Hail history for Catawba County, NC

Catawba County has 177 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 95 of them 1″ or larger and 8 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 4.5″ (grapefruit) on June 3, 1998.

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 177 since 1955

1″ or larger 95 NWS severe threshold

2″ or larger 8 hen egg class and up

Largest recorded 4.5″ grapefruit · June 3, 1998

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 Catawba County

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

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 177 recorded events · data through April 2026
Date	Size	Comparable to
July 10, 2025	1.0″	Quarter
August 17, 2024	1.0″	Quarter
May 15, 2024	0.75″	Penny
May 15, 2024	1.0″	Quarter
July 1, 2023	1.0″	Quarter
August 10, 2022	0.88″	Nickel
July 17, 2021	0.75″	Penny
June 14, 2021	1.0″	Quarter

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

From the storm reports

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

July 10, 2025 · 1.0″ (quarter)

Public reported quarter size hail.

July 21, 2018 · 2.0″ (hen egg)

Public reported (via Social Media) two-inch diameter hail on the north side of Hickory.

June 29, 2016 · 1.75″ (golf ball)

Media and the public reported quarter to golf ball size hail on the north and northeast side of Hickory. The largest hail was reported at Cloninger Mill Rd and N Center St.

Events by decade

1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
1	1	0	16	44	53	53	9

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 Catawba County

Has it ever hailed in Catawba County?

Yes — 177 hail events have been recorded for Catawba County, NC in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1955, including 95 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Catawba County?

The most recent recorded hail event for Catawba County, NC is July 10, 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 Catawba County?

4.5″ (grapefruit), recorded on June 3, 1998. 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.