Hail history for Cottle County, TX

Cottle County has 202 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 157 of them 1″ or larger and 34 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 4.5″ (grapefruit) on May 30, 2012.

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 202 since 1960

1″ or larger 157 NWS severe threshold

2″ or larger 34 hen egg class and up

Largest recorded 4.5″ grapefruit · May 30, 2012

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 Cottle County

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

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 202 recorded events · data through April 2026
Date	Size	Comparable to
March 31, 2026	1.5″	Ping-pong ball
June 8, 2025	2.5″	Tennis ball
June 8, 2025	1.75″	Golf ball
June 8, 2025	2.0″	Hen egg
October 4, 2023	1.0″	Quarter
October 4, 2023	1.5″	Ping-pong ball
September 24, 2023	1.75″	Golf ball
October 27, 2022	1.5″	Ping-pong ball

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

From the storm reports

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

March 31, 2026 · 1.5″ (ping-pong ball)

A storm chaser and NWS cooperative weather observer reported a swath of hail from the city of Paducah to approximately four miles northeast of Paducah. Hail ranged in size from half dollar to ping pong ball size.

May 30, 2012 · 4.5″ (grapefruit)

The Paducah Fire Department estimated a swath of baseball to softball size hail from 5W Paducah to 10S Paducah. No reports of damage were received.

May 30, 2012 · 4.5″ (grapefruit)

A hailswath occurred from 8N Paducah to about 6NE Paducah. Large and even giant hail to the size of softballs was witnessed by Paducah fire department personnel and an off-duty NWS employee. These giant hailstones fell about 50 feet apart from each thereby limiting the extent of damage.

Events by decade

1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
0	10	9	16	38	83	29	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 Cottle County

Has it ever hailed in Cottle County?

Yes — 202 hail events have been recorded for Cottle County, TX in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1960, including 157 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Cottle County?

The most recent recorded hail event for Cottle County, TX is March 31, 2026, 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 Cottle County?

4.5″ (grapefruit), recorded on May 30, 2012. 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.