Hail History

Hail history for Kinston, North Carolina

NOAA hail reports in and within about 5 km (3 miles) of Kinston since 1958, with preliminary reports to November 3, 2026.

Readout · Kinston

Last hail
May 3, 2016
1.00 in, quarter size
Hail days, last 5 years
0
since Nov 3, 2021 · 0 reports
Largest ever
2.75 in
baseball · Jun 9, 1988

55 reports on 48 days since 1958 · #14 of 255 North Carolina places

Hail map · Kinston

Kinston Hookerton La Grange Deep Run Cove City Trenton 10 mi
  • Under 1 in
  • 1–1.75 in
  • 1.75–2.5 in
  • 2.5–4 in
  • 4 in +
  • No size
55 most recent reports with a location; Lenoir County is shaded. Open street map

For homeowners

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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 Kinston is from May 3, 2016. A local roofer can check and document it at no cost.

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What the record says about Kinston

The latest hail report in and around Kinston is from May 3, 2016, 1.00 in (quarter size). There has been no hail report here in the five years since November 3, 2021.

Over the 20 years 2006–2025, Kinston logged 25 reports on 21 hail days, about 1.3 reports a year. That is 2.8 times the median North Carolina town on this site (0.5 a year) and ranks #14 of 255 North Carolina cities and towns on this site for all-time reports. Kinston accounts for 50% of the 111 reports filed in Lenoir County.

4% 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 2.75 in (baseball) on June 9, 1988.

Reports were down 96% in 2016–2025 (1) compared with 2006–2015 (24). The busiest year was 2008, with 5 reports on 4 days. Hail here peaks in May (29% of reports); 64% fall between April and June.

Reports a year 2006–2025 average

  • Kinston 1.3
  • Lenoir County 2.5
  • Median North Carolina town on this site 0.5

Hail days 2006–2025

  • Kinston 21
  • Lenoir County 38
  • Median North Carolina town on this site 7

Share 2 in or larger of sized reports

  • Kinston 4%
  • Lenoir County 2%
  • Median North Carolina town on this site 0%

Hail over time

0246 1958: 1 reports, largest 1.00 in 1960 1970 1980 1984: 3 reports, largest 1.75 in 1986: 1 reports, largest 0.75 in 1987: 1 reports, largest 0.75 in 1988: 2 reports, largest 2.75 in 1989: 2 reports, largest 0.75 in 1990 1991: 1 reports, largest 1.75 in 1992: 2 reports, largest 0.75 in 1996: 2 reports, largest 0.75 in 1998: 4 reports, largest 2.00 in 1999: 3 reports, largest 1.00 in 2000: 4 reports, largest 1.75 in 2000 2001: 1 reports, largest 0.88 in 2002: 1 reports, largest 0.75 in 2003: 1 reports, largest 0.88 in 2004: 1 reports, largest 1.75 in 2006: 5 reports, largest 1.75 in 2007: 4 reports, largest 1.00 in 2008: 5 reports, largest 0.88 in 2009: 2 reports, largest 1.00 in 2010 2011: 1 reports, largest 1.00 in 2012: 3 reports, largest 1.75 in 2014: 3 reports, largest 1.50 in 2015: 1 reports, largest 0.88 in 2016: 1 reports, largest 1.00 in 2020
Reports per year, 1958–2026. Bar colour shows the largest hail that year. Reporting grew sharply after the mid-1990s, so early decades undercount.
05101520 January: 1 reports (2%) Jan Feb March: 4 reports (7%) Mar April: 10 reports (18%) Apr May: 16 reports (29%) May June: 9 reports (16%) Jun July: 6 reports (11%) Jul August: 7 reports (13%) Aug Sep October: 2 reports (4%) Oct Nov Dec
All 55 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 0
2017 0

Largest hail on record

Largest hail reports in Kinston
Date Size Location County Damage Time · source
Jun 9, 1988 2.75 inbaseball — Lenoir — 15:40 local · NCEI
Jun 3, 1998 2.00 inhen egg 2 W Kinston Lenoir $400K 18:10 local · NCEI
Mar 25, 2012 1.75 ingolf ball 2.15 SSE Georgetown Lenoir — 14:45 local · NCEI
Jul 28, 2006 1.75 ingolf ball Kinston Lenoir $10K 16:41 local · NCEI
May 23, 2004 1.75 ingolf ball Kinston Lenoir — 16:26 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 Kinston
Date Size Location County Time · source
May 3, 2016 1.00 inquarter 0.69 N Loftins Xrd Lenoir 23:30 local · NCEI
Apr 8, 2015 0.88 innickel Rivermont Lenoir 22:05 local · NCEI
Aug 18, 2014 0.88 innickel 0.89 NW Kinston Lenoir 18:50 local · NCEI
Aug 18, 2014 1.50 inping pong ball 0.89 NW Kinston Lenoir 18:30 local · NCEI
Apr 25, 2014 1.00 inquarter 0.69 S Mewborn Xrds Lenoir 17:40 local · NCEI
Jul 1, 2012 1.00 inquarter 0.89 NW Kinston Lenoir 15:35 local · NCEI
Mar 30, 2012 0.88 innickel 1.78 NW Hines Jct Lenoir 18:30 local · NCEI
Mar 25, 2012 1.75 ingolf ball 2.15 SSE Georgetown Lenoir 14:45 local · NCEI
Oct 13, 2011 1.00 inquarter 2.65 ENE Loftins Xrd Lenoir 13:00 local · NCEI
Jun 15, 2009 1.00 inquarter 0.89 SW Stallings Afb Lenoir 15:07 local · NCEI
May 7, 2009 0.75 inpenny 1.83 ESE (Iso)ern Rgnl Jetpor Lenoir 18:00 local · NCEI
Oct 1, 2008 0.75 inpenny 0.89 SW Rivermont Lenoir 13:21 local · NCEI

Hail history near Kinston

Questions about hail in Kinston

How often does it hail in Kinston, North Carolina?

55 hail reports have been logged in and within about 5 km (3 miles) of Kinston since 1958. Over the 20 years 2006–2025 that averages 1.3 reports a year. That ranks #14 of 255 North Carolina places by number of reports.

When is hail season in Kinston?

Most reports come in May, April, June. May alone accounts for 29% of all reports.

What is the largest hail recorded in Kinston?

2.75 in (baseball size) on June 9, 1988. 4% of reports here were 2 inches or larger.

When did it last hail in Kinston?

The most recent report in this data is from May 3, 2016 (1.00 in). Final NOAA data runs to July 31, 2026; preliminary NWS reports run to November 3, 2026.

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

None: there has been no hail report in and within about 5 km (3 miles) of Kinston since November 3, 2021. The last one was on May 3, 2016.

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.