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

Hail, Wind & Tornado Reports in and near Sparta, MI

Public hail, wind, and tornado reports in and near Sparta, MI from July 1, 1956 through March 30, 2025, sourced from NOAA/NWS Local Storm Reports and SPC storm report data.

Example: 49345 — search hail, wind and tornado public reports for any U.S. ZIP code 
Hail Reports
5
Wind Reports
22
Tornado Reports
2
Max Hail Size
1.75″
Source  NOAA SPC · NWS Local Storm Reports Coverage  Sparta, MI · 1956–present Updated  Daily · last Mar 30, 2025

Latest NWS Hail Reports in and near Sparta, MI

5 reports
Free hail report for your home →
1.50″ hail
Apr 29, 2014
3:49 PM EST-5
Hail report for Sparta, MI
Kent County · 174,658 Homes in County
Hail Report Description: An inch to inch and a half diameter hail was reported in and near Sparta.
NWS Hail Report Location: .86 SE Sparta, MI
0.75″ hail
Jul 21, 2004
4:10 PM EST
Hail report for Sparta, MI
Kent County · 174,658 Homes in County
Hail Report Description: Three quarters inch diameter hail was reported three miles southwest of Sparta. A wind gust to 60 m.p.h. was reported two miles southwest of Comstock Park.
NWS Hail Report Location: Sparta, MI
0.88″ hail
Aug 21, 1987
10:12 PM CST
Hail report for Sparta, MI
Kent County · 174,658 Homes in County
Hail Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Hail Report Location: Not provided, MI
1.75″ hail
May 30, 1985
11:40 PM CST
Hail report for Sparta, MI
Kent County · 174,658 Homes in County
Hail Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Hail Report Location: Not provided, MI
1.00″ hail
Jul 12, 1961
1:40 PM CST
Hail report for Sparta, MI
Kent County · 174,658 Homes in County
Hail Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Hail Report Location: Not provided, MI
Showing 5 of 5
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 Sparta, MI

22 reports
Free hail report + wind check →
61 mph
Mar 30, 2025
10:00 PM UTC
Wind report for Sparta, MI
Kent County · 174,658 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: Corrects previous non-tstm wnd gst report from 2 NW Sparta. Mesonet station MISPN 2.0 NW Sparta (MAWN).
NWS Wind Report Location: 2 NW Sparta, MI
UNK mph
Mar 30, 2025
9:54 PM UTC
Wind report for Sparta, MI
Kent County · 174,658 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: Spots with trees snapped or uprooted within a 1 mile wide and 5 mile long area. Two barns exposed to wind partly to mostly collapsed. One premanufactured home with substantial loss of roof covering which was strewn across the road a short distance away.
NWS Wind Report Location: 2 W Sparta, MI
63 mph
Nov 11, 2020
1:44 AM UTC
Wind report for Sparta, MI
Kent County · 174,658 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: POWER OUTAGES IN THE AREA.
NWS Wind Report Location: 2 E Wright, MI
UNK mph
Nov 11, 2020
1:44 AM UTC
Wind report for Sparta, MI
Kent County · 174,658 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: WIRES DOWN AT LONG LAKE DR AND 14 MILE RD.
NWS Wind Report Location: 2 NE Sparta, MI
UNK mph
Nov 11, 2020
1:44 AM UTC
Wind report for Sparta, MI
Kent County · 174,658 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: TREE DOWN NEAR M37 AND SPARTA AVE. REPORTS OF NUMEROUS WIRES AND TREES ACROSS KENT COUNTY.
NWS Wind Report Location: 2 S Sparta, MI
65 mph
Jun 10, 2020
4:15 PM UTC
Wind report for Sparta, MI
Kent County · 174,658 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: MEASURED NEAR FRUIT RIDGE AND 9 MILE RD.
NWS Wind Report Location: 2 ESE Wright, MI
75 mph
Apr 9, 2015
10:47 PM EST-5
Wind report for Sparta, MI
Kent County · 174,658 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: Several trees were uprooted and snapped and the roof was blown off a storage shed near Sparta.
NWS Wind Report Location: 1.47 NNE Sparta, MI
60 mph
Sep 2, 2010
11:24 PM EST-5
Wind report for Sparta, MI
Kent County · 174,658 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: Law enforcement reported that several trees were blown down in and near Sparta and that some power lines were blown down five miles south of Rockford.
NWS Wind Report Location: 1.47 NNE Sparta Schaefer Arpt, MI
69 mph
Aug 9, 2009
5:51 PM EST-5
Wind report for Sparta, MI
Kent County · 174,658 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: Numerous trees were blown down between Kent City and Sparta. Numerous utility wires were downed by falling trees. Scattered trees were blown down south of Cedar Springs.|Significant damage to apple orchards occurred between 12 mile and 15 mile roads west of Sparta.
NWS Wind Report Location: 1.99 NNW Sparta Schaefer Arpt, MI
60 mph
Oct 18, 2007
8:20 PM EST-5
Wind report for Sparta, MI
Kent County · 174,658 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: Several trees were blown down by wind gusts estimated at 60 mph.
NWS Wind Report Location: 3.15 NNE Sparta Arpt, MI
60 mph
Oct 18, 2007
7:36 PM EST-5
Wind report for Sparta, MI
Kent County · 174,658 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: A few trees were blown down by wind gusts estimated at 60 mph.
NWS Wind Report Location: .86 SE Sparta, MI
61 mph
Aug 22, 2000
7:08 PM EST
Wind report for Sparta, MI
Kent County · 174,658 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Wind Report Location: Sparta, MI
61 mph
Jun 1, 2000
9:30 PM EST
Wind report for Sparta, MI
Kent County · 174,658 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Wind Report Location: Englishville, MI
58 mph
Feb 11, 1999
9:26 PM EST
Wind report for Sparta, MI
Kent County · 174,658 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: A 58 mile per hour wind gust was reported in Sparta.
NWS Wind Report Location: Sparta, MI
92 mph
May 31, 1998
4:30 AM EST
Wind report for Sparta, MI
Kent County · 174,658 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: Trained weather spotter measured a 92-mph wind gust with local anemometer near the intersection of Peach Ridge Road and 10-Mile Road in Alpine Township.
NWS Wind Report Location: 4 SW Sparta, MI
Showing 15 of 22
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 Sparta, MI

2 reports
F1 category
Apr 20, 1966
7:45 PM CST
Tornado report for Sparta, MI
Kent County · 174,658 Homes in County
Tornado Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Tornado Report Location: Not provided, MI
F1 category
Jul 1, 1956
2:00 PM CST
Tornado report for Sparta, MI
Kent County · 174,658 Homes in County
Tornado Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Tornado Report Location: Not provided, MI
Showing 2 of 2
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 Sparta, MI on the Interactive Map

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Browse ZIP Codes with NWS Storm Reports in Sparta

49345 27
Sparta, MI Hail, wind & tornado reports

NWS Storm Reports & Census Data

U.S. Census Data · City

Sparta, MI area census snapshot

People & households
Population4,260
Households1,765
Housing units1,834
Income
Median household income$55,474
$100k+ households32.4%
$150k+ households9.4%
Housing stock
Single-family detached1,227
Attached single-family166
Small multifamily209
Large multifamily232
Mobile homes0
Housing mix
Single-family share66.9%
Attached-home share9.1%
Multifamily share24.1%
Mobile-home share--
Ownership & occupancy
Owner-occupied1,226
Renter-occupied539
Vacant units69
Home value & age
Median home value$190,100
Owner homes $300k+12.4%
Owner homes $500k+1.6%
Owner homes $750k+--
Median year built1965
Older-home share66.4%
Vehicle context
Households with cars1,602
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 Sparta have on record?

Our records show 5 hail, 22 wind, and 2 tornado reports in and near Sparta, MI, compiled from NOAA SPC and NWS Local Storm Reports. The most recent was reported on March 30, 2025.

What is the largest hail ever reported in Sparta?

The largest hail size in these storm-report records in and near Sparta, MI is 1.75″. It was reported near Sparta, MI on May 30, 1985.

A storm report showed up near my home in Sparta — 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 Sparta and ask about a Remote Hail Inspection before anyone climbs on the roof.

I am buying a home in Sparta — 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 Sparta address before closing helps you ask informed questions about roof age, past repairs, and any prior claims.

I am selling a home in Sparta — 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 Sparta address?

Use the address search to pull a free address-level hail report for any property in Sparta — 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 Sparta, MI, sourced from NOAA SPC and NWS Local Storm Reports. They show where hail, wind, or tornado activity was reported in Sparta, 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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