Hail — Stevens, Minnesota

2024-07-31 · near Chokio, Stevens, Minnesota

Event narrative

A hailstone measuring six inches in diameter was reported by a resident to emergency management. The hail next to a ruler were photographed. This at least tied the record for the largest hailstone in Minnesota. Storm Data records also indicate six inch diameter hail in Nobles County on July 28, 1986, and in Murray County on July 4, 1968. The hail was collected about 13 to 15 minutes after the hail ended but was not saved in a freezer.

Wider weather episode

An early morning line of showers and thunderstorms intensified during the afternoon upon encountering a favorable environment for severe thunderstorms. Steep mid-level lapse rates combined with strong instability. The storms produced damaging wind gusts which downed trees in several areas and mostly quarter to hen egg size hail, but some hail was much larger.

A hailstone in Stevens County measured six inches in diameter (it was photographed next to a ruler). This at least tied the record for the largest hailstone in Minnesota. Storm Data records also indicate six inch diameter hail in Nobles County on July 28, 1986, and in Murray County on July 4, 1968. The hail was collected about 13 to 15 minutes after the hail ended but was not saved in a freezer.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (45.6300, -96.2300)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1205675. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.