Hail history for Gates County, NC

Gates County has 35 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 18 of them 1″ or larger and 1 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 3.5″ (softball) on June 4, 1985.

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 35 since 1985

1″ or larger 18 NWS severe threshold

2″ or larger 1 hen egg class and up

Largest recorded 3.5″ softball · June 4, 1985

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 Gates County

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

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 35 recorded events · data through April 2026
Date	Size	Comparable to
June 11, 2025	1.0″	Quarter
April 26, 2019	1.5″	Ping-pong ball
June 21, 2018	1.0″	Quarter
April 22, 2017	1.0″	Quarter
June 12, 2016	1.0″	Quarter
June 25, 2015	1.25″	Half dollar
May 23, 2012	1.0″	Quarter
June 27, 2011	1.75″	Golf ball

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

From the storm reports

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

June 11, 2025 · 1.0″ (quarter)

An emergency manager reported dime to marble sized hail in Acorn Hill. However, given the radar presentation and ambiguity of marble sizing, the largest hail stone is estimated to have been around the size of a quarter. The largest hail likely fell just to the northeast over the Great Dismal Swamp.

June 27, 2011 · 1.75″ (golf ball)

Golf ball size hail was reported along Route 158 in the Dismal Swamp.

May 4, 2009 · 1.75″ (golf ball)

Golf ball size hail was reported just east of Sunbury. The hail put dents in several cars and a mobile home.

Events by decade

1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
0	0	0	11	2	11	10	1

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 Gates County

Has it ever hailed in Gates County?

Yes — 35 hail events have been recorded for Gates County, NC in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1985, including 18 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Gates County?

The most recent recorded hail event for Gates County, NC is June 11, 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 Gates County?

3.5″ (softball), recorded on June 4, 1985. 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.