HailHistory › Hail by county › Kentucky › Whitley County
Kentucky · county FIPS 21235
Hail history for Whitley County, KY
Whitley County has 71 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: 3.5″ (softball) on April 28, 1959.
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.
When it hails in Whitley County
Recorded events by month, 1950–present. The amber bar marks Whitley County's peak: May.
Most recent recorded events
| Date | Size | Comparable to |
|---|---|---|
| 1.0″ | Quarter | |
| 1.75″ | Golf ball | |
| 1.25″ | Half dollar | |
| 1.0″ | Quarter | |
| 2.5″ | Tennis ball | |
| 1.0″ | Quarter | |
| 2.0″ | Hen egg | |
| 3.0″ | Tea cup |
Looking for a specific storm? Use the did-it-hail date lookup for Whitley County.
From the storm reports
Narratives as filed with the NOAA Storm Events Database (public records; lightly trimmed for length).
· 2.5″ (tennis ball)
Hailstones ranging in size between 1.5 and 2.5 inches fell in the Goldbug community.
· 1.0″ (quarter)
A video on social media showed a large amount of hail falling near the intersection of Highland Park Drive and Cumberland Falls Highway (US-25W) on the north side of Williamsburg. A few larger hail stones around 1 inch were visible on the grass.
· 3.0″ (tea cup)
A picture from the public showed at least 3 inch diameter hail along KY-1193 in the vicinity of Bark Camp.
Events by decade
| 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 38 | 10 | 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 Whitley County
Has it ever hailed in Whitley County?
Yes — 71 hail events have been recorded for Whitley County, KY in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1959, including 43 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.
When did it last hail in Whitley County?
The most recent recorded hail event for Whitley County, KY is May 8, 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 Whitley County?
3.5″ (softball), recorded on April 28, 1959. 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
- Jefferson County 207
- Pulaski County 150
- Daviess County 146
- Christian County 139
- Pike County 138
- Warren County 131
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.