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Hail in McDowell County, North Carolina
141 hail events in the NCEI Storm Events record, 1950 to 2026. Event types counted: Hail.
NCEI notes that Storm Data is compiled from a variety of sources including the National Weather Service, other federal, state and local agencies, the media and the public; that property and crop damage figures are estimates; and that some events are recorded by NWS forecast zone rather than by county. FEMA notes that NFIP claim records are redacted and aggregated to protect the privacy of policyholders. Storm records through 30 Jun 2026.
McDowell County, North Carolina, has 141 hail events in the NCEI record since 1950, with at least one in 33 different years.
June is the busiest month, with 49 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 89 events against 48 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 1.4% of the 9,900 hail events recorded in North Carolina; its 32.0 per 100 square miles compares with 20.4 statewide.
22 of the hail reports with a recorded size were golf-ball size (1.75 inches) or larger; the largest recorded stone was 2.50 inches (tennis ball size).
Compared with North Carolina
| Measure | McDowell County | North Carolina | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hail events since 1950 | 141 | 9,900 | 424,356 |
| Per 100 square miles | 32.0 | 20.4 | 12.0 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 31.5 | 9.4 | 12.8 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 0 | 29 |
| Busiest month | June | May | May |
By year
Seasonality
0Feb
0Mar
2Apr
18May
42Jun
49Jul
17Aug
11Sep
2Oct
0Nov
0Dec
0
Magnitude distribution
NWS hail-size descriptors
- under 1 in
- pea to quarter
- 1–1.74 in
- quarter to golf ball
- 1.75–2.74 in
- golf ball to baseball
- 2.75–3.99 in
- baseball to softball
- 4 in and larger
- softball and larger
Hail size in inches as recorded by NCEI; events without a size are not binned.
Recorded events
All 141 events, most recent first. Magnitude is hail size, tornado rating or wind speed as recorded.
| Date | Event type | Magnitude | Property damage | Crop damage | Deaths | Injuries | Geography |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Apr 2026 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Mar 2026 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jun 2025 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jun 2025 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 May 2025 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 May 2025 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 May 2025 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Apr 2024 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jul 2023 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jul 2023 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jul 2023 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jul 2023 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jul 2023 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jul 2023 | Hail | 2.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 May 2023 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 2022 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 2022 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jun 2022 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jun 2022 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 May 2022 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 May 2022 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Aug 2019 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 May 2019 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 May 2018 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 2017 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 May 2017 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jul 2016 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jul 2016 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 May 2016 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 May 2016 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 May 2016 | Hail | 2.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 May 2016 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 May 2016 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 May 2016 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 May 2016 | Hail | 2.00 in | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 May 2016 | Hail | 1.25 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 2015 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 2015 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 2015 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Aug 2014 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Aug 2014 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jul 2014 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 2014 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 2014 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jun 2014 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jun 2014 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 2014 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 2014 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jun 2014 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Aug 2012 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Aug 2012 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Aug 2012 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jul 2012 | Hail | 1.50 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jun 2012 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 May 2012 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 May 2012 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 May 2012 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Apr 2012 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Apr 2012 | Hail | 2.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Mar 2012 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jul 2011 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jun 2011 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 2011 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jun 2011 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 May 2011 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 May 2011 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 May 2011 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 May 2011 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Apr 2011 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Apr 2011 | Hail | 2.50 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Apr 2011 | Hail | 2.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Apr 2011 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Apr 2011 | Hail | 2.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Apr 2011 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 May 2010 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jun 2009 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jun 2009 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jun 2009 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jun 2008 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jun 2008 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jun 2008 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jun 2008 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jun 2008 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jun 2007 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jun 2007 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jun 2007 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jun 2007 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jun 2007 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Apr 2007 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Sep 2006 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Aug 2006 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jul 2006 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jun 2006 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jun 2006 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jun 2006 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 May 2006 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 May 2006 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 May 2006 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Apr 2006 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Apr 2006 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Apr 2006 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jul 2005 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 May 2005 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 May 2004 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 May 2004 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 May 2004 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | $75K | — | — | County |
| 8 May 2004 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 May 2004 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Aug 2003 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jul 2003 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jul 2003 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jun 2003 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 May 2003 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Aug 2002 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jun 2002 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jun 2002 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jun 2001 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jun 2000 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jun 2000 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 May 2000 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 May 2000 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 May 2000 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 May 2000 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Apr 2000 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Apr 2000 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Aug 1999 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Apr 1999 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Apr 1999 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Sep 1998 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 May 1998 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 May 1998 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jul 1997 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jun 1997 | Hail | 2.00 in | $2.0M | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jun 1997 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 May 1996 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Aug 1990 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jun 1989 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jul 1985 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jun 1985 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 1980 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 1974 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many hail events has McDowell County had?
141 events in the NCEI Storm Events record between 1950 and 2026. Reporting of hail became far more complete after 1996, so early decades undercount.
When was the last recorded hail event in McDowell County?
1 Apr 2026 (Hail, 0.75 in). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging hail event recorded in McDowell County?
The hail of 2 Jun 1997, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $2.0M.
How does McDowell County compare with North Carolina for hail?
32.0 events per 100 square miles against 20.4 statewide; the county holds 141 of the state's 9,900 recorded events.
Provenance
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, yearly details files through 30 Jun 2026, public domain. County-recorded events plus zone-recorded events whose forecast zone is named for the county (marked "Forecast zone"). Population and area from the US Census Bureau (2021). Built 1 Oct 2026. See the methodology, the Hail hub and the county page.