Hail history for Rankin County, MS

Rankin County has 320 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 184 of them 1″ or larger and 19 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 4.5″ (grapefruit) on April 14, 1996.

Records 1950–present Data through April 2026 Peak month April

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 320 since 1958

1″ or larger 184 NWS severe threshold

2″ or larger 19 hen egg class and up

Largest recorded 4.5″ grapefruit · April 14, 1996

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 Rankin County

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

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 320 recorded events · data through April 2026
Date	Size	Comparable to
April 24, 2026	1.0″	Quarter
May 24, 2025	1.0″	Quarter
March 23, 2025	1.25″	Half dollar
February 11, 2024	1.75″	Golf ball
June 25, 2023	1.0″	Quarter
June 18, 2023	1.0″	Quarter
June 18, 2023	0.88″	Nickel
June 18, 2023	1.75″	Golf ball

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

From the storm reports

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

April 24, 2026 · 1.0″ (quarter)

Hail as large as 1 inch fell near Flowood Drive and River Oaks Drive.

March 26, 2023 · 2.75″ (baseball)

A merger of two storms resulted in a hail swath extending int Rankin County from Hinds County just north of Lakeland Drive to near the intersection of S471. Hail as large as baseballs (2.75 inches) was observed within this swath.

March 30, 1993 · 4.5″ (grapefruit)

Hail up to the size of softballs damaged roofs and vehicles. Many windows and windshields were broken.

Events by decade

1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
1	7	15	37	63	104	61	32

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 Rankin County

Has it ever hailed in Rankin County?

Yes — 320 hail events have been recorded for Rankin County, MS in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1958, including 184 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Rankin County?

The most recent recorded hail event for Rankin County, MS is April 24, 2026, 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 Rankin County?

4.5″ (grapefruit), recorded on April 14, 1996. 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 Mississippi hail history

All 82 Mississippi 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.