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Hail in Sampson County, North Carolina
137 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.
Sampson County, North Carolina, has 137 hail events in the NCEI record since 1950, with at least one in 36 different years.
May is the busiest month, with 44 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 53 events against 64 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 14.5 per 100 square miles compares with 20.4 statewide.
30 of the hail reports with a recorded size were golf-ball size (1.75 inches) or larger; the largest recorded stone was 2.75 inches (baseball size).
Compared with North Carolina
| Measure | Sampson County | North Carolina | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hail events since 1950 | 137 | 9,900 | 424,356 |
| Per 100 square miles | 14.5 | 20.4 | 12.0 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 23.2 | 9.4 | 12.8 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 0 | 29 |
| Busiest month | May | May | May |
By year
Seasonality
0Feb
1Mar
13Apr
22May
44Jun
29Jul
15Aug
5Sep
2Oct
5Nov
0Dec
1
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 137 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 May 2024 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 May 2024 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 May 2024 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 May 2024 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 May 2021 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Mar 2021 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Apr 2016 | Hail | 1.75 in | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jun 2014 | Hail | 1.25 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 May 2014 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 May 2014 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Apr 2014 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 May 2012 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 May 2012 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 May 2012 | Hail | 1.25 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 May 2012 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 May 2012 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Mar 2012 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Mar 2012 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 2011 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 2011 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Aug 2009 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jun 2009 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jun 2009 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jun 2009 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 May 2009 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 May 2009 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 May 2009 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 May 2009 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Oct 2008 | Hail | 2.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Oct 2008 | Hail | 2.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Oct 2008 | Hail | 2.50 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Sep 2008 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 2008 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 2008 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jun 2008 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jun 2008 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jun 2008 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 May 2008 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 May 2008 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 May 2008 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 May 2008 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 May 2008 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Apr 2008 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Apr 2008 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Apr 2008 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Apr 2008 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Mar 2008 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Feb 2008 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jul 2007 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jul 2007 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jun 2007 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jun 2007 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 May 2007 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jun 2006 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 May 2006 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 May 2006 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 May 2006 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Apr 2006 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Apr 2006 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Apr 2006 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Oct 2005 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Oct 2005 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jun 2004 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Aug 2003 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jul 2003 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 2003 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 2003 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Apr 2003 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Mar 2003 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Aug 2002 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Apr 2002 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Mar 2002 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Mar 2002 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 May 2001 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Apr 2001 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Aug 2000 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Aug 2000 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jul 2000 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jun 2000 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 May 2000 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Apr 2000 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 May 1999 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Apr 1999 | Hail | 1.75 in | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Mar 1999 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Sep 1998 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jun 1998 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jun 1998 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 May 1998 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 May 1998 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 May 1998 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 May 1998 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Apr 1998 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Apr 1997 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jul 1996 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jul 1996 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 May 1996 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 May 1996 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 May 1996 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Mar 1996 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 1995 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jun 1995 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jun 1995 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 May 1995 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 May 1995 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | $2.0M | — | — | County |
| 23 Mar 1995 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 1992 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 1992 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 1992 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Mar 1992 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 May 1990 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Apr 1990 | Hail | 1.50 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Apr 1989 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jun 1988 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jun 1988 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 May 1988 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jun 1987 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Apr 1987 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jul 1986 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jun 1986 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 May 1986 | Hail | 2.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 May 1986 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jul 1985 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 May 1985 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 May 1985 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Apr 1985 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Apr 1984 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Apr 1984 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jul 1982 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jul 1981 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jul 1978 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Mar 1978 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Mar 1978 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 1977 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 1977 | Hail | 1.25 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Dec 1975 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jun 1974 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 May 1967 | Hail | 2.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many hail events has Sampson County had?
137 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 Sampson County?
15 May 2024 (Hail, 1.00 in). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging hail event recorded in Sampson County?
The hail of 15 May 1995, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $0 and crop damage at $2.0M.
How does Sampson County compare with North Carolina for hail?
14.5 events per 100 square miles against 20.4 statewide; the county holds 137 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.