Hail history for St. Mary Parish, LA

St. Mary Parish has 39 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 25 of them 1″ or larger and 1 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 2.5″ (tennis ball) on February 21, 2010.

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 39 since 1974

1″ or larger 25 NWS severe threshold

2″ or larger 1 hen egg class and up

Largest recorded 2.5″ tennis ball · February 21, 2010

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. Mary Parish

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

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 39 recorded events · data through April 2026
Date	Size	Comparable to
February 11, 2024	1.5″	Ping-pong ball
April 13, 2021	1.0″	Quarter
May 3, 2017	1.75″	Golf ball
May 3, 2017	1.0″	Quarter
May 3, 2017	1.75″	Golf ball
May 3, 2017	1.75″	Golf ball
April 5, 2012	1.0″	Quarter
April 5, 2012	1.0″	Quarter

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

From the storm reports

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

February 11, 2024 · 1.5″ (ping-pong ball)

The emergency management director of Saint Mary Parish reported hail of 1.5 inch in diameter.

May 3, 2017 · 1.75″ (golf ball)

A spotter reported golf ball size hail which cracked the windshield of a truck.

February 21, 2010 · 2.5″ (tennis ball)

Franklin Police, Fire, and Sheriff Departments along with several reports from the public indicated hail ranging from golf ball to tennis ball size broke numerous windows in the downtown area. This is the largest known hail ever recorded in St. Mary Parish.

Events by decade

1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
0	0	1	2	5	14	15	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 St. Mary Parish

Has it ever hailed in St. Mary Parish?

Yes — 39 hail events have been recorded for St. Mary Parish, LA in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1974, including 25 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in St. Mary Parish?

The most recent recorded hail event for St. Mary Parish, LA is February 11, 2024, with 1.5″ (ping-pong 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 St. Mary Parish?

2.5″ (tennis ball), recorded on February 21, 2010. 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.