Hail history for Madison County, NC

Madison County has 75 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 39 of them 1″ or larger and 1 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 2.0″ (hen egg) on May 22, 2011.

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 75 since 1974

1″ or larger 39 NWS severe threshold

2″ or larger 1 hen egg class and up

Largest recorded 2.0″ hen egg · May 22, 2011

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 Madison County

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

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 75 recorded events · data through April 2026
Date	Size	Comparable to
May 8, 2025	1.25″	Half dollar
February 6, 2025	1.5″	Ping-pong ball
May 26, 2024	1.0″	Quarter
May 8, 2024	1.0″	Quarter
May 8, 2024	1.75″	Golf ball
July 2, 2023	1.0″	Quarter
July 16, 2021	0.75″	Penny
May 11, 2015	0.88″	Nickel

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

From the storm reports

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

May 8, 2025 · 1.25″ (half dollar)

CoCoRahs observer reported pea-to-half-dollar size hail in the Canto community.

May 8, 2024 · 1.75″ (golf ball)

Public reported golf ball size hail in the Mars Hill area. Retired meteorologist reported quarter size hail on Meadow Creek Dr southeast of Mars Hill.

May 22, 2011 · 2.0″ (hen egg)

Two inch diameter hail was reported along highway 19.

Events by decade

1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
0	0	2	5	15	24	22	7

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 Madison County

Has it ever hailed in Madison County?

Yes — 75 hail events have been recorded for Madison County, NC in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1974, including 39 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Madison County?

The most recent recorded hail event for Madison County, NC is May 8, 2025, with 1.25″ (half dollar) 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 Madison County?

2.0″ (hen egg), recorded on May 22, 2011. 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.