HailHistory › Hail by county › Washington › Thurston County

Washington · county FIPS 53067

Hail history for Thurston County, WA

Thurston County has 3 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 1 of them 1″ or larger. The largest on record: 1.5″ (ping-pong ball) on September 1, 1997.

Records 1950–present Data through April 2026
Core sample · every recorded event, 1955–2026
1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s 2020s 1955 through 2026 largest · 1.5″ ping-pong ball September 1, 1997

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 3 since 1983
1″ or larger 1 NWS severe threshold
2″ or larger 0 hen egg class and up
Largest recorded 1.5″ ping-pong ball · September 1, 1997
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.

Most recent recorded events

Latest 3 of 3 recorded events · data through April 2026
DateSizeComparable to
1.5″ Ping-pong ball
0.75″ Penny
0.75″ Penny

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

From the storm reports

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

· 1.5″ (ping-pong ball)

A thunderstorm with golf ball sized hail broke car windshields in Yelm.

Events by decade

1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020s
00021000

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 Thurston County

Has it ever hailed in Thurston County?

Yes — 3 hail events have been recorded for Thurston County, WA in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1983, including 1 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Thurston County?

The most recent recorded hail event for Thurston County, WA is September 1, 1997, 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 Thurston County?

1.5″ (ping-pong ball), recorded on September 1, 1997. Hail that size meets or exceeds the National Weather Service severe threshold. 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 Washington hail history

All 39 Washington 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.