Hail history for Bradley County, TN

Bradley County has 111 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 64 of them 1″ or larger and 6 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 3.0″ (tea cup) on June 7, 1985.

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 111 since 1974

1″ or larger 64 NWS severe threshold

2″ or larger 6 hen egg class and up

Largest recorded 3.0″ tea cup · June 7, 1985

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 Bradley County

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

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 111 recorded events · data through April 2026
Date	Size	Comparable to
May 2, 2025	0.88″	Nickel
March 27, 2021	1.0″	Quarter
July 21, 2018	1.0″	Quarter
March 17, 2018	1.75″	Golf ball
March 21, 2017	1.0″	Quarter
March 21, 2017	1.25″	Half dollar
March 21, 2017	1.0″	Quarter
March 21, 2017	2.5″	Tennis ball

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

From the storm reports

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

July 21, 2018 · 1.0″ (quarter)

Quarter size hail was reported.

March 21, 2017 · 2.5″ (tennis ball)

Hail stripped leaves, dented cars, damaged shingles and broke car windows.

April 26, 2012 · 2.0″ (hen egg)

A trained spotter reported thunderstorms produced hen egg-size hail in Cleveland.

Events by decade

1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
0	0	2	3	33	36	35	2

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 Bradley County

Has it ever hailed in Bradley County?

Yes — 111 hail events have been recorded for Bradley County, TN in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1974, including 64 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Bradley County?

The most recent recorded hail event for Bradley County, TN is May 2, 2025, with 0.88″ (nickel) 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 Bradley County?

3.0″ (tea cup), recorded on June 7, 1985. 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 Tennessee hail history

All 95 Tennessee 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.