Hail history for Harlan County, KY

Harlan County has 65 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 43 of them 1″ or larger and 6 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 5.0″ (grapefruit) on April 23, 1968.

Records 1950–present Data through April 2026 Peak month May

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 65 since 1968

1″ or larger 43 NWS severe threshold

2″ or larger 6 hen egg class and up

Largest recorded 5.0″ grapefruit · April 23, 1968

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 Harlan County

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

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 65 recorded events · data through April 2026
Date	Size	Comparable to
April 14, 2025	1.0″	Quarter
April 14, 2025	1.0″	Quarter
August 17, 2024	1.0″	Quarter
May 19, 2022	0.88″	Nickel
May 19, 2022	1.0″	Quarter
May 7, 2018	1.0″	Quarter
May 5, 2018	2.5″	Tennis ball
March 27, 2017	0.75″	Penny

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

From the storm reports

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

April 14, 2025 · 1.0″ (quarter)

A report was made on social media of nickel to quarter-sized hail in the community of Loyall between 12:35 and 12:40 am EDT.

May 5, 2018 · 2.5″ (tennis ball)

Reports of quarter to tennis ball sized hail were received via social media and local Emergency Management, from northwest of Harlan to Baxter.

August 4, 2003 · 1.75″ (golf ball)

Golf ball size hail was reported on WYMT TV news.

Events by decade

1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
0	1	0	1	9	26	23	5

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 Harlan County

Has it ever hailed in Harlan County?

Yes — 65 hail events have been recorded for Harlan County, KY in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1968, including 43 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Harlan County?

The most recent recorded hail event for Harlan County, KY is April 14, 2025, with 1.0″ (quarter) 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 Harlan County?

5.0″ (grapefruit), recorded on April 23, 1968. 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 Kentucky hail history

All 120 Kentucky 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.