Hail and tornadoes in Union County, IA
Since January 2021, radar estimated hail somewhere in Union County, IA on 58 days. The biggest estimate: 2 in or larger (hen egg), on Thu, Jun 11, 2026. Hail was reported to the National Weather Service inside the county on 11 days.
Still loading: radar estimates go back to Wed, Oct 14, 2020, and the earlier years are being added.
Radar estimates are NOAA's MESH: the largest hail the radar estimates aloft, on cells about 0.7 mile across, shown as the lower bound of a size band (“1.5+”). They often run larger than what reached the ground, and they aren't evidence of damage at any address.
Hail on record since 1955
NOAA's Storm Events database lists 94 hail reports in Union County, IA on 49 days, 8 of them 2 inches or larger. The largest: 3 in, near Lorimor, on Fri, Jun 18, 2021.
By decade: 2000s: 28 · 2010s: 42 · 2020s: 24
Tornadoes since 1950
23 tornadoes have touched Union County, IA since 1950, none of them rated F3/EF3 or stronger. They killed 0 and injured 2.
Strongest
- Fri, Apr 26, 2024 · EF2 · 6.65 mi long, 130 yd wide · near Afton
- Fri, Apr 26, 2024 · EF2 · 8.1 mi long, 350 yd wide · near Cromwell
- Fri, Apr 26, 2024 · EF2 · 12.51 mi long, 150 yd wide · near Afton
- Sat, Apr 14, 2012 · EF2 · 16.05 mi long, 800 yd wide · near Cromwell · 2 injuries
- Thu, Apr 17, 2025 · EF1 · 4.27 mi long, 50 yd wide · near Kent
Most recent
- Thu, Apr 17, 2025 · EF1 · 4.27 mi long, 50 yd wide · near Kent
- Tue, May 21, 2024 · EFU · 0.55 mi long, 50 yd wide · near Spaulding
- Tue, May 21, 2024 · EF0 · 0.35 mi long, 75 yd wide · near Cromwell
- Fri, Apr 26, 2024 · EF2 · 6.65 mi long, 130 yd wide · near Afton
- Fri, Apr 26, 2024 · EF1 · 9.43 mi long, 150 yd wide · near Creston Airport
- Fri, Apr 26, 2024 · EF2 · 12.51 mi long, 150 yd wide · near Afton
- Fri, Apr 26, 2024 · EF1 · 2.85 mi long, 80 yd wide · near Creston
- Fri, Apr 26, 2024 · EF2 · 8.1 mi long, 350 yd wide · near Cromwell
- Sat, Mar 5, 2022 · EFU · 0.79 mi long, 80 yd wide · near Cromwell
- Tue, Oct 9, 2018 · EF1 · 2.3 mi long, 250 yd wide · near Cromwell
By decade: 2000s: 9 · 2010s: 5 · 2020s: 9
Still loading: NOAA's record goes back to 1950, and 2003 onward is in so far.
Every hail day since January 2021
- Sat, Aug 29, 2026
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)
No hail reported in the county.
- Tue, Aug 4, 2026
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1 in or larger (quarter)
No hail reported in the county.
- Thu, Jun 11, 2026
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 2 in or larger (hen egg)
No hail reported in the county.
- Wed, Jun 10, 2026
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 2 in or larger (hen egg)
Reported in the county- 1 in (Creston, IA)
- Fri, Jun 5, 2026
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1 in or larger (quarter)
No hail reported in the county.
- Wed, Apr 15, 2026
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1 in or larger (quarter)
No hail reported in the county.
- Thu, Oct 9, 2025
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)
No hail reported in the county.
- Tue, Sep 16, 2025
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1.5 in or larger (ping-pong ball)
No hail reported in the county.
- Thu, Aug 7, 2025
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1 in or larger (quarter)
No hail reported in the county.
- Tue, Jul 22, 2025
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1 in or larger (quarter)
No hail reported in the county.
- Fri, Jul 11, 2025
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1 in or larger (quarter)
No hail reported in the county.
- Thu, Jun 26, 2025
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)
No hail reported in the county.
- Sun, Jun 15, 2025
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)
No hail reported in the county.
- Mon, May 19, 2025
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)
No hail reported in the county.
- Thu, Apr 17, 2025
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 2 in or larger (hen egg)
Reported in the county- 1 in (1 SW Afton, IA)
- 1 in (2 W Thayer, IA)
- Thu, Sep 19, 2024
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1 in or larger (quarter)
No hail reported in the county.
- Thu, Aug 15, 2024
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)
No hail reported in the county.
- Wed, Aug 14, 2024
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1 in or larger (quarter)
No hail reported in the county.
- Wed, Jul 31, 2024
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1 in or larger (quarter)
No hail reported in the county.
- Wed, Jul 10, 2024
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1 in or larger (quarter)
No hail reported in the county.
- Tue, Jun 25, 2024
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1.5 in or larger (ping-pong ball)
No hail reported in the county.
- Sat, Jun 22, 2024
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1 in or larger (quarter)
No hail reported in the county.
- Sun, May 26, 2024
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1 in or larger (quarter)
No hail reported in the county.
- Tue, May 21, 2024
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1.5 in or larger (ping-pong ball)
Reported in the county- 1.25 in (Creston, IA)
- Sun, May 19, 2024
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)
No hail reported in the county.
- Tue, Apr 30, 2024
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 2 in or larger (hen egg)
Reported in the county- 1.75 in (3 NNW Creston, IA)
- 1.75 in (Lorimor, IA)
- 1 in (5 SW Orient, IA)
- Sat, Apr 27, 2024
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)
No hail reported in the county.
- Fri, Apr 26, 2024
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1 in or larger (quarter)
No hail reported in the county.
- Tue, Aug 22, 2023
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1 in or larger (quarter)
No hail reported in the county.
- Mon, Aug 21, 2023
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1.5 in or larger (ping-pong ball)
No hail reported in the county.
- Tue, Aug 1, 2023
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1 in or larger (quarter)
No hail reported in the county.
- Mon, Jul 17, 2023
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1 in or larger (quarter)
Reported in the county- 1 in (Lorimor, IA)
- Sun, Jul 16, 2023
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1 in or larger (quarter)
No hail reported in the county.
- Thu, Jun 29, 2023
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1 in or larger (quarter)
No hail reported in the county.
- Sat, Jun 17, 2023
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1 in or larger (quarter)
Reported in the county- 1 in (1 SE Creston, IA)
- Fri, Jun 2, 2023
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)
No hail reported in the county.
- Sun, May 7, 2023
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1.5 in or larger (ping-pong ball)
Reported in the county- 1 in (5 N CRESTON, IA)
- Tue, Apr 4, 2023
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 2 in or larger (hen egg)
No hail reported in the county.
- Fri, Mar 31, 2023
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)
No hail reported in the county.
- Sat, Sep 17, 2022
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1.5 in or larger (ping-pong ball)
Reported in the county- 1.75 in (1 N CRESTON, IA)
- 1 in (3 SE CROMWELL, IA)
- Thu, Sep 1, 2022
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)
No hail reported in the county.
- Thu, Jun 16, 2022
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1 in or larger (quarter)
No hail reported in the county.
- Sun, Jun 12, 2022
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1 in or larger (quarter)
No hail reported in the county.
- Tue, Jun 7, 2022
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1.5 in or larger (ping-pong ball)
No hail reported in the county.
- Sun, Jun 5, 2022
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)
No hail reported in the county.
- Mon, Apr 18, 2022
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1 in or larger (quarter)
No hail reported in the county.
- Sat, Mar 5, 2022
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1.5 in or larger (ping-pong ball)
Reported in the county- 2.75 in (4 SSW ORIENT, IA)
- Mon, Jan 10, 2022
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1 in or larger (quarter)
No hail reported in the county.
- Mon, Sep 20, 2021
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)
No hail reported in the county.
- Tue, Aug 24, 2021
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1 in or larger (quarter)
No hail reported in the county.
- Fri, Jul 30, 2021
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1.5 in or larger (ping-pong ball)
No hail reported in the county.
- Thu, Jul 29, 2021
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1 in or larger (quarter)
No hail reported in the county.
- Fri, Jul 9, 2021
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1 in or larger (quarter)
No hail reported in the county.
- Sun, Jun 20, 2021
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1.5 in or larger (ping-pong ball)
Reported in the county- 2 in (5 NNE AFTON, IA)
- Fri, Jun 18, 2021
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 2 in or larger (hen egg)
Reported in the county- 3 in (LORIMOR, IA)
- Thu, Jun 17, 2021
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)
No hail reported in the county.
- Wed, Jun 16, 2021
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1 in or larger (quarter)
No hail reported in the county.
- Wed, Apr 7, 2021
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)
No hail reported in the county.
Radar estimates and reports are for anywhere inside the county's boundary. Radar estimates come from NOAA's MRMS estimated hail size (MESH), the largest hail the radar estimates aloft on a ~1 km grid. They often run larger than the hail that reached the ground, and they aren't an observation at any address. Reports are what people reported to the National Weather Service. Neither is proof of damage or an official record for an insurance claim. From NOAA's Storm Events Database (NCEI), which records tornadoes from 1950, hail and thunderstorm wind from 1955, and every kind of storm from 1996. A tornado that crossed county lines is counted in each county it touched. Recent months are added as NCEI publishes them, a few months behind. Damage is in the dollars of its year and is often an estimate.