Hail Near Ames, Iowa: June 28, 2026
Was there hail near Ames, IA on June 28, 2026? Radar estimated hail up to 1.94 inches about 8 miles north of Ames, IA on June 28, 2026 (Eastern time). Use the map to check the swath against Ames's town limits. Radar detected hail aloft in this area between about 9:35 a.m. and 10:10 a.m. CT on June 28, 2026.
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Hail estimates at a glance
| Storm date (Eastern time) | June 28, 2026 (Sunday) |
|---|---|
| Maximum radar estimate across the area | 1.94 inches; strongest part of the swath about 8 miles north of Ames, IA |
| Approximate radar timing | Between about 9:35 a.m. and 10:10 a.m. CT on June 28, 2026 (Central time) |
| County coverage includes (0.5 inch or larger) | Story County (127 sq mi), Hardin County (40 sq mi), Boone County (35 sq mi), Hamilton County (14 sq mi), Marshall County (10 sq mi) and Grundy County (1 sq mi) |
| Area with radar estimates of 0.5 inch or larger | about 221 square miles |
| Area with radar estimates of 1 inch or larger | about 43 square miles |
| Source | NOAA MRMS radar hail estimates (MESH) |
Which towns had hail on June 28, 2026?
Radar estimated hail of at least 0.5 inch inside these town limits, using U.S. Census boundaries. Each percentage is the share of town area with those estimates.
| Town | County | Maximum radar estimate inside town limits | Town area with estimates of at least 0.5 inch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Story City, IA | Story County | 1.44 inches | 100% |
| Gilbert, IA | Story County | 1 inch | 78% |
| Roland, IA | Story County | 0.98 inch | 100% |
Towns near the hail
The strongest part of the swath was within 15 miles of these towns. Distances and directions run from each town to that part of the swath.
- Boone, IA: strongest radar estimates about 15 miles northeast of town
What time did radar detect hail?
Radar detected hail aloft in this area between about 9:35 a.m. and 10:10 a.m. CT on June 28, 2026. We used 6 NOAA radar hail detections in this area to estimate the window. We trim outlying detection times when enough are available, then round down to five-minute marks. It doesn't give an arrival time at an address.
Data source and limits
We use NOAA's MRMS radar product MESH (Maximum Estimated Size of Hail) for hail-size estimates. Each town's figure is the maximum inside its Census town limits. The percentage is the town area with estimates of at least 0.5 inch. A town's maximum isn't an estimate for every home. Each storm date covers one calendar day in Eastern time. A late-evening storm west of the Eastern time zone can appear under two dates. Radar estimates don't confirm hail on the ground or roof damage. Hail of 0.5 to 0.75 inch can damage roofs, especially older roofs. An estimate below 1 inch doesn't rule out damage. Read how we calculate sizes and times.