Hail history for Lee County, NC

Lee County has 58 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 30 of them 1″ or larger and 1 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 2.0″ (hen egg) on June 1, 1956.

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 58 since 1956

1″ or larger 30 NWS severe threshold

2″ or larger 1 hen egg class and up

Largest recorded 2.0″ hen egg · June 1, 1956

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 Lee County

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

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 58 recorded events · data through April 2026
Date	Size	Comparable to
June 26, 2023	1.0″	Quarter
June 26, 2023	0.75″	Penny
May 29, 2021	1.0″	Quarter
March 27, 2021	1.75″	Golf ball
September 25, 2020	1.0″	Quarter
May 31, 2019	1.0″	Quarter
September 1, 2017	1.0″	Quarter
July 22, 2016	1.0″	Quarter

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

From the storm reports

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

May 29, 2021 · 1.0″ (quarter)

A trained spotter reported quarter size hail near the 1500 block of Kentucky Avenue in Sanford.

May 9, 2008 · 1.75″ (golf ball)

Golf ball size covering the ground near the intersection of Cotton and Iron Furnace roads.

May 9, 2008 · 1.75″ (golf ball)

Golf ball size hail was reported on Highway 421 near the county line.

Events by decade

1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
1	0	0	6	13	26	7	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 Lee County

Has it ever hailed in Lee County?

Yes — 58 hail events have been recorded for Lee County, NC in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1956, including 30 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Lee County?

The most recent recorded hail event for Lee County, NC is June 26, 2023, 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 Lee County?

2.0″ (hen egg), recorded on June 1, 1956. 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.