Hail history for Lincoln County, NC

Lincoln County has 131 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 69 of them 1″ or larger and 5 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 2.5″ (tennis ball) on May 11, 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 131 since 1962

1″ or larger 69 NWS severe threshold

2″ or larger 5 hen egg class and up

Largest recorded 2.5″ tennis ball · May 11, 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 Lincoln County

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

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 131 recorded events · data through April 2026
Date	Size	Comparable to
August 1, 2025	0.75″	Penny
May 8, 2025	1.0″	Quarter
June 3, 2023	1.0″	Quarter
May 16, 2023	1.0″	Quarter
May 16, 2023	1.0″	Quarter
April 22, 2023	0.75″	Penny
May 26, 2022	1.0″	Quarter
May 6, 2022	0.75″	Penny

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

From the storm reports

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

August 1, 2025 · 0.75″ (penny)

Public reported 3/4 inch hail.

May 6, 2022 · 1.75″ (golf ball)

Public reported quarter to golf ball size hail in multiple locations across western Lincoln County.

July 5, 2008 · 2.0″ (hen egg)

Hail between golf ball and baseball size was reported at the intersection of Shuford Rd and highway 150.

Events by decade

1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
0	2	1	13	22	56	28	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 Lincoln County

Has it ever hailed in Lincoln County?

Yes — 131 hail events have been recorded for Lincoln County, NC in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1962, including 69 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Lincoln County?

The most recent recorded hail event for Lincoln County, NC is August 1, 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 Lincoln County?

2.5″ (tennis ball), recorded on May 11, 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.