Watertown Hail — Storm History & NOAA Data for Watertown, WI

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 206 hail storms within 25 miles of Watertown, WI. Of those, 175 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 80 documented hail events.

Check Hail History for a Specific Address in Watertown

Hail Severity Breakdown — Watertown Area (Last 5 Years)

SeverityCountWhat it means for roofs
Destructive19 eventsEgg-size, expect mat fractures and gutter damage
Severe42 eventsPing pong-size, granule loss and bruising common
Significant114 eventsQuarter-size, the standard insurance damage threshold
Moderate31 eventsMarble-size, possible cosmetic damage

Watertown Hail Storms by Year

YearReported Hail Events Within 25 mi
202680 events
202544 events
202417 events
202318 events
202247 events

2026 was the busiest hail year on record locally for Watertown, with 80 documented events inside the 25-mile radius. Storm activity in Watertown 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 Watertown Hail Storms

Recent Hail Events Near Watertown

DateLocationSeveritySizeNOAA Comments
2026-09-04 Mayville, WI Severe 1.75" Relay report from NWSChat.
2026-09-04 1 W Mayville, WI Significant 1.00" Report from mPING: Quarter (1.00 in.).
2026-07-27 1 W Oconomowoc, WI Destructive 2.50" —
2026-07-27 1 SW Lac La Belle, WI Significant 1.25" —
2026-07-27 1 ESE Lac La Belle, WI Severe 1.75" —
2026-07-27 Juneau, WI Significant 1.00" Two reports of one inch hail in Juneau.
2026-07-27 Neosho, WI Destructive 2.75" Delayed Report - Photos of hail around 2.75 inch diameter received on social media. Time of 11:05 AM was estimated from radar.
2026-07-27 1 NE Oconomowoc, WI Destructive 2.00" —
2026-07-27 1 S Delafield, WI Significant 1.00" —
2026-07-27 1 W Mayville, WI Significant 1.00" Report from mPING: Quarter (1.00 in.) Time confirmed from radar.
2026-07-27 Mayville, WI Significant 1.25" Report from mPING: Half Dollar (1.25 in.) Time confirmed from radar.
2026-06-25 4 E Iron Ridge, WI Significant 1.00" Delayed Report: Report from mPING: Quarter (1.00 in.).
2026-06-24 HERMAN CENTER, WI Significant 1.00" —
2026-04-17 Watertown, WI Significant 1.00" —
2026-04-14 Cottage Grove, WI Destructive 2.50" —
2026-04-14 SUN PRAIRIE, WI Significant 1.25" Public report of 1.25 inch diameter hail east of Sun Prairie.
2026-04-14 SUN PRAIRIE, WI Significant 1.00" Public report of 1 inch diameter hail near Sun Prairie.
2026-04-14 LONDON, WI Significant 1.25" Trained spotter reports 1.25 inch diameter hail to the northeast of Deerfield. Time confirmed via radar data.
2026-04-14 2 S Marshall, WI Destructive 2.00" —
2026-04-14 2 E Sun Prairie, WI Significant 1.25" Report from mPING: Half Dollar (1.25 in.).

Wind Storm History — Watertown Area (Last 5 Years)

NOAA has recorded 124 high-wind events within 25 miles of Watertown, WI in the past five years. Of those, 124 reached severe-thunderstorm thresholds (58+ mph). The highest measured gust was 85 mph.

SeverityCount
Severe41 events
Significant83 events

Recent Wind Events Near Watertown

DateLocationGust (mph)SeverityNOAA Comments
2026-07-27 2 SW North Prairie, WI 62 Significant 62 MPH wind gust measured via home weather station. Time confirmed from radar data.
2026-07-27 Juneau, WI 65 Severe Trained spotter estimates 65 MPH wind gusts. Time confirmed from radar data.
2026-07-02 3 WSW Watertown, WI 55 Significant Private weather statement measures 55 MPH wind gust. Time confirmed from radar.
2026-06-25 1 WNW Mayville, WI 58 Significant Delayed Report: 58 mph wind gust measured just outside of Mayville. Wall cloud reported as well.
2026-06-24 MAYVILLE, WI 58 Significant —
2026-06-10 BUSSEYVILLE, WI 85 Severe Trained spotter estimates 85 MPH wind gusts to the southeast of Rockdale.
2026-06-10 1 E Fort Atkinson, WI 75 Severe Trained spotter estimates 75 MPH wind gusts.
2026-06-10 6 SE Rockdale, WI 85 Severe Trained spotter estimates 85 MPH wind gusts.
2026-06-10 FT ATKINSON, WI 75 Severe Trained spotter estimates 75 MPH wind gusts in Fort Atkinson.
2026-06-10 SUN PRAIRIE, WI 64 Severe Public report of a 64 MPH wind gust as measured by a private weather station.
2026-06-10 2 NNE Sun Prairie, WI 64 Severe Home wx station.
2026-06-10 DEANSVILLE, WI 60 Significant Public report of large downed tree branches. Wind gust estimated from radar data, nearby observations, and damage.
2026-06-10 BEAVER DAM, WI 73 Severe Public report of a 73 MPH wind gust from a home weather station.
2026-06-10 SOUTH BEAVER DAM, WI 81 Severe Photos of a destroyed barn outside of Beaver Dam. Wind gust estimated from radar data, nearby observations, and damage.
2026-06-10 2 E Beaver Dam, WI 73 Severe Home wx station.
2026-06-10 WATERTOWN AIRPORT, WI 60 Significant Public report of a 60 MPH wind gust as measured by a home weather station.
2026-06-10 REESEVILLE, WI 60 Significant Fire and rescue reports a fallen tree on powerlines. Wind gust estimated from radar data, nearby observations, and damage.
2026-06-10 3 SW Watertown, WI 60 Significant Home wx station.
2026-06-10 HARTFORD, WI 60 Significant Public report of a downed tree near downtown Hartford. Wind gust estimated from radar data, nearby observations, and damage.
2026-04-17 RICHWOOD, WI 64 Severe A barn wall was blown down.

Frequently Asked Questions About Watertown Hail

When was the last major hail storm in Watertown, WI?

The most recent quarter-size-or-larger hail storm recorded by NOAA within 25 miles of Watertown was on September 4, 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 Watertown?

Watertown averages roughly 41 reported hail events per year within a 25-mile radius. Significant storms (quarter-size or larger) account for 175 of the 206 events recorded over the last five years.

How big does hail typically get in Watertown?

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

Most homeowners insurance policies in WI 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 Watertown address?

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

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

Watertown 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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