Hail history for Franklin County, VA

Franklin County has 194 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 95 of them 1″ or larger and 1 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 2.0″ (hen egg) on May 22, 1956.

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 194 since 1956

1″ or larger 95 NWS severe threshold

2″ or larger 1 hen egg class and up

Largest recorded 2.0″ hen egg · May 22, 1956

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 194 recorded events · data through April 2026
Date	Size	Comparable to
May 16, 2025	1.0″	Quarter
May 8, 2025	1.0″	Quarter
May 8, 2025	1.5″	Ping-pong ball
May 3, 2022	1.0″	Quarter
April 9, 2021	1.75″	Golf ball
April 9, 2021	0.75″	Penny
April 9, 2021	1.0″	Quarter
July 21, 2020	1.0″	Quarter

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).

May 3, 2022 · 1.0″ (quarter)

Grape to quarter size hail reported.

April 9, 2021 · 1.75″ (golf ball)

Hail was reported to have lasted for about 15 minutes with the largest hail stones up to golf ball size. Damage to cars and trucks were reported.

June 30, 2012 · 1.75″ (golf ball)

Golf ball size hail fell on Old Forge Road.

Events by decade

1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
1	1	0	2	44	73	59	14

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 — 194 hail events have been recorded for Franklin County, VA in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1956, including 95 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Franklin County?

The most recent recorded hail event for Franklin County, VA is May 16, 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 Franklin County?

2.0″ (hen egg), recorded on May 22, 1956. 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 Virginia hail history

All 133 Virginia 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.