Hail history for Benton County, IN

Benton County has 59 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 37 of them 1″ or larger and 5 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 4.25″ (grapefruit) on June 14, 2010.

Records 1950–present Data through April 2026 Peak month May

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 59 since 1975

1″ or larger 37 NWS severe threshold

2″ or larger 5 hen egg class and up

Largest recorded 4.25″ grapefruit · June 14, 2010

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 Benton County

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

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 59 recorded events · data through April 2026
Date	Size	Comparable to
February 19, 2026	1.0″	Quarter
May 27, 2019	1.0″	Quarter
May 27, 2019	1.75″	Golf ball
September 18, 2015	1.75″	Golf ball
September 20, 2014	0.88″	Nickel
September 19, 2013	1.5″	Ping-pong ball
August 9, 2012	1.25″	Half dollar
March 23, 2012	0.75″	Penny

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

From the storm reports

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

February 19, 2026 · 1.0″ (quarter)

Several photos of quarter size hail were shared on social media.

June 14, 2010 · 4.25″ (grapefruit)

Hail as large as softballs produced catastrophic damage to crops from near Boswell east and southeast to the Warren County line south of Templeton. An estimated 5,000 acres of corn crop was destroyed. The hail also caused significant roof damage to many houses.

August 18, 2001 · 4.0″ (softball)

A slow moving thunderstorm moved from east central Illinois into Benton county during the afternoon of August 18th. This thunderstorm produced hail to the size of grapefruit 3 miles north of Otterbein, where several windows and a roof of a house were damaged. Hail to the size of tennis balls flattened about 15,000 acres of corn and soybeans north of Oxford.

Events by decade

1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
0	0	3	7	3	33	12	1

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 Benton County

Has it ever hailed in Benton County?

Yes — 59 hail events have been recorded for Benton County, IN in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1975, including 37 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Benton County?

The most recent recorded hail event for Benton County, IN is February 19, 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 Benton County?

4.25″ (grapefruit), recorded on June 14, 2010. 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 Indiana hail history

All 92 Indiana 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.