Hail history for Rowan County, NC

Rowan County has 111 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 59 of them 1″ or larger and 4 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 4.5″ (grapefruit) on May 7, 1998.

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 111 since 1959

1″ or larger 59 NWS severe threshold

2″ or larger 4 hen egg class and up

Largest recorded 4.5″ grapefruit · May 7, 1998

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 Rowan County

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

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 111 recorded events · data through April 2026
Date	Size	Comparable to
May 8, 2025	0.75″	Penny
August 24, 2023	1.0″	Quarter
June 26, 2023	1.0″	Quarter
June 26, 2023	1.75″	Golf ball
May 21, 2022	1.25″	Half dollar
May 29, 2021	0.75″	Penny
May 29, 2021	0.75″	Penny
May 29, 2021	1.0″	Quarter

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

From the storm reports

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

May 8, 2025 · 0.75″ (penny)

Public reported 3/4-inch hail.

June 26, 2023 · 1.75″ (golf ball)

Public reported (via Social Media) golf ball size hail between Cleveland and Salisbury.

May 7, 1998 · 4.5″ (grapefruit)

Softball size hail, very unusual in the Southeast, fell through a roof of at least one home in Kannapolis and damaged numerous vehicles. A damage estimate was not available at the time of this writing.

Events by decade

1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
1	0	1	10	26	39	25	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 Rowan County

Has it ever hailed in Rowan County?

Yes — 111 hail events have been recorded for Rowan County, NC in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1959, including 59 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Rowan County?

The most recent recorded hail event for Rowan County, NC is May 8, 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 Rowan County?

4.5″ (grapefruit), recorded on May 7, 1998. 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.