Great Plains: seven states where hail sets the pace

The Plains at a glance

NOAA's Storm Events Database supplies the hail counts (all sizes, 2016 through 2025) and the largest stone each state has on record since 2000; the declaration counts come from FEMA's Disaster Declarations Summaries, fiscal year 2000 onward.

State by state

Texas

Texas logs the most hail of any state in the table, and its largest report since 2000 is a 7.02-inch stone near Vigo Park on June 2, 2024. Its 40 major disaster declarations lean toward water: 12 for flooding and 8 for hurricanes, against 9 for severe storms. For the state's rules on roofers, see the directory's Texas licensing page.

Texas roofers · Texas storm center · Texas licensing

Oklahoma

Oklahoma's 61 major disaster declarations are the most in the storm-belt table; 41 were for severe storms and 8 for ice storms. Roofing contractors must hold a registration from the Construction Industries Board, and under House Bill 1628 a Residential Roofing Endorsement becomes required for residential roofing work beginning January 1, 2028.

Oklahoma roofers · Oklahoma storm center · Oklahoma licensing

Kansas

Kansas ranks second only to Texas for large hail. Of its 51 major disaster declarations, 43 were for severe storms. Since July 1, 2013, every roofing contractor has needed a registration certificate from the Kansas Attorney General to roof for a fee in the state.

Kansas roofers · Kansas storm center · Kansas licensing

Nebraska

Nebraska's biggest stone since 2000 fell near Aurora on June 22, 2003, at 7 inches. The state's Department of Labor says all contractors doing business in Nebraska must register, including subcontractors, and it runs a public search of registered contractors.

Nebraska roofers · Nebraska storm center · Nebraska licensing

South Dakota

The largest hail report in this whole table is South Dakota's: an 8-inch stone at Vivian on July 23, 2010. Nine of the state's 45 major disaster declarations were for flooding. Check the directory's South Dakota licensing page before you hire.

South Dakota roofers · South Dakota storm center · South Dakota licensing

North Dakota

North Dakota has the smallest hail count on this page but still recorded a 5-inch stone at Cannon Ball on July 13, 2010. The Secretary of State requires a contractor license once a job exceeds $4,000, for general contractors, subcontractors and nonresident contractors alike.

North Dakota roofers · North Dakota storm center · North Dakota licensing

Colorado

Colorado records 3,832 hail events of 1 inch or larger in the ten-year window, yet only 13 major disaster declarations since 2000, seven of them for fire and two for severe storms. Its largest stone since 2000 was 5.25 inches near Kirk on August 8, 2023.

Colorado roofers · Colorado storm center · Colorado licensing

Reading the Plains numbers

A long list of hail reports doesn't translate directly into disaster declarations. Under FEMA's declaration process, the President decides on a major disaster declaration after a governor asks for one and shows the situation is beyond state and local capability, which is how Colorado can sit high on hail and low on declarations. For how the NOAA counts are built, see the notes on the storm-belt table.

Frequently asked questions

Which Plains state has the largest hailstone on record since 2000?

South Dakota. NOAA's Storm Events Database lists an 8-inch hailstone at Vivian, in Lyman County, on July 23, 2010.

Do Plains states license roofers?

It varies. Kansas requires registration with the Attorney General, Oklahoma requires registration with the Construction Industries Board, and North Dakota licenses contractors above $4,000 per job. The National Roofing Directory's licensing hub has a page for each of these states.

Why does Oklahoma have more declarations than Texas?

The counts come from different processes. Oklahoma has 61 major disaster declarations since fiscal year 2000 and Texas 40, even though Texas records more hail, tornado and wind events; each declaration reflects a state request and a presidential decision rather than a storm count.