Hail history for Shelby County, IN

Shelby County has 61 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 34 of them 1″ or larger and 2 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 3.0″ (tea cup) on June 2, 1980.

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 61 since 1971

1″ or larger 34 NWS severe threshold

2″ or larger 2 hen egg class and up

Largest recorded 3.0″ tea cup · June 2, 1980

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 Shelby County

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

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 61 recorded events · data through April 2026
Date	Size	Comparable to
April 29, 2025	0.75″	Penny
May 7, 2024	1.0″	Quarter
July 2, 2023	1.0″	Quarter
July 2, 2023	0.88″	Nickel
June 30, 2023	1.0″	Quarter
March 28, 2020	1.75″	Golf ball
October 19, 2016	0.75″	Penny
July 21, 2016	0.75″	Penny

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

From the storm reports

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

October 19, 2016 · 0.75″ (penny)

Most of the hail observed in this location was a half inch, with some as large as a penny.

March 23, 2012 · 1.75″ (golf ball)

WTHR13 in Indianapolis reported hail up to the size of golf balls and hail piling up over four inches. Residents mentioned that the hail knocked birds out of the sky, stripped the bark off trees, and took and 18-foot piece of gutter off a house. ||The Shelby county emergency manager reported that the hail from this storm caused damage to approximately 100 homes from Fairland to Fountaintown.

May 22, 2011 · 1.75″ (golf ball)

This report was relayed through broadcast media.

Events by decade

1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
0	0	2	5	5	25	18	6

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 Shelby County

Has it ever hailed in Shelby County?

Yes — 61 hail events have been recorded for Shelby County, IN in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1971, including 34 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Shelby County?

The most recent recorded hail event for Shelby County, IN is April 29, 2025, with 0.75″ (penny) 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 Shelby County?

3.0″ (tea cup), recorded on June 2, 1980. 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.