Hail history for Franklin County, PA

Franklin County has 87 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 47 of them 1″ or larger and 1 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 2.5″ (tennis ball) on June 29, 1976.

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 87 since 1965

1″ or larger 47 NWS severe threshold

2″ or larger 1 hen egg class and up

Largest recorded 2.5″ tennis ball · June 29, 1976

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 Franklin County

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

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 87 recorded events · data through April 2026
Date	Size	Comparable to
September 7, 2023	0.88″	Nickel
August 7, 2023	1.75″	Golf ball
August 7, 2023	1.0″	Quarter
July 12, 2022	1.0″	Quarter
May 15, 2022	1.25″	Half dollar
August 1, 2020	1.0″	Quarter
August 1, 2020	1.0″	Quarter
June 4, 2020	0.88″	Nickel

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

From the storm reports

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

September 7, 2023 · 0.88″ (nickel)

A thunderstorm produced nickel-sized hail northeast of Waynesboro.

August 7, 2023 · 1.75″ (golf ball)

A severe thunderstorm produced golf ball sized hail near Metal.

August 10, 2008 · 1.75″ (golf ball)

Golf ball size hail was reported in Fayetteville.

Events by decade

1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
0	2	1	0	14	35	27	8

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 Franklin County

Has it ever hailed in Franklin County?

Yes — 87 hail events have been recorded for Franklin County, PA in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1965, including 47 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Franklin County?

The most recent recorded hail event for Franklin County, PA is September 7, 2023, with 0.88″ (nickel) 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 Franklin County?

2.5″ (tennis ball), recorded on June 29, 1976. 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 Pennsylvania hail history

All 67 Pennsylvania 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.