HailHistoryHail by countyIndiana › Franklin County

Indiana · county FIPS 18047

Hail history for Franklin County, IN

Franklin County has 49 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 24 of them 1″ or larger and 2 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 3.0″ (tea cup) on May 25, 2011.

Records 1950–present Data through April 2026 Peak month April
Core sample · every recorded event, 1955–2026
1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s 2020s 1955 through 2026 largest · 3.0″ tea cup May 25, 2011

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 49 since 1966
1″ or larger 24 NWS severe threshold
2″ or larger 2 hen egg class and up
Largest recorded 3.0 tea cup · May 25, 2011
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 Franklin County

Jan 3 Feb 3 Mar 14 Apr 11 May 10 Jun 4 Jul 2 Aug 1 Sep Oct 1 Nov Dec

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

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 49 recorded events · data through April 2026
DateSizeComparable to
1.75″ Golf ball
1.25″ Half dollar
1.0″ Quarter
2.75″ Baseball
1.0″ Quarter
1.0″ Quarter
1.25″ Half dollar
0.75″ Penny

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

From the storm reports

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

· 2.75″ (baseball)

There were multiple reports of baseball sized hail around Batesville.

· 1.75″ (golf ball)

Golf ball-size hail damaged crops in northeastern Franklin County, south of Liberty.

Events by decade

1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020s
0113218123

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 Franklin County

Has it ever hailed in Franklin County?

Yes — 49 hail events have been recorded for Franklin County, IN in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1966, including 24 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Franklin County?

The most recent recorded hail event for Franklin County, IN is February 27, 2023, with 1.75″ (golf ball) 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 Franklin County?

3.0″ (tea cup), recorded on May 25, 2011. 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.