HailHistory › Hail by county › North Carolina › Buncombe County
North Carolina · county FIPS 37021
Hail history for Buncombe County, NC
Buncombe County has 207 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 93 of them 1″ or larger and 2 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 2.5″ (tennis ball) on May 8, 2024.
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.
When it hails in Buncombe County
Recorded events by month, 1950–present. The amber bar marks Buncombe County's peak: June.
Most recent recorded events
| Date | Size | Comparable to |
|---|---|---|
| 0.75″ | Penny | |
| 1.0″ | Quarter | |
| 0.75″ | Penny | |
| 1.75″ | Golf ball | |
| 1.0″ | Quarter | |
| 1.75″ | Golf ball | |
| 1.0″ | Quarter | |
| 0.75″ | Penny |
Looking for a specific storm? Use the did-it-hail date lookup for Buncombe County.
From the storm reports
Narratives as filed with the NOAA Storm Events Database (public records; lightly trimmed for length).
· 0.75″ (penny)
Public reported 3/4 inch hail on Cedar Hill Rd.
· 1.75″ (golf ball)
Numerous reports were received from the public, spotters, and media of nickel to golf ball size hail from Woodfin, across the north side, downtown, and east side of Asheville.
· 2.5″ (tennis ball)
Emergency manager and public reported 2-inch diameter to tennis ball size hail broke more than a dozen car windshields in the Barnardsville area.
Events by decade
| 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 1 | 0 | 13 | 29 | 79 | 66 | 19 |
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 Buncombe County
Has it ever hailed in Buncombe County?
Yes — 207 hail events have been recorded for Buncombe County, NC in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1962, including 93 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.
When did it last hail in Buncombe County?
The most recent recorded hail event for Buncombe County, NC is March 16, 2026, 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 Buncombe County?
2.5″ (tennis ball), recorded on May 8, 2024. 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 North Carolina hail history
- Wake County 393
- Mecklenburg County 246
- Burke County 211
- Guilford County 206
- Onslow County 193
- Craven County 190
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.