Hail history for Burke County, North Carolina
Every NOAA hail report filed in Burke County since 1985, with preliminary National Weather Service reports to November 3, 2026.
Readout · Burke County
- Last hail
- May 14, 2025
- 1.00 in, quarter size
- Hail days, last 5 years
- 9
- since Nov 3, 2021 · 12 reports
- Largest ever
- 4.50 in
- softball · May 24, 2000
211 reports on 141 days since 1985 · #3 of 101 North Carolina counties
Hail map · Burke County
- Under 1 in
- 1–1.75 in
- 1.75–2.5 in
- 2.5–4 in
- 4 in +
- No size
For homeowners
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What the record says about Burke County
The latest hail report in Burke County is from May 14, 2025, 1.00 in (quarter size). Since November 3, 2021 there have been 9 separate hail days; the biggest stones in that time were 1.75 in on July 6, 2022.
Over the 20 years 2006–2025, Burke County logged 160 reports on 107 hail days, about 8.0 reports a year. That is 3.4 times the median North Carolina county (2.4 a year) and ranks #3 of 101 North Carolina counties for all-time reports. Burke County holds 2% of all 9,947 hail reports in North Carolina.
3% of reports with a size were 2 inches (hen egg) or larger, against 3% for the median North Carolina county. The largest hail on record here is 4.50 in (softball) on May 24, 2000 near 13 SW Morganton, which ties or sets the North Carolina record.
Reports were down 49% in 2016–2025 (54) compared with 2006–2015 (106). The busiest year was 2012, with 17 reports on 10 days. Hail here peaks in May (27% of reports); 64% fall between April and June.
Reports a year 2006–2025 average
- Burke County 8.0
- Median North Carolina county 2.4
Hail days 2006–2025
- Burke County 107
- Median North Carolina county 32
Share 2 in or larger of sized reports
- Burke County 3%
- Median North Carolina county 3%
Hail over time
| Year | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 2025 | 4 | 4 | |||||||||||
| 2024 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 2023 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | |||||||||
| 2022 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 | |||||||||
| 2021 | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||
| 2020 | 1 | 5 | 6 | ||||||||||
| 2019 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | |||||||||
| 2018 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 10 | |||||||
| 2017 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 10 |
Hail days since Nov 3, 2021
| Date | Reports | Largest | Storm page |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 14, 2025 | 1 | 1.00 in | — |
| May 8, 2025 | 3 | 1.00 in | — |
| Sep 7, 2023 | 1 | 0.75 in | — |
| Jun 26, 2023 | 1 | 1.00 in | — |
| Apr 22, 2023 | 1 | 0.75 in | — |
| Jul 6, 2022 | 1 | 1.75 in | — |
| Jul 2, 2022 | 1 | 0.75 in | — |
| Jun 2, 2022 | 2 | 1.00 in | — |
| May 1, 2022 | 1 | 1.00 in | — |
Largest hail on record
| Date | Size | Location | Time · source |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 24, 2000 | 4.50 insoftball | 13 SW Morganton | 17:14 local · NCEI |
| May 24, 2000 | 4.50 insoftball | 11 WSW Morganton | 16:57 local · NCEI |
| May 11, 2008 | 2.75 inbaseball | 12 SSE Morganton | 15:25 local · NCEI |
| May 24, 2000 | 2.75 inbaseball | 8 W Morganton | 16:40 local · NCEI |
| Jul 9, 1997 | 2.50 intennis ball | Rutherford College | 16:00 local · NCEI |
Size of every report
- Under 1 in 104 49%
- 1–2 in 101 48%
- 2 in + 6 3%
Most recent reports
| Date | Size | Location | Time · source |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 14, 2025 | 1.00 inquarter | 2.18 NE Drexel | 13:31 local · NCEI |
| May 8, 2025 | 0.75 inpenny | 0.69 N Drexel | 16:03 local · NCEI |
| May 8, 2025 | 1.00 inquarter | 1.49 SSW Morganton | 15:41 local · NCEI |
| May 8, 2025 | 1.00 inquarter | 1.3 SSE Glen Alpine | 15:25 local · NCEI |
| Sep 7, 2023 | 0.75 inpenny | 2.35 ENE Rutherford College | 18:53 local · NCEI |
| Jun 26, 2023 | 1.00 inquarter | 2.82 NNE Brindletown | 16:05 local · NCEI |
| Apr 22, 2023 | 0.75 inpenny | 0.47 NNW Enola | 05:10 local · NCEI |
| Jul 6, 2022 | 1.75 ingolf ball | 2.35 WSW Burke Chapel | 14:23 local · NCEI |
| Jul 2, 2022 | 0.75 inpenny | 0.89 SE Chesterfield | 19:41 local · NCEI |
| Jun 2, 2022 | 1.00 inquarter | 1.12 E Oak Hill | 17:21 local · NCEI |
| Jun 2, 2022 | 1.00 inquarter | 3.08 W Chesterfield | 15:04 local · NCEI |
| May 1, 2022 | 1.00 inquarter | 3.24 SSW Glen Alpine | 13:05 local · NCEI |
Cities and towns in Burke County
| Place | Reports | Largest |
|---|---|---|
| Morganton | 72 | 2.00 in |
| Glen Alpine | 25 | 1.75 in |
| Valdese | 13 | 1.00 in |
Smaller places with fewer than 10 reports
These places have too few reports for a page of their own, so their record lives here.
| Place | Reports | Hail days | Latest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salem | 8 | 7 | May 10, 2018 |
| Drexel | 6 | 6 | May 8, 2025 |
| Hildebran | 6 | 6 | Aug 8, 2018 |
| Icard | 6 | 5 | Jul 13, 2017 |
| Rutherford College | 5 | 5 | Jul 23, 2014 |
| Long View | 4 | 4 | Jul 21, 2020 |
| Connelly Springs | 2 | 2 | Sep 7, 2023 |
Questions about hail in Burke County
How often does it hail in Burke County, North Carolina?
211 hail reports have been logged in Burke County since 1985. Over the 20 years 2006–2025 that averages 8.0 reports a year. That ranks #3 of 101 North Carolina counties by number of reports.
When is hail season in Burke County?
Most reports come in May, June, July. May alone accounts for 27% of all reports.
What is the largest hail recorded in Burke County?
4.50 in (softball size) on May 24, 2000 near 13 SW Morganton. 3% of reports here were 2 inches or larger.
When did it last hail in Burke County?
The most recent report in this data is from May 14, 2025 (1.00 in). Final NOAA data runs to July 31, 2026; preliminary NWS reports run to November 3, 2026.
How many hail storms has Burke County had in the last five years?
9 separate days with hail reports since November 3, 2021, adding up to 12 reports. The most recent was May 14, 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.