Hail history for Essex County, MA

Essex County has 98 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 49 of them 1″ or larger and 7 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 3.5″ (softball) on August 28, 1965.

Records 1950–present Data through April 2026 Peak month July

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 98 since 1957

1″ or larger 49 NWS severe threshold

2″ or larger 7 hen egg class and up

Largest recorded 3.5″ softball · August 28, 1965

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 Essex County

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

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 98 recorded events · data through April 2026
Date	Size	Comparable to
September 8, 2023	1.0″	Quarter
July 23, 2021	1.0″	Quarter
July 23, 2021	1.0″	Quarter
July 23, 2021	1.25″	Half dollar
July 7, 2021	1.0″	Quarter
June 15, 2021	1.25″	Half dollar
June 15, 2021	1.0″	Quarter
August 23, 2020	0.75″	Penny

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

From the storm reports

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

September 8, 2023 · 1.0″ (quarter)

In Andover, there was 1 inch hail.

July 23, 2021 · 1.25″ (half dollar)

In Georgetown, half dollar size hail was reported on Route 97, near the Georgetown and Groveland line.

July 12, 2010 · 1.5″ (ping-pong ball)

Ping pong ball sized hail was reported in Haverhill.

Events by decade

1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
1	7	7	3	9	21	39	11

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 Essex County

Has it ever hailed in Essex County?

Yes — 98 hail events have been recorded for Essex County, MA in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1957, including 49 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Essex County?

The most recent recorded hail event for Essex County, MA is September 8, 2023, 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 Essex County?

3.5″ (softball), recorded on August 28, 1965. 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 Massachusetts hail history

All 14 Massachusetts 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.