Hail history for Columbia County, AR

Columbia County has 167 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 102 of them 1″ or larger and 10 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 4.5″ (grapefruit) on May 2, 2003.

Records 1950–present Data through April 2026 Peak month April

Core sample · every recorded event, 1955–2026

Mark size = measured hail diameter; slivers are events with no recorded size. Amber ≥2″, red ≥2.75″ (baseball class). Denser recent decades partly reflect better reporting, not only more storms.

Recorded events 167 since 1971

1″ or larger 102 NWS severe threshold

2″ or larger 10 hen egg class and up

Largest recorded 4.5″ grapefruit · May 2, 2003

Read the record honestly: Storm Events contains what was reported to the National Weather Service. Sparse or rural counties under-report, and coverage improved sharply after the mid-1990s — a quiet-looking stretch is not proof nothing fell.

When it hails in Columbia County

Recorded events by month, 1950–present. The amber bar marks Columbia County's peak: April.

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 167 recorded events · data through April 2026
Date	Size	Comparable to
April 29, 2026	1.0″	Quarter
March 15, 2025	1.75″	Golf ball
December 28, 2024	0.88″	Nickel
April 15, 2023	0.75″	Penny
April 15, 2023	1.5″	Ping-pong ball
April 15, 2023	2.75″	Baseball
April 15, 2023	1.25″	Half dollar
April 15, 2023	1.75″	Golf ball

Looking for a specific storm? Use the did-it-hail date lookup for Columbia County.

From the storm reports

Narratives as filed with the NOAA Storm Events Database (public records; lightly trimmed for length).

April 29, 2026 · 1.0″ (quarter)

Quarter size hail reported on South Elm Street in Emerson.

April 15, 2023 · 2.75″ (baseball)

A picture of baseball size hail that fell several miles southwest of Magnolia was posted to social media.

May 2, 2003 · 4.5″ (grapefruit)

Numerous car and home windows were shattered and numerous roofs stripped of shingles. An estimated 400 homes and 40 mobile homes received moderate to major damage according to Farm Bureau Insurance and the Emergency Management. Damage extended from County Road 36 between Woodland Acres Estates and Lake Sue Nursery, across US 82 and continued southeastwardly through the Calhoun and Tidewater Communities.

Events by decade

1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
0	0	12	36	57	36	15	11

The climb across decades is largely a reporting story: spotter networks, radar, and digital filing pulled far more storms into the record after the 1990s.

Questions about hail in Columbia County

Has it ever hailed in Columbia County?

Yes — 167 hail events have been recorded for Columbia County, AR in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1971, including 102 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Columbia County?

The most recent recorded hail event for Columbia County, AR is April 29, 2026, with 1.0″ (quarter) hail. The database is currently updated through April 2026, so a storm from the last few weeks may not appear yet. To check a specific day, use the did-it-hail date lookup.

What is the largest hail ever recorded in Columbia County?

4.5″ (grapefruit), recorded on May 2, 2003. Hail that size is destructive-class and typically damages roofs, vehicles, and siding. See how big that really is on the actual-size hail chart.

Does a recorded hail event mean my roof was damaged?

No. This page reports storm records, not damage. Hail size and damage vary block by block within a county, and only an inspection can establish what happened to a specific roof. If you suspect damage, talk to your insurer or a licensed roofer — they can pull the same NOAA records for your claim.

More Arkansas hail history

All 75 Arkansas counties, ranked by recorded hail →

Source: NOAA/NCEI Storm Events Database, public domain, updated monthly by NCEI — this site's copy runs through April 2026. HailHistory reports records; it does not give insurance advice or assess damage.