States With the Highest Hail Risk

Peak hail season runs from May to August, and hail now strikes more often with greater intensity across America's fastest-growing risk states. Property damage continues rising across the Central Plains and Midwest. MoneyGeek's updated analysis identifies the states now most at risk, including several where hail frequency has more than doubled since our last study.

We analyzed expected annualized losses from hail using current data (2021 to 2024) and compared these figures to our original 2022 analysis (2018 to 2021). Our findings show dramatic shifts in hail risk and corresponding impacts on property owners. If you live in one of these emerging hail hotspots, understanding what your insurance covers matters more than ever.

MoneyGeek used data from FEMA's National Risk Index datasets and calculated annual projected total losses and per capita losses by state to find states with the highest predicted hail risk in 2025. Our ranking orders states from most to least risk per capita.

Texas Leads in Total Damage. Texas now has the highest total hail damage in the country at $575 million annually, a 70% increase from $338 million. The state ranks 7th per capita and experiences 1,366 hail events yearly, more than double the previous period.

Nationwide Intensification. Hail activity increased across the country, with sharp increases in:

• Illinois: 195% increase (105 to 310 events)
• Texas: 105% increase (667 to 1,366 events)
• Missouri: 99% increase (182 to 363 events)
• Georgia: 92% increase (62 to 119 events)

Comparing our updated 2021 to 2024 data to the original 2018 to 2021 analysis shows dramatic increases in both hail frequency and projected losses. A new study from the Weather, Climate and Society Research Group at Northern Illinois University, funded by the National Science Foundation and NOAA, finds that warming temperatures create more atmospheric instability and stronger thunderstorm updrafts, leading to more frequent large hail. Growing development in hail-prone areas means more property is at risk, driving up total losses. Property owners can learn more about navigating climate change risks.

Nebraska jumped from second to first place, experiencing the most dramatic transformation of any state. NOAA data shows 2023 set records for severe hail across the Great Plains, with Nebraska experiencing unprecedented hail frequency during peak season months. Insurers responded with rate increases of 15% to 25% between 2021 and 2024, according to industry reports.

Texas maintained its position as the state with the highest total losses, but hail events more than doubled. The Dallas-Fort Worth and San Antonio metro areas saw the sharpest increases, and the region has become one of the more challenging markets for coverage in Texas.

South Dakota climbed from fourth to third place, experiencing one of the largest percentage increases in per capita hail risk among all states studied. Some insurers now require separate hail deductibles for South Dakota homeowners.

Average annual hail events nearly doubled or tripled in several states:

Severe thunderstorm activity increased across the Central Plains and Midwest during the 2021 to 2024 period, creating more conditions favorable for hail formation. But weather patterns tell only part of the story.

Rising home values and construction costs mean identical hailstorms now cause more financial damage than they did just a few years ago. A storm that caused $50,000 in roof damage in 2019 causes $65,000 today simply because of material and labor cost increases.

Population growth compounds the problem. Dallas-Fort Worth alone added over 1 million residents during this period, putting more property in harm's way. Midwestern states like Iowa and Missouri see similar pressures from development in hail-prone regions. Urban expansion into previously undeveloped areas means more buildings experience hail events that once affected only agricultural land.

Property owners in high-risk states should review their homeowners insurance or renters insurance policies to confirm coverage limits reflect current replacement costs. Many insurers have introduced separate wind and hail deductibles, ranging from 1% to 5% of a home's insured value, in states like Nebraska, Colorado and Texas. Impact-resistant roofing materials can qualify for insurance discounts in some states, potentially offsetting higher premiums.

MoneyGeek analyzed FEMA's National Risk Index datasets to calculate projected annual hail-related financial losses for each state from building damage and population exposure data, which considers the FEMA-determined statistical value of life to be $8 million.

To calculate per capita risk, MoneyGeek used state populations as of 2020. We calculated the average number of annual hail events using National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) data from 2021 to 2024.

This analysis updates our original 2022 study, which used data from 2018 to 2021. Comparisons between the two time periods highlight how hail risk has evolved.

National Risk Index data includes estimates for agricultural losses due to hail, which were excluded from MoneyGeek's analysis.

MoneyGeek's full data set provides a detailed look at the economic impacts of hail damage by state. Our state-level analysis considers average annualized projected losses due to building damage and population exposure.

This table uses the following terminology:

Building and Population Losses per Capita: Total projected annualized building and population losses per person based on population size.

Building and Population Losses: Projected annualized losses associated with building destruction and damages, injury and loss of life using a FEMA-determined statistical value of life of $8 million.

Average Annual Number of Hail Events (2021 to 2024): Average number of hail events per year using hail events occurring from 2021 to 2024.