HailHistory › Hail by county › Michigan › Bay County

Michigan · county FIPS 26017

Hail history for Bay County, MI

Bay County has 97 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 60 of them 1″ or larger and 11 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 3.0″ (tea cup) on March 15, 2012.

Records 1950–present Data through April 2026 Peak month July
Core sample · every recorded event, 1955–2026
1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s 2020s 1955 through 2026 largest · 3.0″ tea cup March 15, 2012

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 97 since 1962
1″ or larger 60 NWS severe threshold
2″ or larger 11 hen egg class and up
Largest recorded 3.0″ tea cup · March 15, 2012
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 Bay County

Jan Feb 6 Mar 7 Apr 12 May 15 Jun 49 Jul 4 Aug 3 Sep 1 Oct Nov Dec

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

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 97 recorded events · data through April 2026
DateSizeComparable to
1.0″ Quarter
1.75″ Golf ball
0.75″ Penny
1.0″ Quarter
1.75″ Golf ball
0.88″ Nickel
1.0″ Quarter
1.0″ Quarter

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

Events by decade

1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020s
01101015682

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 Bay County

Has it ever hailed in Bay County?

Yes — 97 hail events have been recorded for Bay County, MI in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1962, including 60 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Bay County?

The most recent recorded hail event for Bay County, MI is July 14, 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 Bay County?

3.0″ (tea cup), recorded on March 15, 2012. 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 Michigan hail history

All 83 Michigan 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.