Wausau Hail — Storm History & NOAA Data for Wausau, 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 101 hail storms within 25 miles of Wausau, WI. Of those, 69 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 58 documented hail events.

Check Hail History for a Specific Address in Wausau

Hail Severity Breakdown — Wausau Area (Last 5 Years)

SeverityCountWhat it means for roofs
Catastrophic1 eventBaseball+ size, structural roof damage likely
Destructive3 eventsEgg-size, expect mat fractures and gutter damage
Severe14 eventsPing pong-size, granule loss and bruising common
Significant51 eventsQuarter-size, the standard insurance damage threshold
Moderate29 eventsMarble-size, possible cosmetic damage
Minor3 eventsPea-size, unlikely to damage modern shingles

Wausau Hail Storms by Year

YearReported Hail Events Within 25 mi
202658 events
202513 events
202412 events
202313 events
20225 events

2026 was the busiest hail year on record locally for Wausau, with 58 documented events inside the 25-mile radius. Storm activity in Wausau 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 Wausau Hail Storms

Recent Hail Events Near Wausau

DateLocationSeveritySizeNOAA Comments
2026-09-04 Edgar, WI Moderate 0.75" Viewer photo of penny sized hail in Edgar. Relayed by WSAW.
2026-08-12 1 NE Evergreen, WI Severe 1.50" Report from mPING: Ping Pong Ball (1.50 in.).
2026-08-12 1 WNW Hatley, WI Significant 1.00" Reported via social media.
2026-08-12 1 N Ringle, WI Significant 1.00" Report from mPING: Quarter (1.00 in.).
2026-06-30 1 NW Mosinee, WI Minor 0.25" —
2026-06-24 Mosinee, WI Moderate 0.70" .
2026-05-27 1 E Rib Mountain State, WI Destructive 2.00" Report from mPING: Hen Egg (2.00 in.).
2026-05-27 3 NW Wausau, WI Moderate 0.88" —
2026-05-27 2 E Evergreen, WI Significant 1.25" Report from mPING: Half Dollar (1.25 in.).
2026-05-27 WAUSAU, WI Severe 1.50" Ping pong size hail fell in Wausau.
2026-05-27 2 NW Schofield, WI Moderate 0.75" Report from mPING: Dime (0.75 in.).
2026-05-27 2 W Rib Mountain, WI Moderate 0.50" Report from mPING: Half-inch (0.50 in.).
2026-05-27 1 N Wausau, WI Significant 1.00" —
2026-05-27 3 NW Rib Mountain State, WI Significant 1.00" —
2026-05-27 1 ESE Rib Mountain Stat, WI Severe 1.75" —
2026-05-27 1 E Wausau, WI Severe 1.50" —
2026-05-27 WAUSAU, WI Moderate 0.88" Nickel size hail fell near Wausau.
2026-05-27 SCHOFIELD, WI Severe 1.50" Ping pong size hail fell near Evergreen.
2026-05-27 (AUW)WAUSAW MUNI ARP, WI Destructive 2.00" Hen egg size hail fell in Rib Mountain. The time of this report is an estimate based on radar data.
2026-05-27 1 WSW Wausau, WI Significant 1.00" —

Wind Storm History — Wausau Area (Last 5 Years)

NOAA has recorded 37 high-wind events within 25 miles of Wausau, WI in the past five years. Of those, 33 reached severe-thunderstorm thresholds (58+ mph). The highest measured gust was 81 mph.

SeverityCount
Severe17 events
Significant16 events
Moderate4 events

Recent Wind Events Near Wausau

DateLocationGust (mph)SeverityNOAA Comments
2026-06-10 Wausau, WI 45 Moderate Measured at Wausau Downtown Airport.
2026-06-10 WAUSAU, WI 60 Significant Thunderstorm winds downed trees in Wausau. The time of this report is an estimate based on radar data.
2026-06-10 ATHENS, WI 60 Significant Thunderstorm winds downed trees in Athens. The time of this report is an estimate based on radar data.
2026-06-05 2 NW Merrill, WI 43 Moderate AWOS station KRRL Merrill Airport.
2026-06-05 2 WNW Merrill, WI 43 Moderate Measured at the Merrill Municipal Airport.
2026-05-27 (AUW)WAUSAW MUNI ARP, WI 70 Severe Thunderstorm winds downed several trees in Wausau. The time of this report is an estimate based on radar data.
2026-05-27 MOSINEE, WI 70 Severe Thunderstorm winds downed several trees in Mosinee. The time of this report is an estimate based on radar data.
2026-05-27 1 ESE Mosinee, WI 45 Moderate Measured at the Central WI Airport.
2025-07-23 HOGARTY, WI 60 Significant Thunderstorm winds downed trees and powerlines in the town of Easton. The time of this report is an estimate based on radar data.
2025-07-19 MERRILL MUNI ARPT, WI 60 Significant Thunderstorm winds downed trees at Council Grounds State Park near Merrill. The time of this report is an estimate based on radar data.
2025-07-19 MERRILL, WI 70 Severe Thunderstorm winds downed several trees in Pine River. The time of this report is an estimate based on radar data.
2025-07-19 KALINKE, WI 70 Severe Thunderstorm winds downed a newly finished barn and damaged multiple trees near Hogarty. The time of this report is an estimate based on radar data.
2025-07-19 HOGARTY, WI 70 Severe Thunderstorm winds blew over an RV in the town of Harrison. The time of this report is an estimate based on radar data.
2025-07-19 ANIWA, WI 81 Severe Thunderstorm winds downed several trees in Aniwa. The time of this report is an estimate based on radar data.
2025-07-19 KALINKE, WI 70 Severe Thunderstorm winds downed trees down in Hewitt. The time of this report is an estimate based on radar data.
2025-07-19 HOGARTY, WI 81 Severe Thunderstorm winds downed numerous trees near Hogarty. The time of this report is an estimate based on radar data.
2025-07-19 ELMHURST, WI 70 Severe Thunderstorm winds downed trees near Aniwa. The time of this report is an estimate based on radar data.
2025-05-15 MERRILL MUNI ARPT, WI 60 Significant Thunderstorm winds caused roof damage near Merrill. The time of this report is an estimate based on radar data.
2025-04-28 MARATHON, WI 67 Severe Thunderstorms produced a wind gust to 67 mph near Mosinee.
2025-04-28 ELAND, WI 70 Severe Thunderstorm winds snapped and uprooted trees near Eland. The time of this report is an estimate based on radar data.

Frequently Asked Questions About Wausau Hail

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

The most recent quarter-size-or-larger hail storm recorded by NOAA within 25 miles of Wausau was on August 12, 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 Wausau?

Wausau averages roughly 20 reported hail events per year within a 25-mile radius. Significant storms (quarter-size or larger) account for 69 of the 101 events recorded over the last five years.

How big does hail typically get in Wausau?

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

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

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

Wausau 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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