Hail history for Fairfax County, VA

Fairfax County has 182 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 125 of them 1″ or larger and 10 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 3.0″ (tea cup) on August 11, 2004.

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 182 since 1961

1″ or larger 125 NWS severe threshold

2″ or larger 10 hen egg class and up

Largest recorded 3.0″ tea cup · August 11, 2004

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 Fairfax County

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

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 182 recorded events · data through April 2026
Date	Size	Comparable to
April 1, 2026	1.0″	Quarter
May 16, 2025	1.25″	Half dollar
August 29, 2024	1.0″	Quarter
April 15, 2024	1.0″	Quarter
April 15, 2024	1.5″	Ping-pong ball
July 14, 2023	1.5″	Ping-pong ball
June 16, 2023	1.0″	Quarter
June 16, 2023	1.25″	Half dollar

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

From the storm reports

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

April 1, 2026 · 1.0″ (quarter)

Quarter size hail was reported in Clifton.

June 18, 2015 · 2.0″ (hen egg)

Spotter Id Fxc09.

August 11, 2004 · 3.0″ (tea cup)

Quarter to teacup size hail fell in Annandale. The larger hail caused dents to several cars in the vicinity.

Events by decade

1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
0	3	4	10	40	56	55	14

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 Fairfax County

Has it ever hailed in Fairfax County?

Yes — 182 hail events have been recorded for Fairfax County, VA in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1961, including 125 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Fairfax County?

The most recent recorded hail event for Fairfax County, VA is April 1, 2026, 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 Fairfax County?

3.0″ (tea cup), recorded on August 11, 2004. 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 Virginia hail history

All 133 Virginia 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.