Large hailstone from Arrora, Nebraska.
© Associated PressLarge hailstone from Arrora, Nebraska.
The number of severe hailstorms in the United States rose significantly over the last three years, and the damage from increasingly massive hailstones is pushing up insurance rates in the hardest hit states, according to a new study.

Data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) shows that severe hail events increased by 21% from 2022 to 2024, the study by Insurify, an insurance shopping company, found.

"Hailstones are formed when raindrops are carried upward by thunderstorm updrafts into extremely cold areas of the atmosphere and freeze," NOAA says on its website. "Hailstones then grow by colliding with liquid water drops that freeze onto the hailstone's surface."

When hail comes crashing down, however, it can cause significant damage to cars and property, not to mention human health.

"The U.S. has incurred more than $50 billion annually in severe convective storm losses over the past two years," Mark Friedlander, director of corporate communications at the Insurance Information Institute, said in a statement. "These storms typically generate significant levels of hail damage to homes and vehicles."

The hardest hit states

The top 10 states with the highest increases in major hailstorms are:

Missouri

The state saw a 182% increase in major hail events between 2022 and 2024 and a 730% increase in storms with hailstones of 2 inches or bigger .

Illinois

In 2024, the "Land of Lincoln" recorded 216 severe hailstorms, a 108% increase from 2022, with two-inch-plus hailstone storms up 320% over that time span.

Indiana

Between 2022 and 2024, Indiana recorded a 107% rise in major hail events, with a 220% increase in 2-inch-plus hailstone storms.

Texas

Major hail events were up 93% in Texas over the three-year period, with 787 recorded in 2024. Two-inch-plus hailstone storms increased by 220%.

Pennsylvania

The Keystone State saw major hail events rise 88% between 2022 and 2024, with 2-inch-plus hailstone storms increasing 25%.

Iowa

Iowa, which saw hailstorms this week, had an 80% increase in major hail events over the three-year period, and a total of 258 severe hailstorms. Two-inch-plus hailstone storms rose by 121% over the three-year period.

Louisiana

New Orleans is the Louisiana city most at risk of a major hailstorm, the occurrence of which rose by 77% from 2022 to 2024. Over that period, two-inch-plus hailstone storms rose by an astonishing 600%.

Kansas

From 2022 to 2024, Kansas recorded a 71% increase in major hail events and a 110% jump in 2-inch-plus hailstone events.

Colorado

Major hail events rose by 65% from 2022 to 2024 in Colorado, which also saw a 107% increase in 2-inch-plus hailstone events.

New Mexico

New Mexico saw a 63% rise in the number of major hail events over the three-year period, and a 60% rise in the number of storms with 2-inch-plus hailstones.

(More here)