HailHistoryHail by countyTennessee › Hamilton County

Tennessee · county FIPS 47065

Hail history for Hamilton County, TN

Hamilton County has 168 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 84 of them 1″ or larger and 5 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 2.75″ (baseball) on May 20, 2006.

Records 1950–present Data through April 2026 Peak month May
Core sample · every recorded event, 1955–2026
1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s 2020s 1955 through 2026 largest · 2.75″ baseball May 20, 2006

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 168 since 1956
1″ or larger 84 NWS severe threshold
2″ or larger 5 hen egg class and up
Largest recorded 2.75 baseball · May 20, 2006
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 Hamilton County

7 Jan 2 Feb 16 Mar 35 Apr 42 May 32 Jun 10 Jul 10 Aug 4 Sep 4 Oct 4 Nov 2 Dec

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

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 168 recorded events · data through April 2026
DateSizeComparable to
1.25″ Half dollar
1.0″ Quarter
1.0″ Quarter
1.0″ Quarter
1.0″ Quarter
1.0″ Quarter
0.75″ Penny
1.25″ Half dollar

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

From the storm reports

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

· 1.0″ (quarter)

Report from East Brainerd.

· 2.5″ (tennis ball)

Tennis ball size hail was reported on highway 27 in Chattanooga.

· 2.0″ (hen egg)

Hen egg size hail was reported along interstate 75 near Hamilton Place Mall.

Events by decade

1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020s
15101243602116

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 Hamilton County

Has it ever hailed in Hamilton County?

Yes — 168 hail events have been recorded for Hamilton County, TN in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1956, including 84 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Hamilton County?

The most recent recorded hail event for Hamilton County, TN is May 12, 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 Hamilton County?

2.75″ (baseball), recorded on May 20, 2006. 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 Tennessee hail history

All 95 Tennessee 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.