Hail history for Durham County, NC

Durham County has 127 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 66 of them 1″ or larger and 1 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 2.75″ (baseball) on April 24, 1955.

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 127 since 1955

1″ or larger 66 NWS severe threshold

2″ or larger 1 hen egg class and up

Largest recorded 2.75″ baseball · April 24, 1955

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 Durham County

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

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 127 recorded events · data through April 2026
Date	Size	Comparable to
May 5, 2025	0.75″	Penny
October 17, 2022	0.75″	Penny
September 25, 2020	0.75″	Penny
September 25, 2020	0.75″	Penny
September 25, 2020	1.0″	Quarter
May 31, 2019	1.0″	Quarter
May 21, 2018	0.75″	Penny
May 10, 2018	1.5″	Ping-pong ball

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

From the storm reports

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

May 10, 2018 · 1.5″ (ping-pong ball)

Ping pong ball size hail fell near the intersection of Rose Of Sharon Road and Golden Heather Drive and resulted in damage to vehicles and trees.

March 14, 2016 · 1.75″ (golf ball)

Hail up to the size of golf balls was reported along a swath from Duke Homestead Boulevard near Highway 157 to approximately 5 miles west-northwest of Gorman.

May 14, 2006 · 1.75″ (golf ball)

REPORTED ON CLUB BLVD.

Events by decade

1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
2	3	4	14	30	37	32	5

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 Durham County

Has it ever hailed in Durham County?

Yes — 127 hail events have been recorded for Durham County, NC in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1955, including 66 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Durham County?

The most recent recorded hail event for Durham County, NC is May 5, 2025, 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 Durham County?

2.75″ (baseball), recorded on April 24, 1955. 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.