Hail history for Carteret County, NC

Carteret County has 88 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 39 of them 1″ or larger and 1 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 2.0″ (hen egg) on May 15, 2024.

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 88 since 1978

1″ or larger 39 NWS severe threshold

2″ or larger 1 hen egg class and up

Largest recorded 2.0″ hen egg · May 15, 2024

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 Carteret County

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

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 88 recorded events · data through April 2026
Date	Size	Comparable to
May 15, 2024	2.0″	Hen egg
May 15, 2024	1.0″	Quarter
May 15, 2024	1.0″	Quarter
May 9, 2023	1.0″	Quarter
May 9, 2023	1.0″	Quarter
May 9, 2023	1.0″	Quarter
May 9, 2023	1.0″	Quarter
May 31, 2019	1.0″	Quarter

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

From the storm reports

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

May 15, 2024 · 2.0″ (hen egg)

A picture was submitted of hail of at least 2 inches in diameter via Facebook. The time was estimated based on radar.

July 23, 2015 · 1.75″ (golf ball)

Golf ball size hail near Mason Town Road and Highway 70 in Newport.

Events by decade

1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
0	0	3	12	7	41	18	7

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 Carteret County

Has it ever hailed in Carteret County?

Yes — 88 hail events have been recorded for Carteret County, NC in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1978, including 39 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Carteret County?

The most recent recorded hail event for Carteret County, NC is May 15, 2024, with 2.0″ (hen egg) 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 Carteret County?

2.0″ (hen egg), recorded on May 15, 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

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.