Hail history for Delaware
159 NOAA hail reports across 3 counties and 3 cities and towns since 1968, updated to November 3, 2026.
Readout · Delaware
- Last hail
- May 16, 2025
- 1.75 in, golf ball size
- Hail days, last 5 years
- 11
- since Nov 3, 2021 · 19 reports
- Largest ever
- 2.50 in
- tennis ball · May 22, 2014
159 reports on 107 days since 1968 · #47 of 51 states
Hail map · Delaware
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Counties shaded by all-time hail reports. Select a county for its page.
For homeowners
Roof damage after hail? Get a free inspection
Hail bruises shingles and cracks seals in ways you can't see from the ground, and most insurers set a claim deadline after the storm. The latest hail report in Delaware is from May 16, 2025. A local roofer can check and document it at no cost.
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What the record says about Delaware
The latest hail report in Delaware is from May 16, 2025, 1.75 in (golf ball size). Since November 3, 2021 there have been 11 separate hail days; the biggest stones in that time were 2.25 in on May 16, 2022.
Over the 20 years 2006–2025, Delaware logged 104 reports on 61 hail days, about 5.2 reports a year. That is 3% of the median US state (173.9 a year) and ranks #47 of 51 states and DC for all-time reports.
3% of reports with a size were 2 inches (hen egg) or larger, against 3% for the median US state. The largest hail on record here is 2.50 in (tennis ball) on May 22, 2014 near 0.9 WNW Harnous Corner.
Reports held about level in 2016–2025 (48) compared with 2006–2015 (56). The busiest year was 2019, with 20 reports on 8 days. Hail here peaks in June (31% of reports); 69% fall between April and June.
Reports a year 2006–2025 average
- Delaware 5.2
- Median US state 173.9
Hail days 2006–2025
- Delaware 61
- Median US state 561
Share 2 in or larger of sized reports
- Delaware 3%
- Median US state 3%
Hail over time
| Year | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 2025 | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||
| 2024 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 2023 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 11 | |||||||||
| 2022 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 7 | ||||||||
| 2021 | 2 | 1 | 3 | ||||||||||
| 2020 | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||
| 2019 | 6 | 9 | 4 | 1 | 20 | ||||||||
| 2018 | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||
| 2017 | 1 | 1 |
Hail days since Nov 3, 2021
| Date | Reports | Largest | Storm page |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 16, 2025 | 1 | 1.75 in | — |
| Sep 8, 2023 | 3 | 1.00 in | — |
| Jun 26, 2023 | 2 | 0.75 in | — |
| Jun 16, 2023 | 2 | 1.00 in | — |
| Jun 8, 2023 | 1 | 1.00 in | — |
| Apr 15, 2023 | 2 | 0.88 in | — |
| Apr 1, 2023 | 1 | 1.00 in | — |
| Jul 12, 2022 | 1 | 1.00 in | — |
| Jun 2, 2022 | 1 | 0.88 in | — |
| May 16, 2022 | 4 | 2.25 in | — |
| Apr 16, 2022 | 1 | 1.00 in | — |
Largest hail on record
| Date | Size | Location | County | Time · source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 22, 2014 | 2.50 intennis ball | 0.9 WNW Harnous Corner | New Castle | 15:37 local · NCEI |
| May 16, 2022 | 2.25 inhen egg | Pepper | Sussex | 17:30 local · NCEI |
| May 16, 2022 | 2.00 inhen egg | Pepper | Sussex | 17:25 local · NCEI |
| Jun 30, 1976 | 2.00 inhen egg | — | Sussex | 13:30 local · NCEI |
| May 16, 2025 | 1.75 ingolf ball | Millsboro | Sussex | 13:31 local · NCEI |
Sizes filed before 1996 are often rough estimates (round numbers like 7.00 or 8.00 in) without an exact spot; they are shown as NOAA filed them.
Size of every report
- Under 1 in 70 44%
- 1–2 in 85 53%
- 2 in + 4 3%
Most recent reports
| Date | Size | Location | County | Time · source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 16, 2025 | 1.75 ingolf ball | Millsboro | Sussex | 13:31 local · NCEI |
| Sep 8, 2023 | 1.00 inquarter | 0.53 E Edgemoor | New Castle | 21:25 local · NCEI |
| Sep 8, 2023 | 1.00 inquarter | 0.53 E Edgemoor | New Castle | 21:23 local · NCEI |
| Sep 8, 2023 | 1.00 inquarter | 0.69 N Milton | Sussex | 13:25 local · NCEI |
| Jun 26, 2023 | 0.75 inpenny | 1.06 W Mermaid | New Castle | 17:06 local · NCEI |
| Jun 26, 2023 | 0.75 inpenny | 0.53 W Meadowood | New Castle | 17:00 local · NCEI |
| Jun 16, 2023 | 1.00 inquarter | 0.69 N Minquadale | New Castle | 10:56 local · NCEI |
| Jun 16, 2023 | 1.00 inquarter | 0.87 SE Bellemoor | New Castle | 10:50 local · NCEI |
| Jun 8, 2023 | 1.00 inquarter | Bayard | Sussex | 12:55 local · NCEI |
| Apr 15, 2023 | 0.88 innickel | 0.54 E (Dov)dover Afb | Kent | 12:12 local · NCEI |
| Apr 15, 2023 | 0.88 innickel | 0.69 S Dover | Kent | 12:07 local · NCEI |
| Apr 1, 2023 | 1.00 inquarter | Farmington | Kent | 18:55 local · NCEI |
Cities and towns with the most hail reports
- Wilmington 17
- Newark 12
- Dover 10
How Delaware compares
Hail reports by county
| County | Reports | Largest |
|---|---|---|
| New Castle County | 73 | 2.50 in |
| Sussex County | 48 | 2.25 in |
| Kent County | 36 | 1.75 in |
Questions about hail in Delaware
How often does it hail in Delaware?
159 hail reports have been logged in Delaware since 1968. Over the 20 years 2006–2025 that averages 5.2 reports a year. That ranks #47 of 51 states by number of reports.
When is hail season in Delaware?
Most reports come in June, May, April. June alone accounts for 31% of all reports.
What is the largest hail recorded in Delaware?
2.50 in (tennis ball size) on May 22, 2014 near 0.9 WNW Harnous Corner. 3% of reports here were 2 inches or larger.
When did it last hail in Delaware?
The most recent report in this data is from May 16, 2025 (1.75 in). Final NOAA data runs to July 31, 2026; preliminary NWS reports run to November 3, 2026.
How many hail storms has Delaware had in the last five years?
11 separate days with hail reports since November 3, 2021, adding up to 19 reports. The most recent was May 16, 2025.
Where does this hail data come from?
Hail reports come from the NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, which the National Weather Service compiles from spotter, public, law enforcement and media reports. Recent days use preliminary NWS Local Storm Reports via the Iowa Environmental Mesonet until NOAA publishes final data. Only reported hail is counted, so areas with fewer people tend to have fewer reports.