HailHistory › Hail by county › Pennsylvania › Dauphin County
Pennsylvania · county FIPS 42043
Hail history for Dauphin County, PA
Dauphin County has 90 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 51 of them 1″ or larger and 1 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 2.5″ (tennis ball) on August 7, 1986.
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.
When it hails in Dauphin County
Recorded events by month, 1950–present. The amber bar marks Dauphin County's peak: June.
Most recent recorded events
| Date | Size | Comparable to |
|---|---|---|
| 0.75″ | Penny | |
| 0.88″ | Nickel | |
| 0.75″ | Penny | |
| 1.0″ | Quarter | |
| 1.0″ | Quarter | |
| 0.88″ | Nickel | |
| 1.0″ | Quarter | |
| 1.75″ | Golf ball |
Looking for a specific storm? Use the did-it-hail date lookup for Dauphin County.
From the storm reports
Narratives as filed with the NOAA Storm Events Database (public records; lightly trimmed for length).
· 0.75″ (penny)
A strong thunderstorm produced penny sized hail east of Progress.
· 1.75″ (golf ball)
A severe thunderstorm produced golf ball sized hail (1.75) near Harrisburg.
· 1.75″ (golf ball)
,,,,,,,,Thunderstorm Winds
Events by decade
| 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 1 | 11 | 9 | 27 | 22 | 17 |
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 Dauphin County
Has it ever hailed in Dauphin County?
Yes — 90 hail events have been recorded for Dauphin County, PA in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1958, including 51 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.
When did it last hail in Dauphin County?
The most recent recorded hail event for Dauphin County, PA is September 21, 2024, 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 Dauphin County?
2.5″ (tennis ball), recorded on August 7, 1986. Hail that size meets or exceeds the National Weather Service severe threshold. 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 Pennsylvania hail history
- Allegheny County 445
- Westmoreland County 291
- Erie County 204
- Butler County 201
- Lancaster County 192
- Crawford County 185
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.