Hail history for Clay County, AL

Clay County has 57 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 23 of them 1″ or larger and 1 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 2.5″ (tennis ball) on July 21, 2018.

Records 1950–present Data through April 2026 Peak month April

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 57 since 1980

1″ or larger 23 NWS severe threshold

2″ or larger 1 hen egg class and up

Largest recorded 2.5″ tennis ball · July 21, 2018

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 Clay County

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

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 57 recorded events · data through April 2026
Date	Size	Comparable to
June 25, 2023	1.5″	Ping-pong ball
June 16, 2023	0.75″	Penny
June 16, 2023	1.0″	Quarter
June 16, 2023	0.75″	Penny
May 3, 2022	1.0″	Quarter
May 3, 2022	1.0″	Quarter
July 21, 2018	2.5″	Tennis ball
April 5, 2017	1.75″	Golf ball

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

From the storm reports

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

June 16, 2023 · 0.75″ (penny)

Penny size hail reported in Ashland.

July 21, 2018 · 2.5″ (tennis ball)

Tennis ball sized hail reported in far northeast Clay County.

April 5, 2017 · 1.75″ (golf ball)

Several trees uprooted and large hail reported along Fox Creek Road.

Events by decade

1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
0	0	0	3	14	26	8	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 Clay County

Has it ever hailed in Clay County?

Yes — 57 hail events have been recorded for Clay County, AL in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1980, including 23 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Clay County?

The most recent recorded hail event for Clay County, AL is June 25, 2023, with 1.5″ (ping-pong ball) 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 Clay County?

2.5″ (tennis ball), recorded on July 21, 2018. 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 Alabama hail history

All 67 Alabama 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.