Linn County, Iowa: hail history 2014–2026
The National Weather Service logged 175 hail reports in Linn County between January 2014 and June 2026. On 25 days the largest stone was an inch or bigger, the size NWS calls severe. The biggest was 2.75 inches, about the size of a baseball, reported on April 7, 2020 near Hiawatha. April is the peak month (46% of reports).
- 175hail reports, 2014–2026
- 25days with hail of 1 in or more
- 9days with hail of 1.75 in or more (golf ball)
- 2.75 inlargest stone reported
Has severe hail hit Linn County since my roof was put on?
Our record covers 2014–2026 only. A roof older than 2014 has also been through hail we do not show here. A day counts when at least one report of 1 inch or larger was filed in the county, so it does not mean your own roof was hit; an inspection is the only way to know.
Year by year
| Year | Reports | Days 1 in+ | Days 1.75 in+ | Largest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 1 in |
| 2015 | 34 | 3 | 1 | 2.5 in |
| 2016 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.88 in |
| 2017 | 20 | 3 | 1 | 1.75 in |
| 2018 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1.75 in |
| 2019 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0.88 in |
| 2020 | 35 | 3 | 2 | 2.75 in |
| 2021 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1.75 in |
| 2022 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 in |
| 2023 | 28 | 2 | 1 | 1.75 in |
| 2024 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 in |
| 2025 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1.5 in |
| 2026 (Jan–Jun) | 25 | 3 | 2 | 2 in |
When hail hits: reports by month
| Jan | 0 |
|---|---|
| Feb | 1 |
| Mar | 15 |
| Apr | 81 |
| May | 13 |
| Jun | 47 |
| Jul | 5 |
| Aug | 8 |
| Sep | 0 |
| Oct | 1 |
| Nov | 4 |
| Dec | 0 |
April alone has 46% of the 175 reports. Book an inspection before the first month with reports so crews still have dates.
Where hail of 1 inch or more was reported in Linn County
- 1 to 1.74 in
- 1.75 to 2.74 in (golf ball to tennis ball)
- 2.75 in and up (baseball)
135 reports of 1 inch or larger have coordinates. Each dot is a place a spotter, a trained observer or the public reported hail, not a measured storm path.
Sources: NOAA Storm Events (report locations) · US Census cartographic boundary (county outline, public domain)The ten biggest hail days
| Date | Largest hail | Reports | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 7, 2020 | 2.75 in, a baseball | 29 | Hiawatha |
| July 11, 2020 | 2.75 in, a baseball | 4 | Fairfax |
| June 22, 2015 | 2.5 in, a tennis ball | 21 | Marion |
| March 10, 2026 | 2 in, a hen egg | 7 | Western |
| April 4, 2023 | 1.75 in, a golf ball | 23 | Marion |
| April 14, 2026 | 1.75 in, a golf ball | 11 | Cedar Rapids |
| April 10, 2017 | 1.75 in, a golf ball | 4 | Mt Vernon |
| May 14, 2018 | 1.75 in, a golf ball | 3 | Mt Vernon |
| June 22, 2021 | 1.75 in, a golf ball | 2 | Walker |
| August 15, 2025 | 1.5 in, a ping-pong ball | 1 | Covington |
“Severe thunderstorms developed across eastern Iowa and northwest Illinois Saturday, July 11, producing widespread wind damage and very large hail.”
National Weather Service report, July 11, 2020
“Many locations saw damaging winds during this multiple round event. with locations near the city of Cedar Rapids seeing a very large hail event.”
National Weather Service report, June 22, 2015
“A trained spotter reported hail ranging in size from 1 to 2 inches in diameter.”
National Weather Service report, March 10, 2026
Tornadoes in Linn County
NOAA lists 21 tornadoes in the county in 2014–2026; the 8 strongest are below. Tornadoes tear off whole roof sections, which is a different repair from hail bruising.
| Date | Rating | Path length | Width | Near |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 28, 2017 | EF2 | 10.19 mi | 200 yd | Central City · 0 deaths, 1 injured |
| July 11, 2025 | EF2 | 6.74 mi | 300 yd | Center Pt |
| July 17, 2016 | EF2 | 0.53 mi | 75 yd | Fairfax · 0 deaths, 4 injured |
| September 3, 2018 | EF1 | 4.98 mi | 100 yd | Lafayette |
| July 11, 2025 | EF1 | 4.97 mi | 150 yd | Waubeek |
| March 31, 2023 | EF1 | 4.78 mi | 75 yd | Mt Vernon |
| July 11, 2025 | EF1 | 3.36 mi | 250 yd | Center Pt |
| December 23, 2015 | EF1 | 2.25 mi | 50 yd | Cedar Rapids Airpark |
Strongest thunderstorm gusts
| Date | Gust | Near |
|---|---|---|
| August 10, 2020 | 140 mph | Covington |
| June 30, 2014 | 100 mph | Marion Evans Arpt |
| April 22, 2019 | 90 mph | (Cid)Cedar Rapids Ar |
| July 28, 2023 | 90 mph | Marion |
| July 28, 2023 | 90 mph | Hiawatha |
| July 28, 2023 | 90 mph | Hiawatha |
Gust speeds are measured or estimated; reports in knots are converted to mph.
What to do with this
- Find the year your roof went on (closing papers, permit, a past invoice). Use the box above to see how many severe hail days it has lived through.
- After any day on the table, photograph the roof and keep the date: insurers ask for it.
- Get a free inspection from a local roofer: Cedar Rapids.
Linn County cities we cover
Other Iowa counties
- Story County (153 reports)
All counties: hail history hub · live hail map. Data: NOAA Storm Events Database, 2014–2026, county level, public domain. The 2026 row is partial: NOAA's file ran to June 2026 when we loaded it on 2026-10-06. Reports are filed by spotters, trained observers and the public; one storm can produce many reports. Not a forecast, not legal advice.