Hail history for McCreary County, KY

McCreary County has 67 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 39 of them 1″ or larger and 8 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 3.0″ (tea cup) on July 27, 2014.

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 67 since 1969

1″ or larger 39 NWS severe threshold

2″ or larger 8 hen egg class and up

Largest recorded 3.0″ tea cup · July 27, 2014

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 McCreary County

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

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 67 recorded events · data through April 2026
Date	Size	Comparable to
May 8, 2025	2.0″	Hen egg
May 8, 2025	1.0″	Quarter
May 8, 2025	2.5″	Tennis ball
March 27, 2021	1.75″	Golf ball
August 18, 2020	0.75″	Penny
July 20, 2020	0.88″	Nickel
March 12, 2020	0.88″	Nickel
March 12, 2020	1.0″	Quarter

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

From the storm reports

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

May 8, 2025 · 2.5″ (tennis ball)

A picture on social media showed very large hail occurring at mile marker 6 on E. Williamsburg St., just east of Whitley City, near the intersection with Watters Ridge Road. The picture showed a hail stone in someone's hand, stretching 4 fingers wide. Another report a few minutes later showed a hail stone in someone's hand stretching 3 fingers wide.

July 27, 2014 · 3.0″ (tea cup)

Tea cup size hail was observed in the community of Marsh Creek.

July 27, 2014 · 2.75″ (baseball)

Baseball size hail was observed in the community of Murphy Ridge.

Events by decade

1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
0	1	0	0	2	39	17	8

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 McCreary County

Has it ever hailed in McCreary County?

Yes — 67 hail events have been recorded for McCreary County, KY in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1969, including 39 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in McCreary County?

The most recent recorded hail event for McCreary County, KY is May 8, 2025, with 2.0″ (hen egg) 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 McCreary County?

3.0″ (tea cup), recorded on July 27, 2014. 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.