Kansas sits at the southern edge of the central Great Plains, where Gulf moisture and dry polar air collide on a seasonal schedule that roofing contractors know by feel. From 2014 through 2024, our dataset captured 8,704 hail events across 105 counties — every county in the state — making Kansas one of the most consistently tracked states in our database. The picture that emerges is not simply "Kansas gets a lot of hail." It is more specific: Kansas hail follows a decade-long arc of surge, decline, and partial recovery that any contractor planning market coverage should understand.
The Year-by-Year Record
The table below shows total hail events per year statewide. These are aggregated counts from NOAA Local Storm Reports filtered to ≥1.0 inch — the National Weather Service threshold for severe hail.
| Year | Hail Events (KS) |
|---|---|
| 2014 | 980 |
| 2015 | 912 |
| 2016 | 1,034 |
| 2017 | 984 |
| 2018 | 811 |
| 2019 | 839 |
| 2020 | 597 |
| 2021 | 537 |
| 2022 | 463 |
| 2023 | 780 |
| 2024 | 767 |
| Total (11 yrs) | 8,704 |
Three Phases of a Decade
The data divides cleanly into three periods. From 2014 through 2017, Kansas averaged roughly 968 events per year — a consistently active stretch that peaked at 1,034 events in 2016, the single highest year in the dataset. The largest recorded hail stone reached 5.00 inches, a size that causes severe damage to any roofing material.
Between 2018 and 2022 the state entered a prolonged quieter phase. Activity dropped steadily from 811 events in 2018 to just 463 in 2022 — the lowest year across all eleven seasons. Contractors who entered the Kansas market during the active 2014–2017 period and stayed through the lean years learned firsthand that hail demand is cyclical, not guaranteed.
The recovery that began in 2023 is visible but incomplete. At 780 events in 2023 and 767 in 2024, the state is returning toward its earlier activity levels without yet matching the 2016 peak. Whether 2025 and 2026 accelerate that recovery is a question the next reporting cycle will answer.
What This Means for Kansas Contractors
Kansas has no statewide roofing license. Work is governed by city-level permitting rules, which vary considerably across the state's 105 counties. A contractor operating in Wichita faces different permit requirements than one working in Dodge City or Manhattan. Homeowners searching after a hail event are best served by contractors familiar with local code — and those contractors benefit from being visible in a verified directory when storm season activity rises.
Coverage Gaps That Still Exist
Despite 8,704 events tracked across eleven years, rural western Kansas counties remain underserved by verified roofing contractors in our database. When hail strikes a county that has few or no listed contractors, homeowners have little choice but to rely on traveling crews with no local accountability. Expanding coverage in those counties is one of PickARoofer's ongoing priorities for the region.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many hail events has Kansas recorded in the past 11 years?
Our dataset shows 8,704 hail events across Kansas from 2014 through 2024, covering all 105 counties in the state.
What was the peak year for hail in Kansas?
2016 was the most active year, with 1,034 recorded hail events. The quietest year was 2022, which saw only 463 events.
What is the largest hail size recorded in Kansas?
The maximum hail stone recorded in our Kansas dataset measured 5.00 inches — a size capable of causing significant structural damage to roofing materials.
Does Kansas require a roofing license?
Kansas does not have a statewide roofing contractor license. Licensing and permitting requirements are handled at the city and county level, so requirements vary across the state.
How does PickARoofer verify Kansas contractors?
Because Kansas has no statewide license, our verification process focuses on insurance documentation, local permit history, and business registration records. Contractors who pass this review receive a verified badge on their profile.
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