Hail history for Franklin County, MA

Franklin County has 110 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 45 of them 1″ or larger and 2 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 2.25″ (tennis ball) on May 22, 2013.

Records 1950–present Data through April 2026 Peak month June

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 110 since 1955

1″ or larger 45 NWS severe threshold

2″ or larger 2 hen egg class and up

Largest recorded 2.25″ tennis ball · May 22, 2013

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 Franklin County

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

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 110 recorded events · data through April 2026
Date	Size	Comparable to
June 6, 2025	1.0″	Quarter
June 6, 2025	1.25″	Half dollar
June 6, 2025	1.0″	Quarter
June 21, 2024	1.0″	Quarter
May 21, 2024	0.75″	Penny
May 21, 2024	1.25″	Half dollar
May 21, 2024	1.0″	Quarter
July 14, 2021	0.75″	Penny

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

From the storm reports

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

June 6, 2025 · 1.0″ (quarter)

In Colrain, a trained spotter reported quarter to half-dollar sized hail. Report relayed via amateur radio.

July 16, 2010 · 1.75″ (golf ball)

Hail as large as ping pong balls was observed on West Pelham Road in Leverett.

June 16, 2008 · 2.0″ (hen egg)

Nickel to lime size hail fell in Rowe.

Events by decade

1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
1	1	1	3	20	41	28	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 Franklin County

Has it ever hailed in Franklin County?

Yes — 110 hail events have been recorded for Franklin County, MA in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1955, including 45 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Franklin County?

The most recent recorded hail event for Franklin County, MA is June 6, 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 Franklin County?

2.25″ (tennis ball), recorded on May 22, 2013. 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 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.