Hail history for Union County, SC

Union County has 96 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 58 of them 1″ or larger and 5 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 3.0″ (tea cup) on May 23, 2014.

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 96 since 1963

1″ or larger 58 NWS severe threshold

2″ or larger 5 hen egg class and up

Largest recorded 3.0″ tea cup · May 23, 2014

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 Union County

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

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 96 recorded events · data through April 2026
Date	Size	Comparable to
May 2, 2025	0.75″	Penny
May 8, 2024	1.75″	Golf ball
May 6, 2022	0.75″	Penny
March 25, 2021	1.0″	Quarter
May 5, 2020	1.5″	Ping-pong ball
June 22, 2019	1.5″	Ping-pong ball
June 16, 2018	0.75″	Penny
June 17, 2016	1.0″	Quarter

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

From the storm reports

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

May 2, 2025 · 0.75″ (penny)

NWS employee reported 3/4 inch hail.

May 23, 2014 · 3.0″ (tea cup)

County comms reported that the second severe thunderstorm produced larger than baseball size hail on the west side of the city. Multiple car windshields were reportedly broken out and skylights were broken at a department store.

June 4, 1994 · 2.75″ (baseball)

A massive severe thunderstorm moved south from the Shelby, NC, area into northern Cherokee County and moved slowly across the county. This was a major hail storm with golf ball- to baseball-size hail falling for more than an hour. The largest hail, and the most damage, seemed to occur in the area from south of Gaffney to Jonesville.

Events by decade

1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
0	2	0	6	29	33	21	5

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 Union County

Has it ever hailed in Union County?

Yes — 96 hail events have been recorded for Union County, SC in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1963, including 58 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Union County?

The most recent recorded hail event for Union County, SC is May 2, 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 Union County?

3.0″ (tea cup), recorded on May 23, 2014. 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 South Carolina hail history

All 46 South 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.