Hail history for Marshall County, WV

Marshall County has 43 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 26 of them 1″ or larger and 2 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 2.5″ (tennis ball) on May 24, 1998.

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 43 since 1983

1″ or larger 26 NWS severe threshold

2″ or larger 2 hen egg class and up

Largest recorded 2.5″ tennis ball · May 24, 1998

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 Marshall County

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

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 43 recorded events · data through April 2026
Date	Size	Comparable to
May 14, 2018	1.0″	Quarter
June 13, 2017	0.75″	Penny
September 29, 2016	1.0″	Quarter
September 29, 2016	1.25″	Half dollar
September 29, 2016	1.75″	Golf ball
September 29, 2016	1.5″	Ping-pong ball
September 29, 2016	1.0″	Quarter
May 1, 2016	1.0″	Quarter

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

From the storm reports

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

July 21, 2008 · 0.88″ (nickel)

A trained spotter reported nickel size hail near Benwood.

May 24, 1998 · 2.5″ (tennis ball)

Hail, up to baseball size, damaged farm machinery.

January 9, 1998 · 1.75″ (golf ball)

Hail, up to golfball size, covered the ground along the path of the early morning F1 tornado through Marshall County, West Virginia.

Events by decade

1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
0	0	0	1	18	9	15	0

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 Marshall County

Has it ever hailed in Marshall County?

Yes — 43 hail events have been recorded for Marshall County, WV in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1983, including 26 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Marshall County?

The most recent recorded hail event for Marshall County, WV is May 14, 2018, 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 Marshall County?

2.5″ (tennis ball), recorded on May 24, 1998. 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 West Virginia hail history

All 55 West 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.