Some interesting information has surfaced over the years relating to hail in our region. Here are some hail facts:

• The hail season in Colorado is March through October.
  • June has the highest frequency statewide, averaging over 130 reported severe hailstorms a year.
  • The vast majority of hail occurs May through August.
  • Fort Collins has its most frequent hailstorms in May, but its largest hail comes in July and August.
• Hail is primarily an afternoon or evening phenomenon in Colorado.
  • Most severe hailstorms occur between 1:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. MST.
• Hailstorms rarely last more than 15 minutes at any given location.
  • The median duration is 6 minutes.
  • The storm itself may drop hail continuously for several hours along its path.
• Hailstones must be ¾ inch diameter or greater to qualify a hailstorm as severe.
  • This is the size at which hail becomes capable of more extensive property damage.
  • The most common size range for damaging hail is 1 to 1½ inches in diameter.
  • The most common size for hailstones generally in Colorado is ¼ inch.
  • The largest documented hailstone fell in Kansas. It was 5½ inches in diameter and weighed nearly 2 pounds!
• In Colorado, hail is a regional problem.
  • It rarely hails in the mountains or on the Western Slope.
  • Hail severity increases as you go east from the Front Range foothills toward the Kansas border.

Source - Nolan Doesken, Colorado Climate Center

Definitions and Introduction | Facts About Hail | How Does Hail Develop?