Hail history for Hickory, North Carolina
NOAA hail reports in and within about 5 km (3 miles) of Hickory since 1965, with preliminary reports to November 3, 2026.
Readout · Hickory
- Last hail
- May 15, 2024
- 1.00 in, quarter size
- Hail days, last 5 years
- 2
- since Nov 3, 2021 · 2 reports
- Largest ever
- 4.50 in
- softball · Jun 3, 1998
56 reports on 49 days since 1965 · #12 of 255 North Carolina places
Hail map · Hickory
- 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 Hickory
The latest hail report in and around Hickory is from May 15, 2024, 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 May 15, 2024.
Over the 20 years 2006–2025, Hickory logged 29 reports on 24 hail days, about 1.4 reports a year. That is 3.2 times the median North Carolina town on this site (0.5 a year) and ranks #12 of 255 North Carolina cities and towns on this site for all-time reports. Hickory accounts for 32% of the 177 reports filed in Catawba County.
5% 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 4.50 in (softball) on June 3, 1998 near Newton, which ties or sets the North Carolina record.
Reports were down 55% in 2016–2025 (9) compared with 2006–2015 (20). The busiest year was 2011, with 6 reports on 3 days. Hail here peaks in June (41% of reports); 68% fall between April and June.
Reports a year 2006–2025 average
- Hickory 1.4
- Catawba County 4.7
- Median North Carolina town on this site 0.5
Hail days 2006–2025
- Hickory 24
- Catawba County 68
- Median North Carolina town on this site 7
Share 2 in or larger of sized reports
- Hickory 5%
- Catawba County 5%
- 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 | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||
| 2023 | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||
| 2022 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 2021 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 2020 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 2019 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 2018 | 1 | 1 | 2 | ||||||||||
| 2017 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
Hail days since Nov 3, 2021
| Date | Reports | Largest | Storm page |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 15, 2024 | 1 | 1.00 in | — |
| Jul 1, 2023 | 1 | 1.00 in | — |
Largest hail on record
| Date | Size | Location | County | Time · source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 3, 1998 | 4.50 insoftball | Newton | Catawba | 16:18 local · NCEI |
| Jul 21, 2018 | 2.00 inhen egg | 3.96 N Hickory | Catawba | 17:32 local · NCEI |
| Jul 1, 2012 | 2.00 inhen egg | 1.78 SE Brookford | Catawba | 16:06 local · NCEI |
| Jun 29, 2016 | 1.75 ingolf ball | 4.18 N Hickory | Catawba | 14:22 local · NCEI |
| Jul 1, 2012 | 1.75 ingolf ball | 1.68 E Brookford | Catawba | 16:05 local · NCEI |
Size of every report
- Under 1 in 24 43%
- 1–2 in 29 52%
- 2 in + 3 5%
Most recent reports
| Date | Size | Location | County | Time · source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 15, 2024 | 1.00 inquarter | 2.15 SSE Hickory | Catawba | 14:26 local · NCEI |
| Jul 1, 2023 | 1.00 inquarter | 1.32 WSW Hickory | Catawba | 17:05 local · NCEI |
| Jul 21, 2018 | 2.00 inhen egg | 3.96 N Hickory | Catawba | 17:32 local · NCEI |
| May 7, 2018 | 0.88 innickel | 0.89 NW Hickory | Catawba | 20:00 local · NCEI |
| Jul 17, 2017 | 1.00 inquarter | 3.63 NNW Hickory | Catawba | 17:00 local · NCEI |
| Jun 13, 2017 | 1.00 inquarter | 2.07 S Oyama | Catawba | 14:58 local · NCEI |
| Apr 6, 2017 | 1.25 inhalf dollar | 1.49 NNE Hickory | Catawba | 00:07 local · NCEI |
| Jul 16, 2016 | 0.88 innickel | 0.89 NW Hickory | Burke | 14:32 local · NCEI |
| Jun 29, 2016 | 1.75 ingolf ball | 4.18 N Hickory | Catawba | 14:22 local · NCEI |
| Sep 4, 2015 | 1.00 inquarter | 2.36 NNE Hickory | Catawba | 19:14 local · NCEI |
| Sep 6, 2014 | 0.75 inpenny | 1.49 NNW Hickory | Catawba | 17:15 local · NCEI |
| Jun 19, 2014 | 1.00 inquarter | 2.36 SSE Brookford | Catawba | 15:00 local · NCEI |
Hail history near Hickory
Questions about hail in Hickory
How often does it hail in Hickory, North Carolina?
56 hail reports have been logged in and within about 5 km (3 miles) of Hickory since 1965. Over the 20 years 2006–2025 that averages 1.4 reports a year. That ranks #12 of 255 North Carolina places by number of reports.
When is hail season in Hickory?
Most reports come in June, July, May. June alone accounts for 41% of all reports.
What is the largest hail recorded in Hickory?
4.50 in (softball size) on June 3, 1998 near Newton. 5% of reports here were 2 inches or larger.
When did it last hail in Hickory?
The most recent report in this data is from May 15, 2024 (1.00 in). Final NOAA data runs to July 31, 2026; preliminary NWS reports run to November 3, 2026.
How many hail storms has Hickory had in the last five years?
2 separate days with hail reports since November 3, 2021, adding up to 2 reports. The most recent was May 15, 2024.
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.