Hail history for Hempstead County, AR

Hempstead County has 198 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 124 of them 1″ or larger and 17 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 2.75″ (baseball) on April 25, 2026.

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 198 since 1955

1″ or larger 124 NWS severe threshold

2″ or larger 17 hen egg class and up

Largest recorded 2.75″ baseball · April 25, 2026

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 Hempstead County

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

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 198 recorded events · data through April 2026
Date	Size	Comparable to
April 25, 2026	2.0″	Hen egg
April 25, 2026	2.75″	Baseball
April 25, 2026	1.5″	Ping-pong ball
April 25, 2026	1.75″	Golf ball
April 25, 2026	1.0″	Quarter
March 31, 2023	1.5″	Ping-pong ball
March 31, 2023	2.0″	Hen egg
March 31, 2023	1.75″	Golf ball

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

From the storm reports

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

April 25, 2026 · 2.75″ (baseball)

Baseball size hail reported in Hope.

April 25, 2026 · 1.0″ (quarter)

Quarter size hail reported along U.S. Highway 371 just east of Nashville.

May 30, 2004 · 2.75″ (baseball)

Hail fell in the Shover Springs community.

Events by decade

1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
2	5	8	29	58	44	28	24

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 Hempstead County

Has it ever hailed in Hempstead County?

Yes — 198 hail events have been recorded for Hempstead County, AR in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1955, including 124 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Hempstead County?

The most recent recorded hail event for Hempstead County, AR is April 25, 2026, with 2.0″ (hen egg) 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 Hempstead County?

2.75″ (baseball), recorded on April 25, 2026. 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.