Hail history for Cotton County, OK

Cotton County has 300 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 188 of them 1″ or larger and 25 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 4.5″ (grapefruit) on March 22, 1984.

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 300 since 1959

1″ or larger 188 NWS severe threshold

2″ or larger 25 hen egg class and up

Largest recorded 4.5″ grapefruit · March 22, 1984

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 Cotton County

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

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 300 recorded events · data through April 2026
Date	Size	Comparable to
April 26, 2026	1.0″	Quarter
April 26, 2026	1.0″	Quarter
April 26, 2026	0.75″	Penny
March 10, 2026	1.25″	Half dollar
May 22, 2025	1.25″	Half dollar
May 22, 2025	1.25″	Half dollar
May 22, 2025	1.5″	Ping-pong ball
May 22, 2025	2.0″	Hen egg

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

From the storm reports

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

April 26, 2026 · 0.75″ (penny)

The report was relayed through mPING.

May 22, 2025 · 3.5″ (softball)

An image showing a ruler measurement was relayed by emergency management. The event time is estimated from radar observations.

May 4, 2012 · 2.75″ (baseball)

The hail was reported near I-44. Damage was reported to numerous cars in the parking lot of the casino.

Events by decade

1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
1	15	7	38	107	67	38	27

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 Cotton County

Has it ever hailed in Cotton County?

Yes — 300 hail events have been recorded for Cotton County, OK in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1959, including 188 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Cotton County?

The most recent recorded hail event for Cotton County, OK is April 26, 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 Cotton County?

4.5″ (grapefruit), recorded on March 22, 1984. 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 Oklahoma hail history

All 77 Oklahoma 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.