Hail and tornadoes in Union County, SD

Since January 2021, radar estimated hail somewhere in Union County, SD on 73 days. The biggest estimate: 3 in or larger (teacup), on Mon, Jun 2, 2025. Hail was reported to the National Weather Service inside the county on 13 days.

Still loading: radar estimates go back to Wed, Oct 14, 2020, and the earlier years are being added.

Days with hail

since January 2021

1 inch or larger

days, estimated or reported

Largest radar estimate

3+ in

Mon, Jun 2, 2025

Largest reported

1.75 in

Mon, Jun 2, 2025

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 103 hail reports in Union County, SD on 65 days, 0 of them 2 inches or larger. The largest: 1.75 in, near Elk Pt, on Mon, Jun 2, 2025.

By decade: 2000s: 59 · 2010s: 20 · 2020s: 24

Tornadoes since 1950

7 tornadoes have touched Union County, SD since 1950, none of them rated F3/EF3 or stronger.

Strongest

Fri, Oct 4, 2013 · EF1 · 4.18 mi long, 400 yd wide · near Mc Cook Lake
Fri, Oct 4, 2013 · EF1 · 4.75 mi long, 800 yd wide · near Jefferson
Sun, May 11, 2014 · EF0 · 2.4 mi long, 50 yd wide · near Spink
Sat, Jun 4, 2005 · F0 · 0.1 mi long, 50 yd wide · near Alcester
Fri, May 28, 2004 · F0 · 0.1 mi long, 50 yd wide · near Alcester

Most recent

Sun, May 11, 2014 · EF0 · 2.4 mi long, 50 yd wide · near Spink
Fri, Oct 4, 2013 · EF1 · 4.75 mi long, 800 yd wide · near Jefferson
Fri, Oct 4, 2013 · EF1 · 4.18 mi long, 400 yd wide · near Mc Cook Lake
Sat, Jun 4, 2005 · F0 · 0.1 mi long, 50 yd wide · near Alcester
Fri, May 28, 2004 · F0 · 0.1 mi long, 50 yd wide · near Alcester
Fri, May 28, 2004 · F0 · 0.1 mi long, 50 yd wide · near Alcester
Sun, Apr 18, 2004 · F0 · 4 mi long, 100 yd wide · near Nora

By decade: 2000s: 4 · 2010s: 3

Still loading: NOAA's record goes back to 1950, and 2003 onward is in so far.

Every hail day since January 2021

Thu, Oct 8, 2026
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1.5 in or larger (ping-pong ball)
Reported in the county
- 1.5 in (Alcester, SD)
Fri, Sep 11, 2026
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1 in or larger (quarter)
No hail reported in the county.
Fri, Sep 4, 2026
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)
No hail reported in the county.
Tue, Sep 1, 2026
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1.5 in or larger (ping-pong ball)
No hail reported in the county.
Mon, Aug 3, 2026
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)
No hail reported in the county.
Sat, Jul 25, 2026
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)
No hail reported in the county.
Thu, Jul 2, 2026
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1 in or larger (quarter)
No hail reported in the county.
Tue, Jun 30, 2026
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)
No hail reported in the county.
Mon, Jun 29, 2026
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1 in or larger (quarter)
No hail reported in the county.
Sun, May 31, 2026
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1.5 in or larger (ping-pong ball)
No hail reported in the county.
Mon, May 25, 2026
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1 in or larger (quarter)
No hail reported in the county.
Sun, May 24, 2026
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)
No hail reported in the county.
Sun, May 17, 2026
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1 in or larger (quarter)
No hail reported in the county.
Sun, Sep 21, 2025
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1.5 in or larger (ping-pong ball)
No hail reported in the county.
Tue, Jul 29, 2025
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1.5 in or larger (ping-pong ball)
No hail reported in the county.
Sun, Jul 27, 2025
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)
No hail reported in the county.
Wed, Jul 23, 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)
No hail reported in the county.
Mon, Jul 7, 2025
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)
No hail reported in the county.
Sat, Jun 28, 2025
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1 in or larger (quarter)
No hail reported in the county.
Fri, Jun 27, 2025
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1 in or larger (quarter)
No hail reported in the county.
Tue, Jun 17, 2025
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1 in or larger (quarter)
No hail reported in the county.
Mon, Jun 16, 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: 1 in or larger (quarter)
No hail reported in the county.
Sat, Jun 14, 2025
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1.5 in or larger (ping-pong ball)
Reported in the county
- 1.25 in (8 ENE Vermillion, SD)
Mon, Jun 2, 2025
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 3 in or larger (teacup)
Reported in the county
- 1.75 in (3 NNW Elk Point, SD)
Thu, Apr 17, 2025
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1 in or larger (quarter)
Reported in the county
- 1 in (7 NW Elk Point, SD)
Thu, Aug 29, 2024
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)
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.
Tue, Jul 30, 2024
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1 in or larger (quarter)
No hail reported in the county.
Mon, Jul 29, 2024
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)
No hail reported in the county.
Sun, Jul 28, 2024
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)
No hail reported in the county.
Tue, Jun 18, 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: 2 in or larger (hen egg)
No hail reported in the county.
Mon, May 20, 2024
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 3 in or larger (teacup)
Reported in the county
- 1.75 in (Elk Point, SD)
Mon, Apr 15, 2024
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1 in or larger (quarter)
Reported in the county
- 1.25 in (1 SE Elk Point, SD)
Fri, Sep 29, 2023
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1 in or larger (quarter)
No hail reported in the county.
Mon, Sep 18, 2023
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)
No hail reported in the county.
Fri, Sep 15, 2023
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)
No hail reported in the county.
Fri, Aug 11, 2023
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1.5 in or larger (ping-pong ball)
No hail reported in the county.
Fri, Jul 21, 2023
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)
No hail reported in the county.
Tue, Jul 11, 2023
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1.5 in or larger (ping-pong ball)
No hail reported in the county.
Mon, Jul 10, 2023
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)
No hail reported in the county.
Tue, Jul 4, 2023
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)
No hail reported in the county.
Mon, Jul 3, 2023
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1.5 in or larger (ping-pong ball)
Reported in the county
- 1 in (5 SE Alcester, SD)
Sat, Jun 24, 2023
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)
Reported in the county
- 1 in (10 S Alcester, SD)
Wed, May 31, 2023
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1 in or larger (quarter)
No hail reported in the county.
Thu, May 11, 2023
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 2 in or larger (hen egg)
No hail reported in the county.
Mon, May 8, 2023
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)
Reported in the county
- 1 in (1 SE ELK POINT, SD)
Wed, Apr 19, 2023
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1 in or larger (quarter)
Reported in the county
- 1.5 in (ELK POINT, SD)
- 1.25 in (3 SSE NORTH SIOUX CITY, SD)
Thu, Mar 30, 2023
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1 in or larger (quarter)
Reported in the county
- 1.25 in (2 NNW JEFFERSON, SD)
Wed, Aug 31, 2022
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1.5 in or larger (ping-pong ball)
No hail reported in the county.
Sat, Aug 6, 2022
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)
No hail reported in the county.
Thu, Aug 4, 2022
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1 in or larger (quarter)
No hail reported in the county.
Tue, Jul 26, 2022
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)
No hail reported in the county.
Tue, Jul 5, 2022
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1 in or larger (quarter)
No hail reported in the county.
Fri, Jun 24, 2022
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)
No hail reported in the county.
Mon, May 30, 2022
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)
No hail reported in the county.
Thu, May 12, 2022
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1.5 in or larger (ping-pong ball)
No hail reported in the county.
Tue, Mar 29, 2022
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)
No hail reported in the county.
Sun, Oct 17, 2021
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)
No hail reported in the county.
Fri, Sep 3, 2021
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1 in or larger (quarter)
No hail reported in the county.
Thu, Sep 2, 2021
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)
No hail reported in the county.
Mon, Aug 30, 2021
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1 in or larger (quarter)
Reported in the county
- 1.75 in (6 S BERESFORD, SD)
Fri, Aug 27, 2021
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)
No hail reported in the county.
Wed, Aug 11, 2021
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1 in or larger (quarter)
No hail reported in the county.
Thu, Aug 5, 2021
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1.5 in or larger (ping-pong ball)
No hail reported in the county.
Fri, Jul 30, 2021
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)
No hail reported in the county.
Sun, Jul 25, 2021
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 2 in or larger (hen egg)
No hail reported in the county.
Thu, Jul 8, 2021
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1.5 in or larger (ping-pong ball)
Reported in the county
- 1 in (5 SW ALCESTER, SD)
- 1 in (4 N HAWARDEN, IA)
Fri, Jun 25, 2021
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)
No hail reported in the county.
Tue, Jun 22, 2021
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1 in or larger (quarter)
No hail reported in the county.
Fri, Jun 11, 2021
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)
No hail reported in the county.

Check your own address →Weather in Union County, SD now →Get warned before the next storm →

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.