HailHistoryHail by countyMissouri › Carter County

Missouri · county FIPS 29035

Hail history for Carter County, MO

Carter County has 94 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 53 of them 1″ or larger and 4 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 3.0″ (tea cup) on March 5, 1996.

Records 1950–present Data through April 2026 Peak month April
Core sample · every recorded event, 1955–2026
1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s 2020s 1955 through 2026 largest · 3.0″ tea cup March 5, 1996

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 94 since 1976
1″ or larger 53 NWS severe threshold
2″ or larger 4 hen egg class and up
Largest recorded 3.0 tea cup · March 5, 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 Carter County

Jan 3 Feb 18 Mar 25 Apr 21 May 7 Jun 8 Jul 5 Aug 3 Sep 2 Oct 1 Nov 1 Dec

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

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 94 recorded events · data through April 2026
DateSizeComparable to
1.0″ Quarter
0.88″ Nickel
2.5″ Tennis ball
1.0″ Quarter
1.0″ Quarter
1.0″ Quarter
1.75″ Golf ball
1.0″ Quarter

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

From the storm reports

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

· 1.0″ (quarter)

Along with quarter size hail (measured), the storm also produced wind gusts estimated at 50-55 mph.

· 2.5″ (tennis ball)

Very large hail associated with an eastward moving supercell in Carter County produced 2.5 inch hail on Hwy M northwest of Van Buren and 2 inch hail near the intersection of Hwy U and US-60.

· 2.0″ (hen egg)

The hail was slightly larger than golf balls. This same storm continued east, producing large hail near Ellsinore farther along its path.

Events by decade

1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020s
001219292221

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 Carter County

Has it ever hailed in Carter County?

Yes — 94 hail events have been recorded for Carter County, MO in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1976, including 53 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Carter County?

The most recent recorded hail event for Carter County, MO is August 19, 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 Carter County?

3.0″ (tea cup), recorded on March 5, 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 Missouri hail history

All 115 Missouri 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.