How big was the hail on September 4, 2023?

The maximum estimated stone size anywhere in the country that day was 1.50 inches, over Rapid City, SD. Sizes vary street to street inside a single swath, so a city's figure is the largest radar estimated anywhere within about 5 miles of it.

Where does this hail data come from?

NOAA MRMS radar, specifically the Maximum Estimated Size of Hail product, ingested directly from the public NOAA archive. It runs about a quarter of an inch against ground truth, which makes it good for deciding where to look and not a substitute for an inspection.

Does this mean roofs were damaged?

Radar measures stone size, not damage. Whether a particular roof was damaged depends on stone size, wind direction, roof age and material — only an inspection settles it. These figures tell you where it is worth looking.

How do I see the actual swath on a map?

A HailMate plan puts a whole state on a real interactive map, with this swath and three years of others already on it. From $79/mo, and the canvassing tools come with it.

United States · September 4, 2023

Hail map — September 4, 2023

Name: US hail map — September 4, 2023
Creator: HailMate

NOAA radar detected hail of an inch or more over 2 cities across 2 states on September 4, 2023. The largest stones — 1.50″, half dollar size — fell over Rapid City, SD.

Hail swath map for Rapid City, SD on September 4, 2023 showing 1.50 inch hail. — Largest rendered swath of the day: Rapid City, SD — 1.50″ hail. Each city below has its own map for this storm.

States hit: 2
Cities hit: 2
Largest stone: 1.50″; half dollar size
Impact rating: 5/10; from stone size

Sizes come from NOAA MRMS radar (MESH), which runs about ±0.25″ against ground truth. It is canvass-targeting quality, not claim evidence.

Roofing contractors

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Homeowners

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This page covers your area as a whole. Check your own address to see every storm on record for your roof — the date and the stone size for each one — and we'll email you the full report to keep.

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States hit on September 4, 2023

Every state where NOAA radar put an inch or more of hail over a city that day, biggest stone first.

South Dakota1 city · 1.50″Virginia1 city · 1.00″

Hardest hit on September 4, 2023

Rapid City, SD1.50″ · half dollar Virginia Beach, VA1.00″ · quarter

What people on the ground measured in the US on September 4, 2023

15 reports filed with the National Weather Service — 5 from trained spotters or officials. These are measured stones, not radar estimates, so they are the closest thing to proof that hail actually reached the ground.

1.75″ golf ball size Public
Belle Fourche, SD3:52 PM CDTButte County
Time estimated from radar
1.50″ half dollar size Public
2 E Mitchell, NE4:47 PM CDTScotts Bluff County
Ping pong ball sized hail reported.
1.25″ half dollar size Public
Belle Fourche, SD3:52 PM CDTButte County
1.25″ half dollar size Public
1 E Ellsworth AFB, SD4:15 PM CDTMeade County
Photo shows several stones of quarter to half dollar size
1.25″ half dollar size Trained Spotter
3 NE Cross Ranch State, ND8:40 PM CDTMcLean County
Ongoing at time of call.
1.00″ quarter size Public
6 E Aladdin, WY2:35 PM MDTCrook County
Time estimated from radar
1.00″ quarter size Public
1 ESE Dwtn Rapid City, SD3:54 PM CDTPennington County
mPING report
1.00″ quarter size Public
1 NE Dwtn Rapid City, SD3:59 PM CDTPennington County
mPING report
1.00″ quarter size Public
2 E Ellsworth AFB, SD4:12 PM CDTMeade County
mPING report
1.00″ quarter size Trained Spotter
1 NNE Box Elder, SD4:15 PM CDTPennington County
Winds estimated 60 or higher
1.00″ quarter size Trained Spotter
2 NE Mitchell, NE4:43 PM CDTScotts Bluff County
1.00″ quarter size Trained Spotter
14 SSE Broadus, MT5:25 PM MDTPowder River County
1.00″ quarter size Public
7 N Glen Ullin, ND7:00 PM CDTMorton County
Also estimated 60-70 mph winds with the hail.
1.00″ quarter size Trained Spotter
8 NNE Glen Ullin, ND7:17 PM CDTMorton County
Wind Gusts Estimated at 60 mph.
0.88″ penny size CoCoRaHS
8 NE Hammond, MT6:19 PM MDTCarter County

Showing the 15 largest of 18 hail reports filed that day.

Reports come from the National Weather Service Local Storm Report feed, ingested every 15 minutes. A report records where the observer was, not the full extent of the swath — treat it as evidence about the storm, not about any one roof.

Other hail days

August 19, 202620 cities · 2.00″August 18, 20266 cities · 1.50″August 17, 20266 cities · 1.00″August 16, 202610 cities · 1.50″August 15, 20268 cities · 1.50″August 14, 202611 cities · 2.00″August 13, 202616 cities · 2.00″August 12, 202610 cities · 1.50″August 11, 202633 cities · 2.00″August 10, 202623 cities · 1.50″August 9, 202649 cities · 1.50″August 8, 20265 cities · 1.50″

Every state with hail on record →

FAQ

US hail on September 4, 2023

NOAA radar put hail of an inch or more over 2 cities across 2 states on September 4, 2023. The largest stones — 1.50 inches, half dollar size — were over Rapid City, SD. Every state hit is listed on this page, and every city under it.

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