Hail history for Shelby County, AL

Shelby County has 196 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 101 of them 1″ or larger and 6 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 4.5″ (grapefruit) on May 2, 2003.

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 196 since 1955

1″ or larger 101 NWS severe threshold

2″ or larger 6 hen egg class and up

Largest recorded 4.5″ grapefruit · May 2, 2003

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 Shelby County

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

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 196 recorded events · data through April 2026
Date	Size	Comparable to
May 18, 2025	1.25″	Half dollar
May 18, 2025	1.0″	Quarter
August 9, 2023	1.0″	Quarter
June 16, 2023	1.0″	Quarter
June 14, 2023	0.75″	Penny
May 9, 2023	0.75″	Penny
March 26, 2023	1.0″	Quarter
January 12, 2023	1.75″	Golf ball

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

From the storm reports

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

May 18, 2025 · 1.0″ (quarter)

Quarter-size hail along Southview Dr.

January 12, 2023 · 1.75″ (golf ball)

Several reports of golf ball size hail in the Chelsea area.

May 2, 2003 · 4.5″ (grapefruit)

Several severe thunderstorms moved through Shelby County and generally affected the western part of the county. All of the storms produced dime to golf ball size hail. The largest hail size reported was softball and occurred near Maylene. Some locations that reported hail were Alabaster, Hoover, Helena, Maylene, Indian Springs, Calera and Montevallo. Several locations observed hail covering the ground.

Events by decade

1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
2	0	7	8	37	87	40	15

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 Shelby County

Has it ever hailed in Shelby County?

Yes — 196 hail events have been recorded for Shelby County, AL in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1955, including 101 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Shelby County?

The most recent recorded hail event for Shelby County, AL is May 18, 2025, with 1.25″ (half dollar) 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 Shelby County?

4.5″ (grapefruit), recorded on May 2, 2003. Hail that size is destructive-class and typically damages roofs, vehicles, and siding. 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.