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NOAA/NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER REPORTS + U.S. CENSUS DATA

Hail, Wind & Tornado Reports in and near Defiance, IA

Public hail, wind, and tornado reports in and near Defiance, IA from June 25, 1975 through August 9, 2025, sourced from NOAA/NWS Local Storm Reports and SPC storm report data.

Example: 51527 — search hail, wind and tornado public reports for any U.S. ZIP code 
Hail Reports
15
Wind Reports
6
Tornado Reports
7
Max Hail Size
1.75″
Source  NOAA SPC · NWS Local Storm Reports Coverage  Defiance, IA · 1975–present Updated  Daily · last Aug 9, 2025

Latest NWS Hail Reports in and near Defiance, IA

15 reports
Free hail report for your home →
1.75″ hail
Apr 20, 2017
12:14 PM UTC
Hail report for Defiance, IA
Shelby County · 4,803 Homes in County
Hail Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Hail Report Location: 3 S Defiance, IA
1.75″ hail
Apr 20, 2017
12:41 AM UTC
Hail report for Defiance, IA
Shelby County · 4,803 Homes in County
Hail Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Hail Report Location: 3 S Defiance, IA
0.75″ hail
Jun 25, 2013
4:58 AM CST-6
Hail report for Defiance, IA
Shelby County · 4,803 Homes in County
Hail Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Hail Report Location: 1.47 NNE Defiance, IA
1.00″ hail
May 21, 2011
7:27 PM CST-6
Hail report for Defiance, IA
Shelby County · 4,803 Homes in County
Hail Report Description: Along Highway 59 south of town.
NWS Hail Report Location: 3.49 S Defiance, IA
1.00″ hail
Sep 18, 2010
10:25 AM CST-6
Hail report for Defiance, IA
Shelby County · 4,803 Homes in County
Hail Report Description: The hail was mostly nickel-size, but a few stones were as big as quarters.
NWS Hail Report Location: NE Defiance, IA
0.75″ hail
Jun 11, 2008
5:30 AM CST-6
Hail report for Defiance, IA
Shelby County · 4,803 Homes in County
Hail Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Hail Report Location: 2.57 W Defiance, IA
1.00″ hail
Apr 24, 2008
5:32 PM CST-6
Hail report for Defiance, IA
Shelby County · 4,803 Homes in County
Hail Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Hail Report Location: .51 E Defiance, IA
0.75″ hail
Aug 20, 2007
10:20 AM CST-6
Hail report for Defiance, IA
Shelby County · 4,803 Homes in County
Hail Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Hail Report Location: 2 SE Defiance, IA
1.00″ hail
Nov 12, 2005
2:50 PM CST
Hail report for Defiance, IA
Shelby County · 4,803 Homes in County
Hail Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Hail Report Location: 1 N Defiance, IA
1.75″ hail
May 10, 2005
6:15 PM CST
Hail report for Defiance, IA
Shelby County · 4,803 Homes in County
Hail Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Hail Report Location: Defiance, IA
1.25″ hail
Apr 29, 2003
8:36 PM CST
Hail report for Defiance, IA
Shelby County · 4,803 Homes in County
Hail Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Hail Report Location: Defiance, IA
0.88″ hail
Apr 29, 2003
8:33 PM CST
Hail report for Defiance, IA
Shelby County · 4,803 Homes in County
Hail Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Hail Report Location: 2 N Defiance, IA
1.00″ hail
Jul 2, 1999
12:10 PM CST
Hail report for Defiance, IA
Shelby County · 4,803 Homes in County
Hail Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Hail Report Location: Defiance, IA
0.88″ hail
Jul 23, 1997
7:35 AM CST
Hail report for Defiance, IA
Shelby County · 4,803 Homes in County
Hail Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Hail Report Location: 4 NE Defiance, IA
1.75″ hail
May 12, 1986
5:55 PM CST
Hail report for Defiance, IA
Shelby County · 4,803 Homes in County
Hail Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Hail Report Location: Not provided, IA
Showing 15 of 15
Hail Damage Risk for Your Home +

Hail reports describe hail by diameter, often comparing stone size to familiar objects like peas, quarters, golf balls, and softballs. Use this guide as a starting point for possible hail damage to your roof, siding, gutters, vents, windows, and exterior. Actual hail damage depends on hail hardness, density, wind speed, impact angle, roof age, shingle condition, roof pitch, roofing material, installation quality, and prior storm damage.

Pea
0.25″
Low

Usually too small to cause hail damage to most sound asphalt roofs, siding, or gutters.

Mothball
0.50″
Sub-Severe Watch

Below the NWS severe-hail threshold, but not always harmless. Repeated small hail can scuff surfaces, wear aging shingles, and loosen protective granules over time.

Penny
0.75″
Minor / Watch

Below the NWS severe-hail threshold, but roof hail damage is still possible on older, brittle, poorly installed, or previously damaged shingles. May also mark screens, vents, gutters, and soft metal.

Nickel
0.88″
Minor / Watch

Still below the severe-hail threshold, but large enough to leave visible marks on soft metal and add wear to older or hail-weakened roof shingles.

Quarter
1.00″
Watch

The NWS severe-hail threshold. Quarter-size hail can bruise shingles, dent soft metal, and create roof hail damage worth checking.

Half Dollar
1.25″
Watch

More likely to dent gutters, vents, flashing, and siding. Hail damage risk rises quickly on older roofs or hail-weakened shingles.

Ping Pong / Walnut
1.50″
Likely

Hail damage becomes more likely, including bruised shingles, granule loss, dented siding, and damaged roof vents.

Golf Ball
1.75″
Likely

Often causes roof hail damage, cracked shingles, dented gutters, damaged flashing, and siding impacts. A roof inspection is recommended.

Hen Egg
2.00″
Serious

Can crack or puncture shingles, expose mat, dent siding, and cause widespread hail damage across the roof and exterior.

Tennis Ball
2.50″
Serious

Can cause heavy roof hail damage, punctured siding, broken skylights, damaged vents, and widespread exterior damage.

Baseball
2.75″
Major

Major hail damage is likely, including severe roof impacts, damaged siding, broken windows, and possible major roof repairs.

Tea Cup / Large Apple
3.00″
Major

Can cause heavy hail damage across the roof, siding, gutters, windows, and exterior. Significant repairs are often needed.

Softball
4.00″
Extreme

Destructive hail damage. Can severely damage roofing materials, siding, windows, gutters, vents, vehicles, and exterior surfaces.

Grapefruit
4.50″
Extreme

Catastrophic hail damage risk for roofs, windows, vehicles, siding, gutters, and exterior surfaces.

Source: NOAA / National Weather Service hail size references are used for hail-size comparisons and the 1.00″ severe-hail threshold. Damage descriptions are general homeowner guidance, not official NOAA/NWS damage ratings. Sub-severe hail under 1.00″ is below the severe threshold, but that does not mean “no roof damage.” Penny- to nickel-size hail can still contribute to granule loss, cosmetic surface marks, and added wear, especially on older, brittle, poorly installed, or previously damaged roofs.

Latest NWS Wind Reports in and near Defiance, IA

6 reports
Free hail report + wind check →
UNK mph
Aug 9, 2025
12:05 PM UTC
Wind report for Defiance, IA
Shelby County · 4,803 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: Barn blown down and damage to trees.
NWS Wind Report Location: 2 N Defiance, IA
UNK mph
Jul 6, 2018
3:05 AM UTC
Wind report for Defiance, IA
Shelby County · 4,803 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: DELAYED REPORT OF POWER OUT FOR SEVERAL HOURS DUE TO A LARGE TREE BRANCH DOWN OVER POWER LINES.
NWS Wind Report Location: Defiance, IA
70 mph
Jun 23, 2009
3:10 PM CST-6
Wind report for Defiance, IA
Shelby County · 4,803 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: Thunderstorm winds estimated at least at 60 to 70 mph by a spotter flattened crops in the area.
NWS Wind Report Location: 5 E Defiance, IA
81 mph
May 15, 1998
9:12 AM CST
Wind report for Defiance, IA
Shelby County · 4,803 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: Shed and hog house destroyed.
NWS Wind Report Location: 3 S Defiance, IA
60 mph
Jun 29, 1986
8:50 PM CST
Wind report for Defiance, IA
Shelby County · 4,803 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Wind Report Location: Not provided, IA
UNK mph
Jun 25, 1975
9:00 PM CST
Wind report for Defiance, IA
Shelby County · 4,803 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Wind Report Location: Not provided, IA
Showing 6 of 6
Wind Damage Risk for Your Home +

Storm reports list thunderstorm wind gusts in mph. The NWS marks storms as severe at 58+ mph, but wind damage to your home depends on roof age, shingle condition, installation, exposure, nearby trees, and prior hail or wind damage.

Below Severe
Under 58 mph
Minor

Usually little damage to a sound roof, but loose shingles, flashing, or debris may shift.

Severe
58–74 mph
Watch

Can loosen shingles, lift flashing, break limbs, and damage gutters, siding, fences, or trim.

Damaging
75–90 mph
Serious

Can peel shingles, damage vents, tear siding, rip gutters, and expose weak roof areas.

Extreme
90+ mph
Major

Can cause major roof covering loss, tree damage, broken windows, and structural damage.

Source: NOAA / National Weather Service storm reports. Gusts may be measured or estimated; actual wind damage varies by roof condition, exposure, and prior hail or wind damage.

Latest NWS Tornado Reports in and near Defiance, IA

7 reports
UNK category
Apr 26, 2024
11:55 PM UTC
Tornado report for Defiance, IA
Shelby County · 4,803 Homes in County
Tornado Report Description: DELAYED REPORT. Media relayed photo of tornado approximately 1 mile northeast of Defiance... Iowa.
NWS Tornado Report Location: 1 NE Defiance, IA
UNK category
Apr 26, 2024
11:51 PM UTC
Tornado report for Defiance, IA
Shelby County · 4,803 Homes in County
Tornado Report Description: A second round of storms moved across Shelby and Crawford counties. An EF1 tornado developed just a few blocks outside of Defiance... near the track that the first tornado took only one hour prior. This tornado moved quickly northeast... impacting several farms... damaging outbuildings and trees along its 12.3 mile long track. The tornado reached a maximum width of approximately 200 yards along highway 141... and crossed the other tornado track that had come north from Manilla in a previous storm. The tornado damage path ended near 340th Street and QQ Avenue.
NWS Tornado Report Location: 1 NNE Defiance, IA
UNK category
Apr 26, 2024
11:51 PM UTC
Tornado report for Defiance, IA
Shelby County · 4,803 Homes in County
Tornado Report Description: Delayed report. Video of tornado producing damage. One outbuilding destroyed.
NWS Tornado Report Location: 1 S Defiance, IA
UNK category
Apr 26, 2024
11:28 PM UTC
Tornado report for Defiance, IA
Shelby County · 4,803 Homes in County
Tornado Report Description: An EF2 tornado damage track begins near the V&W Petersen Wildlife Management Area... and moved almost due north from that point... tracking just to the west of Manilla... and generally near 320th Street for much of its track. There was substantial tree damage along this storm`s track... particularly in a line of evergreen trees near Highway 141 and 320th Street where all trunks were snapped and branches removed. The heaviest damage... on the low-end of the EF-2 range... occurred just south of that location where a barn was totally destroyed. The tornado continued due north according to a highly detailed video shared by storm chasers... and ended near 320th and P Avenue.
NWS Tornado Report Location: 5 ENE Defiance, IA
EF0 category
Mar 22, 2011
4:47 PM CST-6
Tornado report for Defiance, IA
Shelby County · 4,803 Homes in County
Tornado Report Description: A storm chaser caught a rope tornado on video southwest of Defiance. The narrow and weak tornado apparently caused no damage as it remained in an open field and was from the same supercell that spawned a larger tornado to the southwest in Harrison county a little earlier.
NWS Tornado Report Location: 3 SW Defiance, IA
EF0 category
Jun 11, 2008
7:05 PM CST-6
Tornado report for Defiance, IA
Shelby County · 4,803 Homes in County
Tornado Report Description: An apparent tornado downed 30 to 40 trees and damaged a farm outbuilding 4 miles south of Defiance.
NWS Tornado Report Location: 4.18 S Defiance, IA
EF0 category
Jun 11, 2008
6:59 PM CST-6
Tornado report for Defiance, IA
Shelby County · 4,803 Homes in County
Tornado Report Description: A tornado touched down briefly northwest of Defiance. The tornado caused mainly just tree damage.
NWS Tornado Report Location: 2.58 NW Defiance, IA
Showing 7 of 7
Tornado Damage Risk for Your Home +

After a tornado, the National Weather Service assigns an EF rating from EF0 to EF5 based on surveyed damage. The rating estimates wind speed from what the tornado damaged, so actual damage can vary by construction quality, roof age, garage doors, windows, trees, debris, and how close the home was to the tornado path.

EF0
65–85 mph
Light

Can peel shingles, damage gutters or siding, break tree limbs, and toss loose outdoor items.

EF1
86–110 mph
Moderate

Can strip roof covering, damage exterior doors, break windows, snap trees, and cause heavier siding or gutter damage.

EF2
111–135 mph
Serious

Can tear off large sections of roofing, break or uproot trees, destroy weaker structures, and cause major exterior damage.

EF3–EF5
136+ mph
Severe

Can remove roofs and walls, destroy large portions of homes, toss vehicles, and cause severe to total destruction near the path.

Source: NOAA / National Weather Service. EF ratings are assigned after a post-storm damage survey and are based on observed damage, not a direct measurement at every home.

NWS Hail, Wind and Tornado Reports in and near Defiance, IA on the Interactive Map

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Browse ZIP Codes with NWS Storm Reports in Defiance

51527 24
Defiance, IA Hail, wind & tornado reports

NWS Storm Reports & Census Data

U.S. Census Data · City

Defiance, IA area census snapshot

People & households
Population207
Households103
Housing units109
Income
Median household income$51,458
$100k+ households31.1%
$150k+ households9.7%
Housing stock
Single-family detached101
Attached single-family0
Small multifamily7
Large multifamily0
Mobile homes1
Housing mix
Single-family share92.7%
Attached-home share--
Multifamily share6.4%
Mobile-home share0.9%
Ownership & occupancy
Owner-occupied88
Renter-occupied15
Vacant units6
Home value & age
Median home value$84,300
Owner homes $300k+3.4%
Owner homes $500k+2.3%
Owner homes $750k+--
Median year built1942
Older-home share85.3%
Vehicle context
Households with cars102
Free hail maps

This snapshot is for local area context only and describes the selected state, county, city, or ZIP area — not a specific home or property. For ZIP-level estimated hail impact, use Free Hail Maps to generate a hail report with key impact details for that ZIP.

Frequently asked questions

for homeowners, buyers & sellers
How many hail, wind, and tornado reports does Defiance have on record?

Our records show 15 hail, 6 wind, and 7 tornado reports in and near Defiance, IA, compiled from NOAA SPC and NWS Local Storm Reports. The most recent was reported on August 9, 2025.

What is the largest hail ever reported in Defiance?

The largest hail size in these storm-report records in and near Defiance, IA is 1.75″. It was reported near Defiance, IA on April 20, 2017.

A storm report showed up near my home in Defiance — does that mean my roof is damaged?

Not necessarily. A storm report only means hail, wind, or a tornado was observed nearby; it does not confirm damage at any specific address, and conditions change from block to block. Check an address-level hail report first, and if it looks significant, find a local pro that serves Defiance and ask about a Remote Hail Inspection before anyone climbs on the roof.

I am buying a home in Defiance — why should I look at its storm history?

Recent hail or wind can leave a roof or exterior with damage that is easy to miss during a walkthrough, and a recent roof replacement is sometimes an insurance job after a storm. Reviewing the storm history for a Defiance address before closing helps you ask informed questions about roof age, past repairs, and any prior claims.

I am selling a home in Defiance — how does this help me?

Knowing the storm history for your address lets you answer buyer questions with confidence, document repairs you have already made, and decide whether a pre-listing roof check is worthwhile. A clear hail history removes a common sticking point during negotiations.

How do I check hail history for a specific Defiance address?

Use the address search to pull a free address-level hail report for any property in Defiance — no phone number or email required. It shows recent hail activity for that address so you know whether a closer roof or exterior review makes sense.

Where does this storm report data come from, and what are its limits?

Storm reports on this page are public reports from storm events across Defiance, IA, sourced from NOAA SPC and NWS Local Storm Reports. They show where hail, wind, or tornado activity was reported in Defiance, but they do not confirm damage at any specific property. Report locations, sizes, and times may be approximate and can vary from what an individual home experienced. For property-specific hail history, use an address-level hail report or contact a participating local professional for a remote hail inspection. Pros inclusion is not an endorsement, and contacting a professional does not confirm damage at any property.

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