Hail history for Chapel Hill, North Carolina
NOAA hail reports in and within about 5 km (3 miles) of Chapel Hill since 1984, with preliminary reports to November 3, 2026.
Readout · Chapel Hill
- Last hail
- Oct 17, 2022
- 1.50 in, ping pong ball size
- Hail days, last 5 years
- 1
- since Nov 3, 2021 · 1 report
- Largest ever
- 1.75 in
- golf ball · Jun 25, 2015
15 reports on 15 days since 1984 · #128 of 255 North Carolina places
Hail map · Chapel Hill
- 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 Chapel Hill is from October 17, 2022. A local roofer can check and document it at no cost.
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What the record says about Chapel Hill
The latest hail report in and around Chapel Hill is from October 17, 2022, 1.50 in (ping pong ball size). Since November 3, 2021 there has been one hail day; the biggest stones in that time were 1.50 in on October 17, 2022.
Over the 20 years 2006–2025, Chapel Hill logged 7 reports on 7 hail days, about 0.3 reports a year. That is 22% less than the median North Carolina town on this site (0.5 a year) and ranks #128 of 255 North Carolina cities and towns on this site for all-time reports. Chapel Hill accounts for 18% of the 84 reports filed in Orange County.
0% of reports with a size were 2 inches (hen egg) or larger, against 0% for the median North Carolina town on this site. The largest hail on record here is 1.75 in (golf ball) on June 25, 2015 near 2.78 ENE Chapel Hill Wllms Ar.
The busiest year was 1998, with 2 reports on 2 days. Hail here peaks in May (40% of reports); 80% fall between April and June.
Reports a year 2006–2025 average
- Chapel Hill 0.3
- Orange County 1.9
- Median North Carolina town on this site 0.5
Hail days 2006–2025
- Chapel Hill 7
- Orange County 26
- Median North Carolina town on this site 7
Share 2 in or larger of sized reports
- Chapel Hill 0%
- Orange County 1%
- Median North Carolina 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 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 2022 | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||
| 2021 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 2020 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 2019 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 2018 | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||
| 2017 | 0 |
Hail days since Nov 3, 2021
| Date | Reports | Largest | Storm page |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 17, 2022 | 1 | 1.50 in | — |
Largest hail on record
| Date | Size | Location | County | Time · source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 25, 2015 | 1.75 ingolf ball | 2.78 ENE Chapel Hill Wllms Ar | Orange | 19:19 local · NCEI |
| Mar 8, 2005 | 1.75 ingolf ball | Chapel Hill | Orange | 08:55 local · NCEI |
| Jun 4, 1985 | 1.75 ingolf ball | — | Orange | 23:22 local · NCEI |
| May 22, 1985 | 1.75 ingolf ball | — | Orange | 19:15 local · NCEI |
| Oct 17, 2022 | 1.50 inping pong ball | 2.2 NNE Calvander | Orange | 17:25 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 5 33%
- 1–2 in 10 67%
- 2 in + 0 0%
Most recent reports
| Date | Size | Location | County | Time · source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 17, 2022 | 1.50 inping pong ball | 2.2 NNE Calvander | Orange | 17:25 local · NCEI |
| May 21, 2018 | 0.75 inpenny | 1.78 SE Chapel Hill | Orange | 14:26 local · NCEI |
| Jun 25, 2015 | 1.75 ingolf ball | 2.78 ENE Chapel Hill Wllms Ar | Orange | 19:19 local · NCEI |
| Apr 25, 2014 | 1.00 inquarter | 0.89 NE Chapel Hill Wllms Ar | Orange | 13:08 local · NCEI |
| May 27, 2011 | 1.00 inquarter | 1.68 E Chapel Hill Wllms Ar | Orange | 12:21 local · NCEI |
| May 9, 2008 | 0.75 inpenny | 1.68 E Chapel Hill Wllms Ar | Orange | 23:07 local · NCEI |
| May 25, 2006 | 1.00 inquarter | 2 N Chapel Hill | Orange | 16:25 local · NCEI |
| Mar 8, 2005 | 1.75 ingolf ball | Chapel Hill | Orange | 08:55 local · NCEI |
| Jun 2, 1998 | 0.75 inpenny | Chapel Hill | Orange | 19:10 local · NCEI |
| Mar 20, 1998 | 0.75 inpenny | Chapel Hill | Orange | 20:06 local · NCEI |
| Jun 19, 1992 | 0.75 inpenny | — | Orange | 15:40 local · NCEI |
| Jun 2, 1988 | 1.00 inquarter | — | Orange | 17:03 local · NCEI |
Hail history near Chapel Hill
Questions about hail in Chapel Hill
How often does it hail in Chapel Hill, North Carolina?
15 hail reports have been logged in and within about 5 km (3 miles) of Chapel Hill since 1984. Over the 20 years 2006–2025 that averages 0.3 reports a year. That ranks #128 of 255 North Carolina places by number of reports.
When is hail season in Chapel Hill?
Most reports come in May, June, March. May alone accounts for 40% of all reports.
What is the largest hail recorded in Chapel Hill?
1.75 in (golf ball size) on June 25, 2015 near 2.78 ENE Chapel Hill Wllms Ar. 0% of reports here were 2 inches or larger.
When did it last hail in Chapel Hill?
The most recent report in this data is from October 17, 2022 (1.50 in). Final NOAA data runs to July 31, 2026; preliminary NWS reports run to November 3, 2026.
How many hail storms has Chapel Hill had in the last five years?
1 separate days with hail reports since November 3, 2021, adding up to 1 reports. The most recent was October 17, 2022.
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.