Hail history for Mercer County, NJ

Mercer County has 63 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 36 of them 1″ or larger. The largest on record: 1.75″ (golf ball) on July 23, 2008.

Records 1950–present Data through April 2026 Peak month July

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 63 since 1974

1″ or larger 36 NWS severe threshold

2″ or larger 0 hen egg class and up

Largest recorded 1.75″ golf ball · July 23, 2008

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 Mercer County

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

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 63 recorded events · data through April 2026
Date	Size	Comparable to
September 8, 2023	0.75″	Penny
April 1, 2023	1.0″	Quarter
April 1, 2023	1.0″	Quarter
February 21, 2023	1.0″	Quarter
February 21, 2023	1.0″	Quarter
February 21, 2023	0.75″	Penny
February 21, 2023	1.0″	Quarter
February 21, 2023	0.75″	Penny

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

From the storm reports

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

September 8, 2023 · 0.75″ (penny)

Trained spotter reports penny-sized hail in Hopewell, NJ. Time given in report.

July 6, 2020 · 1.5″ (ping-pong ball)

Report via social media with photos of ping pong ball size hail.

July 23, 2008 · 1.75″ (golf ball)

Golf ball size hail fell in Pennington.

Events by decade

1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
0	0	2	7	10	12	15	17

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 Mercer County

Has it ever hailed in Mercer County?

Yes — 63 hail events have been recorded for Mercer County, NJ in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1974, including 36 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Mercer County?

The most recent recorded hail event for Mercer County, NJ is September 8, 2023, with 0.75″ (penny) 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 Mercer County?

1.75″ (golf ball), recorded on July 23, 2008. 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 New Jersey hail history

All 21 New Jersey 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.