States › North Carolina › Wake County › Hail
Hail in Wake County, North Carolina
393 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.
NCEI records 393 hail events in Wake County, North Carolina, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 48 years.
May is the busiest month, with 159 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 215 events against 155 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 4% of the 9,900 hail events recorded in North Carolina; its 47.1 per 100 square miles compares with 20.4 statewide.
71 of the hail reports with a recorded size were golf-ball size (1.75 inches) or larger; the largest recorded stone was 3.00 inches (tea cup size).
Compared with North Carolina
| Measure | Wake County | North Carolina | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hail events since 1950 | 393 | 9,900 | 424,356 |
| Per 100 square miles | 47.1 | 20.4 | 12.0 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 3.4 | 9.4 | 12.8 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 0 | 29 |
| Busiest month | May | May | May |
By year
Seasonality
0Feb
6Mar
25Apr
47May
159Jun
54Jul
50Aug
15Sep
34Oct
3Nov
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
The 197 events kept for this page are the 120 most recent plus the 80 with the most damage, deaths or injuries out of 393. Magnitude is hail size, tornado rating or wind speed as recorded.
| Date | Event type | Magnitude | Property damage | Crop damage | Deaths | Injuries | Geography |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 May 2025 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 May 2025 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 May 2025 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 May 2025 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 May 2025 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Apr 2025 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Apr 2025 | Hail | 1.50 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Apr 2025 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Sep 2023 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Aug 2023 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jul 2023 | Hail | 1.25 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jul 2023 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Apr 2023 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Apr 2023 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Apr 2023 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Apr 2023 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Apr 2023 | Hail | 1.25 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Apr 2023 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Apr 2023 | Hail | 1.50 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Apr 2023 | Hail | 1.50 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 May 2022 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 May 2022 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 May 2022 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 May 2022 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 May 2022 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 May 2022 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 May 2022 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 May 2022 | Hail | 1.25 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 May 2022 | Hail | 1.25 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 May 2022 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Aug 2021 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Aug 2021 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Aug 2021 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Mar 2021 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Mar 2021 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Sep 2020 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Sep 2020 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Sep 2020 | Hail | 2.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Sep 2020 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Sep 2020 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Sep 2020 | Hail | 1.50 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Sep 2020 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Sep 2020 | Hail | 2.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Sep 2020 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Sep 2020 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Sep 2020 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Sep 2020 | Hail | 1.50 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Sep 2020 | Hail | 1.50 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Sep 2020 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Sep 2020 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Sep 2020 | Hail | 2.25 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Sep 2020 | Hail | 1.25 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Sep 2020 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Sep 2020 | Hail | 2.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Sep 2020 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Sep 2020 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Sep 2020 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Sep 2020 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Sep 2020 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jun 2020 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jun 2020 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Apr 2020 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Apr 2020 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Apr 2020 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Apr 2020 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Apr 2020 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Feb 2020 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Feb 2020 | Hail | 1.25 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Feb 2020 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 May 2019 | Hail | 2.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 May 2019 | Hail | 2.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 May 2019 | Hail | 1.50 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 May 2019 | Hail | 2.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 May 2019 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 May 2019 | Hail | 1.50 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 May 2019 | Hail | 2.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 May 2019 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 May 2019 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 May 2019 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 May 2019 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 May 2019 | Hail | 1.50 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 May 2019 | Hail | 2.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 May 2019 | Hail | 1.50 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 May 2019 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 May 2019 | Hail | 1.50 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 May 2019 | Hail | 1.50 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 May 2019 | Hail | 2.75 in | $95M | — | — | — | County |
| 13 May 2019 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 May 2019 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 May 2019 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 May 2019 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 May 2019 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 May 2019 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 May 2019 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 May 2019 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 May 2019 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 May 2019 | Hail | 2.00 in | $5.0M | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Sep 2017 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Sep 2017 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Sep 2017 | Hail | 2.75 in | $10M | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jul 2017 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Sep 2016 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Sep 2016 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Sep 2016 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Sep 2016 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jun 2016 | Hail | 1.25 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jun 2016 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 May 2016 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 May 2016 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 May 2016 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 May 2016 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 May 2016 | Hail | 1.50 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 May 2016 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 May 2016 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 May 2016 | Hail | 1.25 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 May 2016 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 May 2016 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 May 2016 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 May 2016 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 May 2016 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 May 1997 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 May 1997 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Jul 1996 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jul 1996 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jun 1996 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 May 1996 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 May 1996 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 May 1996 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 May 1996 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 May 1996 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jul 1995 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jun 1995 | Hail | 1.50 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jun 1995 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 May 1995 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 May 1995 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Mar 1995 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jul 1994 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 May 1994 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 May 1993 | Hail | 2.25 in | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 May 1993 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 May 1993 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 May 1993 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 May 1993 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 May 1993 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 May 1993 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 May 1993 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Mar 1993 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Mar 1993 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Mar 1993 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Sep 1992 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jul 1992 | Hail | 1.50 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jun 1992 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jun 1992 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Aug 1990 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Aug 1990 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jul 1990 | Hail | 2.50 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jun 1990 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 May 1990 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Apr 1990 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 1989 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jun 1989 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Apr 1989 | Hail | 1.50 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Sep 1988 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Jul 1988 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jul 1988 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 1988 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jun 1988 | Hail | 2.50 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jun 1988 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 May 1988 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 May 1988 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 May 1988 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Oct 1987 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Aug 1987 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 1987 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Aug 1986 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jun 1986 | Hail | 3.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jun 1986 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Apr 1985 | Hail | 0.88 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 May 1983 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 1982 | Hail | 2.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jun 1982 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jun 1982 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jun 1982 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Apr 1981 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Apr 1980 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Apr 1980 | Hail | 1.50 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Apr 1980 | Hail | 1.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jun 1978 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Apr 1978 | Hail | 1.50 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Apr 1978 | Hail | 1.25 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Apr 1976 | Hail | 0.75 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 May 1973 | Hail | 2.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 May 1973 | Hail | 2.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Feb 1970 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Mar 1966 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Mar 1966 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Aug 1958 | Hail | 1.00 in | — | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many hail events has Wake County had?
393 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 Wake County?
5 May 2025 (Hail, 0.75 in). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging hail event recorded in Wake County?
The hail of 13 May 2019, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $95M.
How does Wake County compare with North Carolina for hail?
47.1 events per 100 square miles against 20.4 statewide; the county holds 393 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.