Hail history for Union County, AR

Union County has 172 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 106 of them 1″ or larger and 15 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 4.0″ (softball) on March 28, 1972.

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 172 since 1958

1″ or larger 106 NWS severe threshold

2″ or larger 15 hen egg class and up

Largest recorded 4.0″ softball · March 28, 1972

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 Union County

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

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 172 recorded events · data through April 2026
Date	Size	Comparable to
March 15, 2026	1.0″	Quarter
March 15, 2026	1.75″	Golf ball
March 15, 2026	1.25″	Half dollar
May 17, 2025	1.75″	Golf ball
May 17, 2025	2.0″	Hen egg
May 6, 2025	1.0″	Quarter
April 26, 2025	1.0″	Quarter
March 23, 2025	1.0″	Quarter

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

From the storm reports

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

March 15, 2026 · 1.25″ (half dollar)

Half dollar size hail reported on Shuler Road just southwest of El Dorado.

May 17, 2025 · 2.0″ (hen egg)

Several pictures of golfball to hen egg size hail were taken and posted to social media, that fell just east/southeast of Strong.

May 2, 2016 · 2.0″ (hen egg)

Hail larger than the size of golfballs fell in the Parkers Chapel community.

Events by decade

1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
1	1	8	14	43	39	42	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 Union County

Has it ever hailed in Union County?

Yes — 172 hail events have been recorded for Union County, AR in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1958, including 106 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Union County?

The most recent recorded hail event for Union County, AR is March 15, 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 Union County?

4.0″ (softball), recorded on March 28, 1972. 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.