Hail and tornadoes in Benson County, ND
Since January 2021, radar estimated hail somewhere in Benson County, ND on 59 days. The biggest estimate: 3 in or larger (teacup), on Sun, Jun 28, 2026. Hail was reported to the National Weather Service inside the county on 9 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 172 hail reports in Benson County, ND on 86 days, 7 of them 2 inches or larger. The largest: 2.75 in, near Tokio, on Fri, Jul 17, 2020.
By decade: 2000s: 83 · 2010s: 67 · 2020s: 22
Tornadoes since 1950
23 tornadoes have touched Benson County, ND since 1950, none of them rated F3/EF3 or stronger.
Strongest
- Wed, Jul 4, 2018 · EF2 · 1.46 mi long, 400 yd wide · near Warwick
- Fri, Jun 9, 2017 · EF2 · 8 mi long, 600 yd wide · near Knox
- Fri, Jul 17, 2020 · EF1 · 0.25 mi long, 40 yd wide · near Niles
- Sun, Jun 19, 2005 · F1 · 2 mi long, 100 yd wide · near Esmond
- Sun, Jun 19, 2005 · F1 · 0.2 mi long, 100 yd wide · near Harlow
Most recent
- Thu, Jul 16, 2026 · EF0 · 1.81 mi long, 100 yd wide · near Hesper
- Thu, Jul 16, 2026 · EFU · 0.9 mi long, 30 yd wide · near Pleasant Lake
- Fri, Jul 17, 2020 · EF1 · 0.25 mi long, 40 yd wide · near Niles
- Fri, Jul 17, 2020 · EF0 · 0.1 mi long, 30 yd wide · near Niles
- Sat, May 23, 2020 · EF0 · 0.1 mi long, 20 yd wide · near York
- Wed, Jul 4, 2018 · EF2 · 1.46 mi long, 400 yd wide · near Warwick
- Fri, Jun 9, 2017 · EF0 · 2.05 mi long, 200 yd wide · near Brinsmade
- Fri, Jun 9, 2017 · EF2 · 8 mi long, 600 yd wide · near Knox
- Sat, Jul 11, 2015 · EF0 · 0.06 mi long, 25 yd wide · near Baker
- Sat, Jul 16, 2011 · EF0 · 3 mi long, 50 yd wide · near Ft Totten
By decade: 2000s: 10 · 2010s: 8 · 2020s: 5
Still loading: NOAA's record goes back to 1950, and 2003 onward is in so far.
Every hail day since January 2021
- Mon, Sep 7, 2026
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1 in or larger (quarter)
No hail reported in the county.
- Thu, Sep 3, 2026
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1.5 in or larger (ping-pong ball)
No hail reported in the county.
- Mon, Aug 24, 2026
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 2 in or larger (hen egg)
No hail reported in the county.
- Sun, Aug 23, 2026
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1 in or larger (quarter)
No hail reported in the county.
- Sun, Aug 2, 2026
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1 in or larger (quarter)
No hail reported in the county.
- Thu, Jul 16, 2026
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1.5 in or larger (ping-pong ball)
No hail reported in the county.
- Thu, Jul 9, 2026
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1.5 in or larger (ping-pong ball)
Reported in the county- 1.5 in (1 NW Fillmore, ND)
- 1 in (12 S Esmond, ND)
- Sat, Jul 4, 2026
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1.5 in or larger (ping-pong ball)
No hail reported in the county.
- Sun, Jun 28, 2026
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 3 in or larger (teacup)
No hail reported in the county.
- Tue, Jun 2, 2026
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1 in or larger (quarter)
No hail reported in the county.
- Tue, May 26, 2026
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)
No hail reported in the county.
- Sat, Sep 13, 2025
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1 in or larger (quarter)
No hail reported in the county.
- Thu, Sep 11, 2025
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 2 in or larger (hen egg)
Reported in the county- 1.25 in (Leeds, ND)
- Tue, Aug 12, 2025
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1 in or larger (quarter)
No hail reported in the county.
- Thu, Aug 7, 2025
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1.5 in or larger (ping-pong ball)
No hail reported in the county.
- Fri, Jul 25, 2025
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1 in or larger (quarter)
No hail reported in the county.
- Mon, Jul 21, 2025
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)
No hail reported in the county.
- Wed, Jul 9, 2025
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1 in or larger (quarter)
Reported in the county- 1.5 in (4 SW Oberon, ND)
- Fri, Jun 27, 2025
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1 in or larger (quarter)
No hail reported in the county.
- Sun, Jun 22, 2025
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)
No hail reported in the county.
- Fri, Jun 20, 2025
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)
No hail reported in the county.
- Sat, Apr 19, 2025
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1 in or larger (quarter)
No hail reported in the county.
- Tue, Sep 17, 2024
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1 in or larger (quarter)
No hail reported in the county.
- Mon, Sep 16, 2024
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1 in or larger (quarter)
No hail reported in the county.
- Sun, Sep 15, 2024
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 2 in or larger (hen egg)
No hail reported in the county.
- Wed, Aug 28, 2024
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1 in or larger (quarter)
No hail reported in the county.
- Tue, Jul 30, 2024
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1 in or larger (quarter)
No hail reported in the county.
- Mon, Jul 22, 2024
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 2 in or larger (hen egg)
Reported in the county- 1.5 in (3 SE York, ND)
- 1 in (1 WNW Minnewaukan, ND)
- 1.25 in (4 WNW Churchs Ferry, ND)
- 1 in (2 WNW Churchs Ferry, ND)
- 1 in (2 SW Tokio, ND)
- Sat, Jul 20, 2024
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1.5 in or larger (ping-pong ball)
No hail reported in the county.
- Sun, Jul 14, 2024
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1.5 in or larger (ping-pong ball)
No hail reported in the county.
- Sat, Jul 13, 2024
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1 in or larger (quarter)
No hail reported in the county.
- Fri, Jul 12, 2024
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1 in or larger (quarter)
No hail reported in the county.
- Sun, Jun 2, 2024
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)
No hail reported in the county.
- Tue, Oct 3, 2023
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)
Reported in the county- 1.5 in (4 SW Oberon, ND)
- Thu, Aug 24, 2023
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)
No hail reported in the county.
- Sat, Jul 1, 2023
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1 in or larger (quarter)
No hail reported in the county.
- Wed, Jun 28, 2023
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 2 in or larger (hen egg)
No hail reported in the county.
- Tue, Jun 27, 2023
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1 in or larger (quarter)
No hail reported in the county.
- Tue, Jun 20, 2023
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)
No hail reported in the county.
- Thu, Jun 8, 2023
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)
No hail reported in the county.
- Sun, Jun 4, 2023
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)
No hail reported in the county.
- Mon, May 29, 2023
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)
No hail reported in the county.
- Wed, May 10, 2023
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1.5 in or larger (ping-pong ball)
No hail reported in the county.
- Mon, Nov 7, 2022
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)
No hail reported in the county.
- Wed, Aug 24, 2022
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1.5 in or larger (ping-pong ball)
No hail reported in the county.
- Wed, Aug 17, 2022
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1 in or larger (quarter)
No hail reported in the county.
- Tue, Aug 2, 2022
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 2 in or larger (hen egg)
No hail reported in the county.
- Fri, Jul 22, 2022
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1 in or larger (quarter)
No hail reported in the county.
- Thu, Jul 14, 2022
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 2 in or larger (hen egg)
Reported in the county- 1 in (WARWICK, ND)
- Fri, Jun 24, 2022
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 2 in or larger (hen egg)
Reported in the county- 1 in (7 SSE FLORA, ND)
- Mon, Jun 13, 2022
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1 in or larger (quarter)
Reported in the county- 1 in (3 W TOKIO, ND)
- Tue, May 17, 2022
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1 in or larger (quarter)
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.
- Mon, Aug 9, 2021
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1 in or larger (quarter)
Reported in the county- 1 in (6 ESE ESMOND, ND)
- Mon, Jul 19, 2021
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)
No hail reported in the county.
- Sat, Jul 3, 2021
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1.5 in or larger (ping-pong ball)
No hail reported in the county.
- Thu, Jun 10, 2021
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)
No hail reported in the county.
- Fri, Jun 4, 2021
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)
No hail reported in the county.
- Thu, May 20, 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.