Hail Reports in La Crosse, Wisconsin — Last 90 Days
NOAA Storm Prediction Center logged 3 hail reports within 25 miles of La Crosse across 2 storm days, most recently on September 1, 2026. Source: SPC Local Storm Reports (preliminary, may be revised).
Data as of October 24, 2026 (last successful NOAA check). The newest report in the feed is from Oct 23, 2026. The 90-day log is SPC preliminary data. The county history (2017 to June 2026) is the NOAA Storm Events archive, 2014–June 2026; it has no storms after it ends.
- 1.50 inlargest hail near the city, last 90 days (ping-pong ball size)
- 18days with hail 1 in or larger in the county, 2014–June 2026
- 36days with 58+ mph thunderstorm wind, 2014–June 2026
- #97 of 209among the cities we cover, by hail days of 1 in or more
Has hail hit my La Crosse roof since it was installed?
County-level hail reports for La Crosse from the NOAA archive this page uses; a county report is not proof of damage at your La Crosse address.
When does hail hit La Crosse?
NOAA NCEI Storm Events, county level, 2014–June 2026
If insurance covers it, what do I pay in La Crosse?
Only if the claim is approved. The ACV math is a straight-line example over a 25-year life; insurers writing La Crosse policies use their own schedules, so check your policy.
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Hail near La Crosse in the last 90 days
- 1.50 inLargest hail in 90 days (ping-pong-ball size)
- 2Hail days near La Crosse
- 3SPC reports
- September 1, 2026Most recent event
Around La Crosse, the NOAA Storm Prediction Center logged 3 hail reports within 25 miles between August 18 and September 1, 2026, spread over 2 storm days. Both days brought stones of 1″ or more, and 2 of the 3 La Crosse reports with coordinates fell within 10 miles of the city center. In a typical year La Crosse sees about 4 hail-producing storms.
La Crosse's storm-climate context
La Crosse sits in the upper Mississippi River valley where continental extremes punish roofing systems year-round. The record low of -43 F and record high of 108 F create severe thermal cycling that stresses flashing, sealants, and asphalt shingles. Average annual snowfall of 46.3 inches imposes repeated snow-load and ice-dam stress, while spring freeze-thaw cycles accelerate membrane fatigue. Summer brings hail-bearing thunderstorms that erode granule surfaces, and periodic high-wind events test fastener pull-through on older decks. Roofs here face nearly every climate stressor: heavy snow, UV, thermal shock, and storm uplift, making regular inspection after each winter essential.
La Crosse's 2020 census population of 52,680 supports a stable contractor market anchored by large institutional roofing demand. Major employers include Gundersen Health System, Mayo Clinic Health System, Trane, and Kwik Trip, generating substantial commercial roof stock across hospitals, manufacturing plants, and retail facilities. The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and Western Technical College add campus roofing inventory. As a regional medical and manufacturing hub, La Crosse sustains steady demand for both residential and commercial roofing services.
How close the hail came
Of the 3 La Crosse reports, the closest landed 6.2 miles from the city center on August 18, 2026 (1.25″ at 1 WNW Onalaska). September 1, 2026 was the heaviest day around La Crosse, with 1 report and a top stone of 1.50″. Near La Crosse, 2 of 2 hail days reached 1″ or larger.
| Distance from city center | Reports | Largest |
|---|---|---|
| Within 5 miles | 0 | — |
| Within 10 miles | 2 | 1.25″ |
| Within 25 miles | 3 | 1.50″ |
Distances are straight-line from the city center to each SPC report point; reports without coordinates are left out of the table.
Hail events near La Crosse by date
September 1, 2026 1 report, hail up to 1.50″ (ping-pong-ball size) Largest in 90 days
| Time (UTC) | Hail size | Location | Distance from La Crosse |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0510 | 1.50″ | 6 ENE Pickwick, Winona County | 19.1 mi |
August 18, 2026 2 reports, hail up to 1.25″ (quarter size)
| Time (UTC) | Hail size | Location | Distance from La Crosse |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 1.25″ | 1 WNW Onalaska, La Crosse County | 6.2 mi |
| 2019 | 1.00″ | 2 S Holmen, La Crosse County | 8.9 mi |
The La Crosse tables above list preliminary Local Storm Reports from the NOAA Storm Prediction Center. Sizes are reported hailstone diameters; times are UTC. Reports can be added or corrected for about a day after each event. A quiet log does not mean no hail: small or unreported events happen. The closest report in this window landed 6.2 miles from La Crosse's center.
View the 3 La Crosse-area reports on a map
On the La Crosse map, circle positions are the NOAA SPC report coordinates; tap a circle for the date and hail size.
Hail size: < 1″ 1–1.75″ ≥ 2″ not recorded
How severe was it? The NWS yardstick, applied to La Crosse's reports
The National Weather Service calls hail severe at 1″ (quarter size) and significant at 2″ (hen-egg size). Scoring La Crosse's 3 area reports (filed in La Crosse, Winona Counties) against that scale: 3 of the La Crosse reports met the severe 1″+ criterion — the size at which asphalt shingles start taking granule loss and bruising that shows up as leaks a season later. At these sizes, damage on a La Crosse roof is rarely visible from the ground, and homeowners policies typically cover it when it is documented promptly.
Hail history in La Crosse: the long picture
County-level NOAA records for the county behind La Crosse, 2014–June 2026. Each figure shows its source. Storms after the archive ends are not in these numbers. Ranks count from 1, the highest.
La Crosse against the 209 cities we cover
- #97of 209Days with hail 1 in or larger in La Crosse: middle
- #85of 209Days with hail 1.75 in or larger (golf ball) in La Crosse: middle
- #149of 209Days with 58+ mph thunderstorm wind in La Crosse: middle
- #154of 209Tornadoes in La Crosse: middle
- #33of 209Reported storm property damage in La Crosse: top quarter
- #47of 209Share of homes built before 1980 in La Crosse: top quarter
Hail events by year
| 2017 | 8 |
|---|---|
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 10 |
| 2021 | 12 |
| 2022 | 12 |
| 2023 | 16 |
| 2024 | 3 |
| 2025 | 0 |
| 2026* | 5 |
La Crosse's county peaked at 16 events in 2023, its busiest full year, out of 68 for 2017 to June 2026. In 2017–2026, a 0 means the archive holds no event for that year.
2026 covers only January to June: NOAA's file ends there, so it is not counted as the worst year or in the yearly average.
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county level, 2017–2026Hail history at a glance
- 68Hail events in the county, since 2017 (NOAA)
- 4.00 inLargest hailstone on record
- Jun 10, 2026Last recorded event in the archive
For La Crosse's county, NOAA records a most severe stone of 4.00″ and 68 hail events since 2017, close to 7 every year. Set against that baseline, the 2 hail days near La Crosse in the 90-day window above run above the long-term average rate. Check your own La Crosse address on the hail risk lookup.
Compared to the Wisconsin county median of 39 hail events since 2017, La Crosse's county runs 1.7× above average.
Three ways a storm reaches a roof
Hail
La Crosse's county days with at least one report at that size. Largest stone: 4.00 in.
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, 2014–June 2026Thunderstorm wind
36 La Crosse's county days with 58+ mph
58 mph is the NWS severe threshold. Strongest gust on record in La Crosse's county: 75 mph on Jul 28, 2023.
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, 2014–June 2026Tornadoes
4 in La Crosse's county
Strongest tornado in La Crosse's county: EF1 on the Enhanced Fujita scale.
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, 2014–June 2026Costliest storm day
Jun 2, 2020
9 reports that day (6 wind, 3 hail); reported property damage $47,637,000; county FIPS 55063, 2014–June 2026.
Source: NOAA Storm Events, 2014–June 2026Peak storm month
July
In La Crosse's county, 65 of 199 hail, wind and tornado reports (33%) fell in July.
Source: NOAA Storm Events, 2014–June 2026Older homes
66.9% of La Crosse homes built before 1980
About 16,000 of La Crosse's 24,274 housing units (share times units, rounded). Median year built: 1966. Housing units, not roofs: many La Crosse homes have been re-roofed since.
Source: Census ACS (La Crosse city), 2019–2023Year-by-year table with the largest stone
| Year | Recorded hail events | Largest stone |
|---|---|---|
| 2026* | 5 | 1.50″ |
| 2024 | 3 | 2.00″ |
| 2023 busiest largest stone | 16 | 4.00″ |
| 2022 | 12 | 1.75″ |
| 2021 | 12 | 1.50″ |
| 2020 | 10 | 2.50″ |
| 2019 | 1 | 0.75″ |
| 2018 | 1 | 0.75″ |
| 2017 | 8 | 1.75″ |
NOAA Storm Events archive, La Crosse's county. Years missing from the table have no record in the archive. * 2026 covers only January to June: NOAA's file ends there, so it is not counted as the worst year or in the yearly average.
2023 was the standout hail year in La Crosse's county on both counts: the most recorded events (16) and the largest stone (4.00″).
In a market with repeat hail, impact-resistant Class 4 shingles often pay for themselves through insurer premium discounts — worth discussing with a La Crosse roofer if a recent event tips you into a replacement.
La Crosse County fact sheet for La Crosse homeowners
Housing age, federal disaster declarations and your state's claim deadlines in one place. All three come from public records, county level.
How old are the roofs? Homes in La Crosse County by decade built
| pre-1940 | 16.4% |
|---|---|
| 1940s | 4.8% |
| 1950s | 9.3% |
| 1960s | 7.9% |
| 1970s | 15.1% |
| 1980s | 9.9% |
| 1990s | 15.1% |
| 2000s | 11.4% |
| 2010s | 9.4% |
| 2020+ | 0.7% |
53,234 homes, median built in 1978. 53.5% date from before 1980 and 10.2% from 2010 on; 62.5% are owner-occupied. The most common decade is the pre-1940.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey · data as of ACS 5-yearWhat to do if your roof was in the hail path
- Stay off the roof and read the yard instead. Hail came as near as 6.2 miles to La Crosse (1 WNW Onalaska, August 18, 2026) in the last 90 days. Granule piles under a La Crosse downspout and dents on gutters, vents and screens are the signs to look for.
- Photograph and date everything before repairs. For La Crosse the worst day is September 1, 2026 with 1 report and a top stone of 1.50 in. Dated photos, a coin beside a hailstone and this NOAA log tie your loss to one storm day.
- Get a free inspection instead of guessing. 2 of the 2 hail days near La Crosse reached 1 inch or more. On a La Crosse roof, bruised shingles and lost granules do not show from the ground; a roofer's written scope settles whether a claim exists.
- File on the policy's clock. The latest storm day near La Crosse was 54 days ago. Your reporting window comes from the policy itself; file promptly while the dates in this log are fresh.
- Bring the written scope to the adjuster. A La Crosse estimate stays honest when the adjuster receives your contractor's written scope. Step-by-step: the roof insurance claim guide.
Hail in La Crosse — questions homeowners ask
When did hail last hit La Crosse, WI?
How large was the hail near La Crosse?
Does homeowners insurance cover hail damage in La Crosse?
How often does hail hit the La Crosse area?
How near to La Crosse did the nearest hail report fall?
Check your own ZIP in La Crosse
The county figures above average over everything inside the county line. For a score tied to your La Crosse address, run your ZIP through the hail risk lookup — La Crosse ZIP codes include 54601, 54623, 54603, 54639, 54607.
La Crosse neighborhoods — hail exposure varies by area
Hail paths track with storm cell movement, not city limits. If you're in La Crosse Center District, Riverfront District, University Heights, Southside or Westside, check your specific street against the report locations above — distance from La Crosse's center is listed for each report.
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More resources
- Roofing contractors in La Crosse
- Storm damage repair in La Crosse
- Roof repair in La Crosse
- Roof inspection in La Crosse
- Insurance claim guide
- Roof replacement costs in La Crosse
- Emergency roof repair
- All recent hail reports
- Hail risk lookup
Sources: NOAA Storm Prediction Center Local Storm Reports (last 90 days, preliminary) and the NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (county of the city, 2014–June 2026); U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (housing). The Storm Events archive used here ends in 2026, so storms between that date and the start of the 90-day log are not shown. How we collect data. Are you a roofer in La Crosse? See how requests reach contractors.
How to cite this page
Free to quote with credit, under CC BY 4.0, no permission needed. The numbers are NOAA Storm Prediction Center preliminary reports: unverified, and not confirmed damage to any roof. This is not an official NOAA or NWS product.