Hail history for Philadelphia County, PA

Philadelphia County has 45 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 19 of them 1″ or larger. The largest on record: 1.75″ (golf ball) on March 29, 2009.

Records 1950–present Data through April 2026 Peak month July

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 45 since 1978

1″ or larger 19 NWS severe threshold

2″ or larger 0 hen egg class and up

Largest recorded 1.75″ golf ball · March 29, 2009

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 Philadelphia County

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

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 45 recorded events · data through April 2026
Date	Size	Comparable to
June 16, 2023	0.75″	Penny
May 20, 2022	1.0″	Quarter
May 20, 2022	1.0″	Quarter
May 20, 2022	1.25″	Half dollar
May 20, 2022	0.88″	Nickel
May 20, 2022	0.75″	Penny
June 4, 2021	0.75″	Penny
June 4, 2021	1.25″	Half dollar

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

From the storm reports

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

June 16, 2023 · 0.75″ (penny)

Report from Mping. Time given in report.

March 29, 2009 · 1.75″ (golf ball)

Golf ball size hail was reported by a Skywarn spotter in the northeast section of Philadelphia. Northeast Philadelphia airport also had a measured wind gust of 47 mph. Dime size hail was also reported in Center City Philadelphia.

May 29, 1995 · 1.75″ (golf ball)

Several trees were uprooted in the northern part of Philadelphia.

Events by decade

1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
0	0	1	2	10	14	6	12

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 Philadelphia County

Has it ever hailed in Philadelphia County?

Yes — 45 hail events have been recorded for Philadelphia County, PA in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1978, including 19 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Philadelphia County?

The most recent recorded hail event for Philadelphia County, PA is June 16, 2023, 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 Philadelphia County?

1.75″ (golf ball), recorded on March 29, 2009. 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.