Hail history for Van Buren County, TN

Van Buren County has 30 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 13 of them 1″ or larger and 3 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 2.75″ (baseball) on April 8, 1998.

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 30 since 1984

1″ or larger 13 NWS severe threshold

2″ or larger 3 hen egg class and up

Largest recorded 2.75″ baseball · April 8, 1998

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 Van Buren County

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

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 30 recorded events · data through April 2026
Date	Size	Comparable to
May 20, 2025	1.5″	Ping-pong ball
July 21, 2018	0.75″	Penny
July 21, 2018	1.0″	Quarter
March 17, 2018	1.0″	Quarter
March 2, 2012	2.0″	Hen egg
June 19, 2011	1.75″	Golf ball
June 19, 2011	0.75″	Penny
May 15, 2009	0.75″	Penny

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

From the storm reports

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

May 20, 2025 · 1.5″ (ping-pong ball)

Estimated ping pong size hail was reported near Spencer from a tornado-warned thunderstorm.

April 8, 1998 · 2.75″ (baseball)

Local law enforcement reported baseball size hail. The hail knocked out car windows and damaged roofs.

April 8, 1998 · 2.75″ (baseball)

Baseball size hail was reported by local law enforcement.

Events by decade

1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
0	0	0	4	6	13	6	1

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 Van Buren County

Has it ever hailed in Van Buren County?

Yes — 30 hail events have been recorded for Van Buren County, TN in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1984, including 13 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Van Buren County?

The most recent recorded hail event for Van Buren County, TN is May 20, 2025, with 1.5″ (ping-pong ball) 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 Van Buren County?

2.75″ (baseball), recorded on April 8, 1998. 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.