Hail history for Erie County, NY

Erie County has 131 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 72 of them 1″ or larger and 2 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 2.0″ (hen egg) on May 28, 2017.

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 131 since 1959

1″ or larger 72 NWS severe threshold

2″ or larger 2 hen egg class and up

Largest recorded 2.0″ hen egg · May 28, 2017

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 Erie County

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

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 131 recorded events · data through April 2026
Date	Size	Comparable to
March 31, 2026	1.5″	Ping-pong ball
March 31, 2026	1.5″	Ping-pong ball
February 18, 2026	1.0″	Quarter
April 29, 2025	1.0″	Quarter
October 6, 2024	1.0″	Quarter
July 22, 2024	1.0″	Quarter
July 15, 2024	1.25″	Half dollar
July 15, 2024	1.0″	Quarter

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

From the storm reports

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

March 31, 2026 · 1.5″ (ping-pong ball)

Received report with photo from Gowanda.

July 25, 1994 · 1.75″ (golf ball)

An isolated early morning thunderstorm produced golf-ball sized hail during the early morning hours.

Events by decade

1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
1	5	9	10	19	43	20	24

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 Erie County

Has it ever hailed in Erie County?

Yes — 131 hail events have been recorded for Erie County, NY in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1959, including 72 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Erie County?

The most recent recorded hail event for Erie County, NY is March 31, 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 Erie County?

2.0″ (hen egg), recorded on May 28, 2017. 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 York hail history

All 62 New York 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.