Hail history for Kings County, CA

Kings County has 24 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 12 of them 1″ or larger and 2 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 2.5″ (tennis ball) on November 22, 1996.

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 24 since 1964

1″ or larger 12 NWS severe threshold

2″ or larger 2 hen egg class and up

Largest recorded 2.5″ tennis ball · November 22, 1996

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 Kings County

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

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 24 recorded events · data through April 2026
Date	Size	Comparable to
September 11, 2017	0.88″	Nickel
April 24, 2016	1.0″	Quarter
April 11, 2012	1.0″	Quarter
October 29, 2007	0.75″	Penny
October 29, 2007	0.75″	Penny
September 22, 2007	0.88″	Nickel
February 22, 2007	0.88″	Nickel
March 10, 2006	0.75″	Penny

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

From the storm reports

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

September 11, 2017 · 0.88″ (nickel)

Public report of nickel sized hail in Corcoran.

April 24, 2016 · 1.0″ (quarter)

Public report of 1.00 inch hail from thunderstorm in Stratford California in Kings County was received via Twitter.

April 11, 2012 · 1.0″ (quarter)

NWS Employee indicated a swath of accumulating large hail across the Hanford area.

Events by decade

1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
0	2	0	2	4	13	3	0

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 Kings County

Has it ever hailed in Kings County?

Yes — 24 hail events have been recorded for Kings County, CA in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1964, including 12 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Kings County?

The most recent recorded hail event for Kings County, CA is September 11, 2017, with 0.88″ (nickel) 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 Kings County?

2.5″ (tennis ball), recorded on November 22, 1996. 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 California hail history

All 58 California 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.