, MN Severe 1.75" —
2026-04-17 HAYFIELD, MN Significant 1.00" Emergency management reported quarter sized hail 1 mile northeast of Hayfield.
2026-04-17 DEXTER, MN Significant 1.00" The public reported quarter sized hail 1 mile east of Dexter.
2026-04-17 HAYFIELD, MN Severe 1.75" Emergency management reported golf ball sized hail 1 mile west of Hayfield.
2026-04-17 Hayfield, MN Significant 1.00" —
2026-04-17 Hayfield, MN Significant 1.00" —
2026-04-17 Dexter, MN Significant 1.00" —
2026-04-17 Hayfield, MN Significant 1.00" —
2026-04-17 ST CHARLES, MN Severe 1.50" The public reported ping pong ball hail sized in St. Charles.
2026-04-17 Saint Charles, MN Severe 1.50" —
2026-04-17 Saint Charles, MN Severe 1.50" —

Wind Storm History — Rochester Area (Last 5 Years)

NOAA has recorded 113 high-wind events within 25 miles of Rochester, MN in the past five years. Of those, 113 reached severe-thunderstorm thresholds (58+ mph). The highest measured gust was 85 mph.

SeverityCount
Severe40 events
Significant73 events

Recent Wind Events Near Rochester

DateLocationGust (mph)SeverityNOAA Comments
2026-09-02 1 NNW Spring Valley, MN 52 Significant —
2026-09-02 3 NNW Stewartville, MN 61 Significant ASOS station KRST Rochester International Airport.
2026-09-02 Saint Charles, MN 63 Significant Personal Weather Station.
2026-09-02 2 NNW Marion, MN 64 Severe —
2026-09-02 2 E Kasson, MN 62 Significant Mesonet station MN029 U.s.14 - Byron - Mp 200.
2026-09-02 Rochester, MN 68 Severe AWOS station K9MN Mayo Helipad.
2026-09-02 1 ENE Elgin, MN 64 Severe —
2026-09-02 4 N Rochester, MN 67 Severe Measured via Personal Weather Station.
2026-07-01 5 WSW Cummingsville, MN 59 Significant —
2026-04-24 3 N Stewartville, MN 51 Significant —
2026-04-24 4 N Rochester, MN 51 Significant —
2026-04-14 3 NNW Stewartville, MN 54 Significant ASOS station KRST Rochester International Airport.
2026-04-14 1 W Spring Valley, MN 58 Significant —
2026-04-14 Spring Valley, MN 57 Significant —
2026-04-14 Dodge Center, MN 55 Significant —
2026-04-13 SPRING VLY, MN 58 Significant Emergency management reported a 59 mph wind gust 1 mile northwest of Spring Valley.
2025-07-28 ROCHESTER, MN 69 Severe The public reported a broken 10 inch diameter tree limb from a healthy tree about 3 miles south-southwest of Rochester.
2025-07-28 (RST)ROCHESTER MUNI, MN 76 Severe The ASOS station KRST at Rochester International Airport reported a 76 mph wind gust.
2025-07-28 ORONOCO, MN 63 Significant A storm chaser reported whole trees knocked over in Oronoco.
2025-07-28 KASSON, MN 74 Severe The mesonet station 2 miles east of Kasson observed a 74 mph wind gust.

Frequently Asked Questions About Rochester Hail

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

The most recent quarter-size-or-larger hail storm recorded by NOAA within 25 miles of Rochester was on August 18, 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 Rochester?

Rochester averages roughly 24 reported hail events per year within a 25-mile radius. Significant storms (quarter-size or larger) account for 87 of the 122 events recorded over the last five years.

How big does hail typically get in Rochester?

The largest documented hail near Rochester in the last five years was egg-sized. Most Rochester-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 Rochester address?

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

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

Rochester 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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