Hail history for Kemper County, MS

Kemper County has 95 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 45 of them 1″ or larger and 5 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 4.5″ (grapefruit) on April 15, 2011.

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 95 since 1960

1″ or larger 45 NWS severe threshold

2″ or larger 5 hen egg class and up

Largest recorded 4.5″ grapefruit · April 15, 2011

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 Kemper County

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

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 95 recorded events · data through April 2026
Date	Size	Comparable to
April 29, 2026	1.5″	Ping-pong ball
May 9, 2024	1.0″	Quarter
January 12, 2023	1.75″	Golf ball
March 25, 2019	1.0″	Quarter
March 14, 2019	1.25″	Half dollar
March 27, 2017	1.0″	Quarter
March 27, 2017	1.0″	Quarter
March 7, 2017	1.5″	Ping-pong ball

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

From the storm reports

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

April 29, 2026 · 1.5″ (ping-pong ball)

Quarter to ping pong ball-sized hail via social media and broadcast media.

April 15, 2011 · 4.5″ (grapefruit)

A swath of baseball to softball sized hail fell across northeast Kemper County. This very large hail damaged some vehicles at a catfish farm along Binnsville Road.

April 22, 2005 · 4.25″ (grapefruit)

The first of a few intense supercell thunderstorms tracked east-southeast across all of Kemper county. The storm moved into the county, from Neshoba county, a few miles southwest of Preston. Between Preston and DeKalb is where the largest hail fell. A large swath of baseball to softball sized hail occurred in that area.

Events by decade

1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
0	3	1	10	27	27	24	3

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 Kemper County

Has it ever hailed in Kemper County?

Yes — 95 hail events have been recorded for Kemper County, MS in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1960, including 45 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Kemper County?

The most recent recorded hail event for Kemper County, MS is April 29, 2026, 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 Kemper County?

4.5″ (grapefruit), recorded on April 15, 2011. Hail that size is destructive-class and typically damages roofs, vehicles, and siding. 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 Mississippi hail history

All 82 Mississippi 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.