Hail history for Bell County, TX

Bell County has 394 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 273 of them 1″ or larger and 36 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 5.68″ (grapefruit) on April 12, 2022.

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 394 since 1956

1″ or larger 273 NWS severe threshold

2″ or larger 36 hen egg class and up

Largest recorded 5.68″ grapefruit · April 12, 2022

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 Bell County

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

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 394 recorded events · data through April 2026
Date	Size	Comparable to
May 6, 2025	1.0″	Quarter
May 2, 2025	1.0″	Quarter
April 30, 2025	1.5″	Ping-pong ball
April 30, 2025	1.0″	Quarter
April 30, 2025	1.25″	Half dollar
April 30, 2025	1.25″	Half dollar
March 23, 2025	1.0″	Quarter
March 15, 2025	0.75″	Penny

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

From the storm reports

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

May 6, 2025 · 1.0″ (quarter)

Report from mPING: Quarter (1.00 in.).

April 12, 2022 · 5.68″ (grapefruit)

A social media picture indicated a 5.6+ inch diameter hail stone in Salado, TX. Swift actions were taken by NWS Fort Worth and the IBHS (Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety) to preserve and document this record hailstone. The IBHS officially measured the hailstone at: Maximum diameter �� 5.676 in, Mass �� 409.3 g, Volume �� 29.5 in3 making it the largest hail stone on record in the FWD CWA to date.

May 27, 1997 · 4.5″ (grapefruit)

Baseball to softball size hail was reported.

Events by decade

1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
3	10	16	22	85	87	83	88

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 Bell County

Has it ever hailed in Bell County?

Yes — 394 hail events have been recorded for Bell County, TX in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1956, including 273 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Bell County?

The most recent recorded hail event for Bell County, TX is May 6, 2025, 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 Bell County?

5.68″ (grapefruit), recorded on April 12, 2022. 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 Texas hail history

All 254 Texas 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.