Hail history for Wilkes County, NC

Wilkes County has 139 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 78 of them 1″ or larger and 2 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 2.75″ (baseball) on June 26, 2023.

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 139 since 1984

1″ or larger 78 NWS severe threshold

2″ or larger 2 hen egg class and up

Largest recorded 2.75″ baseball · June 26, 2023

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 Wilkes County

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

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 139 recorded events · data through April 2026
Date	Size	Comparable to
May 8, 2025	1.25″	Half dollar
May 8, 2025	1.0″	Quarter
May 8, 2025	1.0″	Quarter
May 8, 2025	1.5″	Ping-pong ball
May 8, 2025	1.0″	Quarter
May 8, 2025	1.0″	Quarter
May 8, 2025	0.75″	Penny
July 16, 2024	0.75″	Penny

Looking for a specific storm? Use the did-it-hail date lookup for Wilkes 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)

Hail of 0.75 inches in diameter was observed for a few minutes.

June 26, 2023 · 2.75″ (baseball)

This was the largest hailstone ever reported in Wilkes County.

July 21, 2018 · 1.75″ (golf ball)

Golfball-size hail fell along Price Road.

Events by decade

1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
0	0	0	10	20	41	47	21

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 Wilkes County

Has it ever hailed in Wilkes County?

Yes — 139 hail events have been recorded for Wilkes County, NC in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1984, including 78 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Wilkes County?

The most recent recorded hail event for Wilkes 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 Wilkes County?

2.75″ (baseball), recorded on June 26, 2023. 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.