Hail history for Yancey County, NC

Yancey County has 35 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 18 of them 1″ or larger and 1 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 2.5″ (tennis ball) on June 10, 1969.

Records 1950–present Data through April 2026 Peak month April

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 35 since 1969

1″ or larger 18 NWS severe threshold

2″ or larger 1 hen egg class and up

Largest recorded 2.5″ tennis ball · June 10, 1969

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 Yancey County

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

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 35 recorded events · data through April 2026
Date	Size	Comparable to
May 17, 2025	1.0″	Quarter
May 26, 2024	1.5″	Ping-pong ball
May 1, 2016	1.0″	Quarter
June 30, 2012	1.0″	Quarter
April 30, 2012	1.0″	Quarter
March 2, 2012	0.75″	Penny
June 9, 2011	0.75″	Penny
April 9, 2011	1.25″	Half dollar

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

From the storm reports

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

May 17, 2025 · 1.0″ (quarter)

Public reported quarter size hail.

May 26, 2024 · 1.5″ (ping-pong ball)

Media relayed photo of ping pong ball size hail from the Burnsville area.

April 9, 2011 · 1.25″ (half dollar)

Quarter to half dollar size hail was reported in the extreme southern part of the county.

Events by decade

1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
0	1	0	2	5	18	7	2

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 Yancey County

Has it ever hailed in Yancey County?

Yes — 35 hail events have been recorded for Yancey County, NC in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1969, including 18 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Yancey County?

The most recent recorded hail event for Yancey County, NC is May 17, 2025, 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 Yancey County?

2.5″ (tennis ball), recorded on June 10, 1969. 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.