Hail History

Hail history for Columbus, North Carolina

NOAA hail reports in and within about 5 km (3 miles) of Columbus since 1970, with preliminary reports to November 3, 2026.

Readout · Columbus

Last hail
May 10, 2018
0.75 in, penny size
Hail days, last 5 years
0
since Nov 3, 2021 · 0 reports
Largest ever
1.75 in
golf ball · Aug 20, 1999

20 reports on 17 days since 1970 · #78 of 255 North Carolina places

Hail map · Columbus

Columbus Saluda Edneyville Rutherfordton 5 mi
  • Under 1 in
  • 1–1.75 in
  • 1.75–2.5 in
  • 2.5–4 in
  • 4 in +
  • No size
20 most recent reports with a location; Polk County is shaded. Open street map

For homeowners

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What the record says about Columbus

The latest hail report in and around Columbus is from May 10, 2018, 0.75 in (penny size). There has been no hail report here in the five years since November 3, 2021.

Over the 20 years 2006–2025, Columbus logged 6 reports on 5 hail days, about 0.3 reports a year. That is 33% less than the median North Carolina town on this site (0.5 a year) and ranks #78 of 255 North Carolina cities and towns on this site for all-time reports. Columbus accounts for 26% of the 77 reports filed in Polk 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 August 20, 1999 near Columbus.

The busiest year was 1985, with 5 reports on 3 days. Hail here peaks in June (35% of reports); 65% fall between April and June.

Reports a year 2006–2025 average

  • Columbus 0.3
  • Polk County 2.4
  • Median North Carolina town on this site 0.5

Hail days 2006–2025

  • Columbus 5
  • Polk County 34
  • Median North Carolina town on this site 7

Share 2 in or larger of sized reports

  • Columbus 0%
  • Polk County 1%
  • Median North Carolina town on this site 0%

Hail over time

0246 1970: 1 reports, largest 1.50 in 1970 1980 1985: 5 reports, largest 1.75 in 1988: 2 reports, largest 1.75 in 1990: 1 reports, largest 1.00 in 1990 1997: 1 reports, largest 0.75 in 1999: 1 reports, largest 1.75 in 2000 2001: 1 reports, largest 1.00 in 2002: 1 reports, largest 0.88 in 2003: 1 reports, largest 0.75 in 2008: 2 reports, largest 1.00 in 2009: 1 reports, largest 0.88 in 2010 2016: 2 reports, largest 1.00 in 2018: 1 reports, largest 0.75 in 2020
Reports per year, 1970–2026. Bar colour shows the largest hail that year. Reporting grew sharply after the mid-1990s, so early decades undercount.
02468 Jan Feb March: 1 reports (5%) Mar Apr May: 6 reports (30%) May June: 7 reports (35%) Jun July: 3 reports (15%) Jul August: 1 reports (5%) Aug September: 2 reports (10%) Sep Oct Nov Dec
All 20 reports by calendar month.
Reports per month, 2017–2026. Darker cells had more reports.
YearJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecTotal
2026 0
2025 0
2024 0
2023 0
2022 0
2021 0
2020 0
2019 0
2018 1 1
2017 0

Largest hail on record

Largest hail reports in Columbus
Date Size Location County Time · source
Aug 20, 1999 1.75 ingolf ball Columbus Polk 15:41 local · NCEI
May 17, 1988 1.75 ingolf ball — Polk 12:00 local · NCEI
Jun 5, 1985 1.75 ingolf ball — Polk 18:00 local · NCEI
Jun 5, 1970 1.50 inping pong ball — Polk 16:15 local · NCEI
May 31, 2016 1.00 inquarter 1.78 SE Columbus Polk 15:08 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

Most recent reports

Most recent hail reports in Columbus
Date Size Location County Damage Time · source
May 10, 2018 0.75 inpenny 1.36 NE Columbus Polk — 13:55 local · NCEI
May 31, 2016 0.75 inpenny Columbus Polk — 15:14 local · NCEI
May 31, 2016 1.00 inquarter 1.78 SE Columbus Polk — 15:08 local · NCEI
Sep 9, 2009 0.88 innickel 0.46 W Columbus Polk — 14:44 local · NCEI
Sep 30, 2008 1.00 inquarter 1.86 SSE Mill Spg Polk — 16:51 local · NCEI
Jun 27, 2008 0.75 inpenny 3 E Columbus Polk — 17:15 local · NCEI
May 2, 2003 0.75 inpenny Columbus Polk — 15:00 local · NCEI
Mar 16, 2002 0.88 innickel Columbus Polk $3K 10:45 local · NCEI
Jun 25, 2001 1.00 inquarter Mill Spg Polk — 15:05 local · NCEI
Aug 20, 1999 1.75 ingolf ball Columbus Polk — 15:41 local · NCEI
Jun 2, 1997 0.75 inpenny Columbus Polk — 04:30 local · NCEI
May 1, 1990 1.00 inquarter — Polk — 17:10 local · NCEI

Hail history near Columbus

Questions about hail in Columbus

How often does it hail in Columbus, North Carolina?

20 hail reports have been logged in and within about 5 km (3 miles) of Columbus since 1970. Over the 20 years 2006–2025 that averages 0.3 reports a year. That ranks #78 of 255 North Carolina places by number of reports.

When is hail season in Columbus?

Most reports come in June, May, July. June alone accounts for 35% of all reports.

What is the largest hail recorded in Columbus?

1.75 in (golf ball size) on August 20, 1999 near Columbus. 0% of reports here were 2 inches or larger.

When did it last hail in Columbus?

The most recent report in this data is from May 10, 2018 (0.75 in). Final NOAA data runs to July 31, 2026; preliminary NWS reports run to November 3, 2026.

How many hail storms has Columbus had in the last five years?

None: there has been no hail report in and within about 5 km (3 miles) of Columbus since November 3, 2021. The last one was on May 10, 2018.

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.