Hail HistoryHail history for Polk County, IA
414 hail reports in Polk County since 2006 on 105 days. The largest stones measured 3.25 in on Jul 9, 2021.
Cities in Polk County
- Des Moines
101 hail days - West Des Moines
101 hail days - Ankeny
80 hail days - Urbandale
101 hail days - Johnston
92 hail days - Altoona
56 hail days - Clive
99 hail days - Grimes
82 hail days - Pleasant Hill
75 hail days - Bondurant
48 hail days - Windsor Heights
102 hail days - Polk City
65 hail days - Saylorville
91 hail days
Recent hail in Polk County
| Date | Hail size | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 8, 2026 | 2.25 in | Ankeny, Bondurant, Mitchellville 9 hail reports |
| Jul 20, 2026 | 1 in quarter | Alleman, West Des Moines 2 hail reports |
| Jul 2, 2026 | 1.5 in ping pong ball | Windsor Heights, Urbandale, Polk City 6 hail reports |
| May 19, 2025 | 1 in quarter | Des Moines Intl., Commerce, Bondurant 6 hail reports |
| Mar 14, 2025 | 1 in quarter | Windsor Hgts, Urbandale, Lovington 3 hail reports |
One row per day: the largest hail reported in the county that day, the places and the number of reports.
Hail days in Polk County by year
When hail season peaks in Polk County
Damaging thunderstorm winds in Polk County
514 reports of damaging thunderstorm wind in Polk County since 2006, on 120 days. The strongest measured gust was 85 mph on Aug 10, 2020.
| Date | Strongest gust | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 8, 2026 | 75 mph, measured | Ankeny, Madrid, Des Moines Int Airport 13 wind reports |
| Aug 13, 2026 | 61 mph, measured | Alleman, Polk City 2 wind reports |
| Jul 20, 2026 | 61 mph, measured | Mitchellville, Ankeny, Pleasant Hill 3 wind reports |
| Jul 4, 2026 | 58 mph, measured | Des Moines Int Airport 2 wind reports |
| Jul 2, 2026 | damage reported | Windsor Heights 1 wind report |
| Jul 30, 2025 | 64 mph, estimated | Capitol Hgts 1 wind report |
| Jul 28, 2025 | 58 mph, estimated | Urbandale 1 wind report |
| Jul 24, 2025 | 63 mph, estimated | Bondurant, Elkhart 2 wind reports |
| Jul 11, 2025 | 74 mph, measured | Des Moines Intl., Avon, Altoona 6 wind reports |
| Jul 7, 2025 | 60 mph, estimated | Lovington 1 wind report |
Severe thunderstorm wind means gusts of 58 mph or more, or wind that caused damage. Measured gusts come from weather stations; estimated ones from spotters and damage surveys.
Filing a roof or car hail claim?
Insurers ask for the date of loss. The dates on this page are when hail was reported near Polk County; hail can hit one street and miss the next, so a report is not proof of damage at your address. A licensed roofer or your insurance adjuster can inspect the roof. Many policies set a time limit for filing a claim — check yours.
Data: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (final records through Jun 30, 2026) and National Weather Service Local Storm Reports (preliminary, since then).