Hail history for Orleans Parish, LA

Orleans Parish has 37 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 23 of them 1″ or larger. The largest on record: 1.75″ (golf ball) on April 15, 2015.

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 37 since 1962

1″ or larger 23 NWS severe threshold

2″ or larger 0 hen egg class and up

Largest recorded 1.75″ golf ball · April 15, 2015

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 Orleans Parish

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

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 37 recorded events · data through April 2026
Date	Size	Comparable to
April 16, 2023	1.0″	Quarter
March 11, 2022	1.0″	Quarter
February 7, 2017	1.5″	Ping-pong ball
January 21, 2017	1.0″	Quarter
April 15, 2015	1.75″	Golf ball
April 15, 2015	1.5″	Ping-pong ball
April 8, 2014	0.75″	Penny
February 24, 2013	1.0″	Quarter

Looking for a specific storm? Use the did-it-hail date lookup for Orleans Parish.

From the storm reports

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

April 16, 2023 · 1.0″ (quarter)

Hail around the size of quarters reported in Algiers. Report via social media and NWSChat.

April 15, 2015 · 1.75″ (golf ball)

Amateur radio operator reported golf ball size hail near the Interstate 10 Interstate 610 split.

February 4, 2004 · 1.75″ (golf ball)

Hail ranging in size from quarters to golfballs was observed at various locations around New Orleans.

Events by decade

1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
0	2	5	4	10	6	8	2

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 Orleans Parish

Has it ever hailed in Orleans Parish?

Yes — 37 hail events have been recorded for Orleans Parish, LA in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1962, including 23 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Orleans Parish?

The most recent recorded hail event for Orleans Parish, LA is April 16, 2023, 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 Orleans Parish?

1.75″ (golf ball), recorded on April 15, 2015. 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 Louisiana hail history

All 64 Louisiana 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.