Hail history for Wake County, NC

Wake County has 393 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 235 of them 1″ or larger and 21 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 4.0″ (softball) on March 28, 2005.

Records 1950–present Data through April 2026 Peak month May

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 393 since 1958

1″ or larger 235 NWS severe threshold

2″ or larger 21 hen egg class and up

Largest recorded 4.0″ softball · March 28, 2005

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 Wake County

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

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 393 recorded events · data through April 2026
Date	Size	Comparable to
May 5, 2025	0.75″	Penny
May 5, 2025	0.75″	Penny
May 5, 2025	1.0″	Quarter
May 5, 2025	1.0″	Quarter
May 5, 2025	1.0″	Quarter
April 22, 2025	1.0″	Quarter
April 22, 2025	1.5″	Ping-pong ball
April 22, 2025	1.0″	Quarter

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

From the storm reports

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

May 5, 2025 · 1.0″ (quarter)

Quarter inch hail reported near US-401 and Interstate 40.

May 13, 2019 · 2.75″ (baseball)

A supercell thunderstorm tracked across portions of southern Wake County into central Johnston County. The thunderstorm produced hail ranging from golf ball size to baseball size hail. The hail caused extensive damage to homes, cars, buildings and businesses in its path.

March 28, 2005 · 4.0″ (softball)

3.5 to 4 inch elongated hail reported at I-540 and Falls of Neuse Road. 3 inch hail reported at Strickland and Falls of Neuse Roads. 2 inch hail reported in Five Points. Golf ball sized hail reported at Cameron Village, Atlantic and New Hope Church Roads, North Raleigh Community Hospital, Green and Lee Spring Roads, and Durant and Falls of Neuse Roads. Ping pong ball sized hail reported on Wake Forest Road.

Events by decade

1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
1	2	7	28	65	124	97	69

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 Wake County

Has it ever hailed in Wake County?

Yes — 393 hail events have been recorded for Wake County, NC in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1958, including 235 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Wake County?

The most recent recorded hail event for Wake County, NC is May 5, 2025, with 0.75″ (penny) 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 Wake County?

4.0″ (softball), recorded on March 28, 2005. 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 North Carolina hail history

All 100 North Carolina 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.