HailHistory › Hail by county › Texas › Hidalgo County
Texas · county FIPS 48215
Hail history for Hidalgo County, TX
Hidalgo County has 163 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 113 of them 1″ or larger and 24 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 4.5″ (grapefruit) on April 20, 2012.
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 Hidalgo County
Recorded events by month, 1950–present. The amber bar marks Hidalgo County's peak: May.
Most recent recorded events
| Date | Size | Comparable to |
|---|---|---|
| 1.0″ | Quarter | |
| 1.75″ | Golf ball | |
| 1.0″ | Quarter | |
| 1.75″ | Golf ball | |
| 1.0″ | Quarter | |
| 2.0″ | Hen egg | |
| 1.5″ | Ping-pong ball | |
| 1.75″ | Golf ball |
Looking for a specific storm? Use the did-it-hail date lookup for Hidalgo County.
From the storm reports
Narratives as filed with the NOAA Storm Events Database (public records; lightly trimmed for length).
· 3.0″ (tea cup)
A member of the public reported 3 inch diameter (tea cup size) hail, via Facebook. The stone was oblong shape, with a width of 1.5 inches.
· 1.0″ (quarter)
There was a report received from a HAM Operator of 1 inch hail. The hail lasted for ten minutes at this location.
· 4.5″ (grapefruit)
Public reported softball size hail at McAllen High School. These hailstones, as well as golfball to baseball sized stones which fell for more than twenty minutes while traversing the McAllen/Mission/Pharr area, caused unknown damage to vehicles but little damage to other structures as of this writing.
Events by decade
| 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6 | 8 | 15 | 15 | 33 | 36 | 49 |
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 Hidalgo County
Has it ever hailed in Hidalgo County?
Yes — 163 hail events have been recorded for Hidalgo County, TX in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1956, including 113 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.
When did it last hail in Hidalgo County?
The most recent recorded hail event for Hidalgo County, TX is May 8, 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 Hidalgo County?
4.5″ (grapefruit), recorded on April 20, 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
- Tarrant County 1,417
- Randall County 898
- Potter County 879
- Dallas County 834
- Denton County 814
- Wichita County 753
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.