Hail history for Chatham County, NC

Chatham County has 82 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 48 of them 1″ or larger. The largest on record: 1.75″ (golf ball) on May 20, 2008.

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 82 since 1975

1″ or larger 48 NWS severe threshold

2″ or larger 0 hen egg class and up

Largest recorded 1.75″ golf ball · May 20, 2008

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 Chatham County

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

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 82 recorded events · data through April 2026
Date	Size	Comparable to
April 22, 2025	1.5″	Ping-pong ball
April 22, 2025	1.0″	Quarter
April 22, 2025	1.5″	Ping-pong ball
April 14, 2023	1.0″	Quarter
May 10, 2021	1.0″	Quarter
May 10, 2021	1.0″	Quarter
May 31, 2019	1.25″	Half dollar
May 31, 2019	1.25″	Half dollar

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

From the storm reports

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

April 22, 2025 · 1.5″ (ping-pong ball)

Ping pong ball size hail was reported.

May 20, 2008 · 1.75″ (golf ball)

Hail up to the size of golf balls was reported near Silk Liberty Road and Clyde Underwood Road.

May 9, 2008 · 1.75″ (golf ball)

Golf ball size hail was reported on Smith Level Road.

Events by decade

1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
0	0	3	11	21	30	11	6

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 Chatham County

Has it ever hailed in Chatham County?

Yes — 82 hail events have been recorded for Chatham County, NC in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1975, including 48 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Chatham County?

The most recent recorded hail event for Chatham County, NC is April 22, 2025, 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 Chatham County?

1.75″ (golf ball), recorded on May 20, 2008. 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.