Hail history for Boyd County, KY

Boyd County has 51 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 27 of them 1″ or larger and 1 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 2.0″ (hen egg) on May 20, 2017.

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 51 since 1979

1″ or larger 27 NWS severe threshold

2″ or larger 1 hen egg class and up

Largest recorded 2.0″ hen egg · May 20, 2017

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 Boyd County

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

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 51 recorded events · data through April 2026
Date	Size	Comparable to
May 20, 2017	1.25″	Half dollar
May 20, 2017	2.0″	Hen egg
June 26, 2015	1.0″	Quarter
April 9, 2015	1.0″	Quarter
September 26, 2012	1.0″	Quarter
September 26, 2012	0.88″	Nickel
September 26, 2012	1.0″	Quarter
March 28, 2012	0.88″	Nickel

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

From the storm reports

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

April 9, 2015 · 1.0″ (quarter)

Hail broke a few house windows and put dents in siding.

January 8, 1998 · 1.75″ (golf ball)

A few vehicles, plus awning on homes, were dented.

June 26, 1995 · 1.75″ (golf ball)

Golf ball-size hail fell along Straight Creek.

Events by decade

1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
0	0	1	3	5	19	23	0

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 Boyd County

Has it ever hailed in Boyd County?

Yes — 51 hail events have been recorded for Boyd County, KY in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1979, including 27 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Boyd County?

The most recent recorded hail event for Boyd County, KY is May 20, 2017, with 1.25″ (half dollar) 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 Boyd County?

2.0″ (hen egg), recorded on May 20, 2017. Hail that size meets or exceeds the National Weather Service severe threshold. 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 Kentucky hail history

All 120 Kentucky 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.