Hail history for Ocean County, NJ

Ocean County has 89 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 47 of them 1″ or larger and 1 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 2.75″ (baseball) on June 6, 2002.

Records 1950–present Data through April 2026 Peak month June

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 89 since 1966

1″ or larger 47 NWS severe threshold

2″ or larger 1 hen egg class and up

Largest recorded 2.75″ baseball · June 6, 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 Ocean County

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

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 89 recorded events · data through April 2026
Date	Size	Comparable to
April 3, 2024	1.0″	Quarter
April 3, 2024	1.0″	Quarter
April 1, 2023	1.0″	Quarter
April 1, 2023	0.75″	Penny
February 21, 2023	1.0″	Quarter
January 17, 2022	0.88″	Nickel
November 13, 2021	0.75″	Penny
July 21, 2021	1.0″	Quarter

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

From the storm reports

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

April 3, 2024 · 1.0″ (quarter)

Report of quarter sized hail. Time estimated from radar.

May 28, 2019 · 1.75″ (golf ball)

Report time estimated from radar.

June 22, 2012 · 1.75″ (golf ball)

Golf ball size hail fell in Barnegat.

Events by decade

1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
0	1	2	8	12	15	31	20

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 Ocean County

Has it ever hailed in Ocean County?

Yes — 89 hail events have been recorded for Ocean County, NJ in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1966, including 47 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Ocean County?

The most recent recorded hail event for Ocean County, NJ is April 3, 2024, 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 Ocean County?

2.75″ (baseball), recorded on June 6, 2002. 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 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.