Hail history for Zapata County, TX

Zapata County has 52 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 30 of them 1″ or larger and 4 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 4.5″ (grapefruit) on May 7, 2025.

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 52 since 1993

1″ or larger 30 NWS severe threshold

2″ or larger 4 hen egg class and up

Largest recorded 4.5″ grapefruit · May 7, 2025

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 Zapata County

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

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 52 recorded events · data through April 2026
Date	Size	Comparable to
May 7, 2025	4.5″	Grapefruit
May 13, 2024	2.75″	Baseball
April 28, 2023	1.75″	Golf ball
May 23, 2022	1.0″	Quarter
May 22, 2022	0.75″	Penny
May 9, 2019	0.88″	Nickel
May 21, 2017	1.75″	Golf ball
May 21, 2017	1.0″	Quarter

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

From the storm reports

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

May 7, 2025 · 4.5″ (grapefruit)

Zapata County Sheriff's office state that the public reported golf ball to softball size hail iin the city of San Ygnacio. The hail derived from a supercell thunderstorm that moved east from the foothills of the Sierra Madre Oriental mountains in northern Mexico. As of this writing, no damage was reported - though there may have been some.

May 13, 2024 · 2.75″ (baseball)

Baseball size hail was reported in San Ygnacio, related by the Zapata County Sheriff's office.

Events by decade

1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
0	0	0	0	7	24	16	5

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 Zapata County

Has it ever hailed in Zapata County?

Yes — 52 hail events have been recorded for Zapata County, TX in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1993, including 30 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Zapata County?

The most recent recorded hail event for Zapata County, TX is May 7, 2025, with 4.5″ (grapefruit) 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 Zapata County?

4.5″ (grapefruit), recorded on May 7, 2025. 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.