Hail history for St. James Parish, LA

St. James Parish has 13 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 8 of them 1″ or larger. The largest on record: 1.75″ (golf ball) on April 5, 1996.

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 13 since 1969

1″ or larger 8 NWS severe threshold

2″ or larger 0 hen egg class and up

Largest recorded 1.75″ golf ball · April 5, 1996

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 St. James Parish

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

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 13 recorded events · data through April 2026
Date	Size	Comparable to
April 13, 2021	1.0″	Quarter
April 15, 2015	0.75″	Penny
March 29, 2011	1.0″	Quarter
May 29, 2010	1.0″	Quarter
May 4, 2009	1.0″	Quarter
April 7, 2003	0.88″	Nickel
May 28, 1997	1.5″	Ping-pong ball
April 14, 1996	0.75″	Penny

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

From the storm reports

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

April 13, 2021 · 1.0″ (quarter)

The public reported quarter sized hail along Louisiana State Highway 70 near the Motiva/Shell Facility.

April 10, 1995 · 1.25″ (half dollar)

Quarter size hail reported by Civil Defense.

Events by decade

1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
0	1	0	0	6	2	3	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 St. James Parish

Has it ever hailed in St. James Parish?

Yes — 13 hail events have been recorded for St. James Parish, LA in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1969, including 8 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in St. James Parish?

The most recent recorded hail event for St. James Parish, LA is April 13, 2021, 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 St. James Parish?

1.75″ (golf ball), recorded on April 5, 1996. 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.