Hail history for Wilmington, Delaware
NOAA hail reports in and within about 5 km (3 miles) of Wilmington since 1970, with preliminary reports to November 3, 2026.
Readout · Wilmington
- Last hail
- Sep 8, 2023
- 1.00 in, quarter size
- Hail days, last 5 years
- 2
- since Nov 3, 2021 · 3 reports
- Largest ever
- 1.75 in
- golf ball · May 31, 1980
17 reports on 12 days since 1970 · #1 of 3 Delaware places
Hail map · Wilmington
- Under 1 in
- 1–1.75 in
- 1.75–2.5 in
- 2.5–4 in
- 4 in +
- No size
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 Wilmington is from September 8, 2023. A local roofer can check and document it at no cost.
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What the record says about Wilmington
The latest hail report in and around Wilmington is from September 8, 2023, 1.00 in (quarter size). Since November 3, 2021 there have been 2 separate hail days; the biggest stones in that time were 1.00 in on September 8, 2023.
Over the 20 years 2006–2025, Wilmington logged 15 reports on 10 hail days, about 0.8 reports a year. That is about twice the median Delaware town on this site (0.3 a year) and ranks #1 of 3 Delaware cities and towns on this site for all-time reports. Wilmington accounts for 23% of the 73 reports filed in New Castle County.
0% of reports with a size were 2 inches (hen egg) or larger, against 0% for the median Delaware town on this site. The largest hail on record here is 1.75 in (golf ball) on May 31, 1980.
Reports were up 50% in 2016–2025 (9) compared with 2006–2015 (6). The busiest year was 2019, with 5 reports on 2 days. Hail here peaks in June (53% of reports); 76% fall between April and June.
Reports a year 2006–2025 average
- Wilmington 0.8
- New Castle County 2.8
- Median Delaware town on this site 0.3
Hail days 2006–2025
- Wilmington 10
- New Castle County 31
- Median Delaware town on this site 7
Share 2 in or larger of sized reports
- Wilmington 0%
- New Castle County 1%
- Median Delaware town on this site 0%
Hail over time
| Year | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 2025 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 2024 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 2023 | 1 | 2 | 3 | ||||||||||
| 2022 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 2021 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 2020 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 2019 | 5 | 5 | |||||||||||
| 2018 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 2017 | 0 |
Hail days since Nov 3, 2021
| Date | Reports | Largest | Storm page |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 8, 2023 | 2 | 1.00 in | — |
| Jun 16, 2023 | 1 | 1.00 in | — |
Largest hail on record
| Date | Size | Location | County | Time · source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 31, 1980 | 1.75 ingolf ball | — | New Castle | 19:30 local · NCEI |
| Jun 5, 1970 | 1.50 inping pong ball | — | New Castle | 16:30 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 |
| Jun 16, 2023 | 1.00 inquarter | 0.69 N Minquadale | New Castle | 10:56 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 6 35%
- 1–2 in 11 65%
- 2 in + 0 0%
Most recent reports
| Date | Size | Location | County | Time · source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Jun 16, 2023 | 1.00 inquarter | 0.69 N Minquadale | New Castle | 10:56 local · NCEI |
| Jun 29, 2019 | 0.75 inpenny | 0.87 SE Talleyville | New Castle | 15:02 local · NCEI |
| Jun 2, 2019 | 0.75 inpenny | Carrcroft | New Castle | 17:53 local · NCEI |
| Jun 2, 2019 | 1.00 inquarter | Fairfax | New Castle | 17:52 local · NCEI |
| Jun 2, 2019 | 1.00 inquarter | 1.06 E Lancaster Vlg | New Castle | 17:47 local · NCEI |
| Jun 2, 2019 | 0.75 inpenny | 0.53 W Kentmere | New Castle | 14:10 local · NCEI |
| Apr 2, 2016 | 1.00 inquarter | 0.69 N Dunleith | New Castle | 22:15 local · NCEI |
| Jun 29, 2012 | 0.88 innickel | Wilmington | New Castle | 23:20 local · NCEI |
| Aug 9, 2011 | 1.00 inquarter | 0.87 SW Wilmington | New Castle | 11:45 local · NCEI |
| May 27, 2010 | 1.00 inquarter | Wilmington | New Castle | 19:38 local · NCEI |
Hail history near Wilmington
- Newark 20 km · 12
Questions about hail in Wilmington
How often does it hail in Wilmington, Delaware?
17 hail reports have been logged in and within about 5 km (3 miles) of Wilmington since 1970. Over the 20 years 2006–2025 that averages 0.8 reports a year. That ranks #1 of 3 Delaware places by number of reports.
When is hail season in Wilmington?
Most reports come in June, May, September. June alone accounts for 53% of all reports.
What is the largest hail recorded in Wilmington?
1.75 in (golf ball size) on May 31, 1980. 0% of reports here were 2 inches or larger.
When did it last hail in Wilmington?
The most recent report in this data is from September 8, 2023 (1.00 in). Final NOAA data runs to July 31, 2026; preliminary NWS reports run to November 3, 2026.
How many hail storms has Wilmington had in the last five years?
2 separate days with hail reports since November 3, 2021, adding up to 3 reports. The most recent was September 8, 2023.
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.