Hail history for Burke County, NC

Burke County has 211 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 107 of them 1″ or larger and 6 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 4.5″ (grapefruit) on May 24, 2000.

Records 1950–present Data through April 2026 Peak month May

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 211 since 1985

1″ or larger 107 NWS severe threshold

2″ or larger 6 hen egg class and up

Largest recorded 4.5″ grapefruit · May 24, 2000

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 Burke County

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

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 211 recorded events · data through April 2026
Date	Size	Comparable to
May 14, 2025	1.0″	Quarter
May 8, 2025	0.75″	Penny
May 8, 2025	1.0″	Quarter
May 8, 2025	1.0″	Quarter
September 7, 2023	0.75″	Penny
June 26, 2023	1.0″	Quarter
April 22, 2023	0.75″	Penny
July 6, 2022	1.75″	Golf ball

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

From the storm reports

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

May 14, 2025 · 1.0″ (quarter)

County comms reported quarter size hail.

July 6, 2022 · 1.75″ (golf ball)

Media reported golf ball sized hail.

May 11, 2008 · 2.75″ (baseball)

Baseball size hail measured just east of South Mountains State Park.

Events by decade

1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
0	0	0	3	21	64	104	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 Burke County

Has it ever hailed in Burke County?

Yes — 211 hail events have been recorded for Burke County, NC in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1985, including 107 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Burke County?

The most recent recorded hail event for Burke County, NC is May 14, 2025, 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 Burke County?

4.5″ (grapefruit), recorded on May 24, 2000. 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 North Carolina hail history

All 100 North Carolina 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.