Hail history for Roanoke County, VA

Roanoke County has 138 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 68 of them 1″ or larger and 1 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 3.0″ (tea cup) on May 22, 2004.

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 138 since 1959

1″ or larger 68 NWS severe threshold

2″ or larger 1 hen egg class and up

Largest recorded 3.0″ tea cup · May 22, 2004

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 Roanoke County

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

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 138 recorded events · data through April 2026
Date	Size	Comparable to
May 22, 2024	1.0″	Quarter
May 22, 2024	1.0″	Quarter
September 7, 2023	1.0″	Quarter
July 14, 2023	0.88″	Nickel
August 9, 2022	1.0″	Quarter
June 13, 2021	1.0″	Quarter
September 28, 2019	1.0″	Quarter
August 1, 2019	1.25″	Half dollar

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

From the storm reports

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

May 22, 2024 · 1.0″ (quarter)

A few hailstones the size of quarters were reported on Blacksburg Road.

May 31, 2019 · 1.75″ (golf ball)

Hail the size of golf balls fell in Cave Spring. Hail up to the size of quarters also fell on Starkey Road about one mile southeast of Cave Spring and later on Falcon Ridge Road about three miles east-southeast of Cave Spring.

August 1, 2012 · 1.75″ (golf ball)

Numerous reports of quarter to golf ball-sized hail were received from trained spotters and the public across the city of Roanoke and surrounding areas just outside of the city on the northwest, west, and southwest sides.

Events by decade

1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
1	2	2	6	31	46	44	6

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 Roanoke County

Has it ever hailed in Roanoke County?

Yes — 138 hail events have been recorded for Roanoke County, VA in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1959, including 68 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Roanoke County?

The most recent recorded hail event for Roanoke County, VA is May 22, 2024, 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 Roanoke County?

3.0″ (tea cup), recorded on May 22, 2004. 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 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.