Hail history for Dorchester County, MD

Dorchester County has 39 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 32 of them 1″ or larger and 7 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 2.5″ (tennis ball) on April 28, 2002.

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 39 since 1958

1″ or larger 32 NWS severe threshold

2″ or larger 7 hen egg class and up

Largest recorded 2.5″ tennis ball · April 28, 2002

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 Dorchester County

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

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 39 recorded events · data through April 2026
Date	Size	Comparable to
May 16, 2025	1.75″	Golf ball
May 16, 2025	1.75″	Golf ball
May 16, 2025	1.0″	Quarter
May 16, 2025	1.0″	Quarter
May 16, 2025	2.0″	Hen egg
May 16, 2025	2.0″	Hen egg
April 6, 2023	1.5″	Ping-pong ball
June 2, 2022	1.0″	Quarter

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

From the storm reports

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

May 16, 2025 · 2.0″ (hen egg)

Broadcast media reported 2 inch diameter hail.

April 28, 2002 · 2.5″ (tennis ball)

Golfball to tennis ball size hail. Largest hail was either egg shaped or disk shaped.

Events by decade

1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
1	0	0	0	7	15	2	14

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 Dorchester County

Has it ever hailed in Dorchester County?

Yes — 39 hail events have been recorded for Dorchester County, MD in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1958, including 32 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Dorchester County?

The most recent recorded hail event for Dorchester County, MD is May 16, 2025, with 1.75″ (golf 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 Dorchester County?

2.5″ (tennis ball), recorded on April 28, 2002. 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 Maryland hail history

All 24 Maryland 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.