Hail history for Salem, Virginia
NOAA hail reports in and within about 5 km (3 miles) of Salem since 1973, with preliminary reports to November 3, 2026.
Readout · Salem
- Last hail
- Sep 28, 2019
- 1.00 in, quarter size
- Hail days, last 5 years
- 0
- since Nov 3, 2021 · 0 reports
- Largest ever
- 1.75 in
- golf ball · Sep 28, 2019
29 reports on 22 days since 1973 · #15 of 152 Virginia places
Hail map · Salem
- 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 Salem is from September 28, 2019. A local roofer can check and document it at no cost.
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What the record says about Salem
The latest hail report in and around Salem is from September 28, 2019, 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, Salem logged 16 reports on 12 hail days, about 0.8 reports a year. That is 60% more than the median Virginia town on this site (0.5 a year) and ranks #15 of 152 Virginia cities and towns on this site for all-time reports.
0% of reports with a size were 2 inches (hen egg) or larger, against 0% for the median Virginia town on this site. The largest hail on record here is 1.75 in (golf ball) on September 28, 2019 near 0.55 W Salem (C).
Reports were down 67% in 2016–2025 (4) compared with 2006–2015 (12). The busiest year was 2006, with 5 reports on 3 days. Hail here peaks in April (28% of reports); 55% fall between April and June.
Reports a year 2006–2025 average
- Salem 0.8
- Salem city 0.6
- Median Virginia town on this site 0.5
Hail days 2006–2025
- Salem 12
- Salem city 9
- Median Virginia town on this site 7
Share 2 in or larger of sized reports
- Salem 0%
- Salem city 0%
- Median Virginia 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 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 2021 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 2020 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 2019 | 2 | 2 | |||||||||||
| 2018 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 2017 | 1 | 1 |
Largest hail on record
| Date | Size | Location | County | Time · source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 28, 2019 | 1.75 ingolf ball | 0.55 W Salem (C) | Salem (C) | 13:15 local · NCEI |
| Apr 23, 1988 | 1.75 ingolf ball | — | Roanoke | 17:15 local · NCEI |
| Jul 30, 1987 | 1.75 ingolf ball | — | Roanoke | 13:00 local · NCEI |
| Apr 7, 2006 | 1.25 inhalf dollar | Salem (C) | Salem (C) | 18:32 local · NCEI |
| Sep 28, 2019 | 1.00 inquarter | 1.1 W Keslers Mill | Roanoke | 13:19 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 13 45%
- 1–2 in 16 55%
- 2 in + 0 0%
Most recent reports
| Date | Size | Location | County | Damage | Time · source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 28, 2019 | 1.00 inquarter | 1.1 W Keslers Mill | Roanoke | — | 13:19 local · NCEI |
| Sep 28, 2019 | 1.75 ingolf ball | 0.55 W Salem (C) | Salem (C) | — | 13:15 local · NCEI |
| Apr 15, 2017 | 0.88 innickel | 1.1 W Salem (C) | Salem (C) | — | 12:55 local · NCEI |
| May 12, 2016 | 0.75 inpenny | 0.88 SW Bennett Spgs | Roanoke | — | 14:30 local · NCEI |
| Apr 20, 2015 | 0.75 inpenny | 0.88 SE Salem (C) | Salem (C) | — | 16:25 local · NCEI |
| Aug 1, 2012 | 1.00 inquarter | 1.1 E Salem (C) | Salem (C) | $500K | 17:28 local · NCEI |
| Sep 2, 2011 | 1.00 inquarter | 0.2 WSW Salem (C) | Salem (C) | — | 14:55 local · NCEI |
| Sep 2, 2011 | 1.00 inquarter | 2.3 WSW Salem (C) | Salem (C) | — | 14:39 local · NCEI |
| Jun 11, 2011 | 1.00 inquarter | 1.1 E Salem (C) | Salem (C) | $900 | 13:00 local · NCEI |
| Jul 7, 2008 | 0.88 innickel | 1 W Salem City | Roanoke | — | 14:20 local · NCEI |
| May 31, 2007 | 0.75 inpenny | 3 SE Catawba | Roanoke | — | 15:10 local · NCEI |
| Sep 28, 2006 | 1.00 inquarter | Central Portion | Roanoke | — | 15:10 local · NCEI |
Hail history near Salem
- Cave Spring 8 km · 28
- Roanoke 9 km · 88
- Hollins 11 km · 11
- Vinton 15 km · 12
- Daleville 19 km · 11
- Boones Mill 21 km · 12
- Shawsville 22 km · 11
- Blue Ridge 23 km · 10
Questions about hail in Salem
How often does it hail in Salem, Virginia?
29 hail reports have been logged in and within about 5 km (3 miles) of Salem since 1973. Over the 20 years 2006–2025 that averages 0.8 reports a year. That ranks #15 of 152 Virginia places by number of reports.
When is hail season in Salem?
Most reports come in April, May, July. April alone accounts for 28% of all reports.
What is the largest hail recorded in Salem?
1.75 in (golf ball size) on September 28, 2019 near 0.55 W Salem (C). 0% of reports here were 2 inches or larger.
When did it last hail in Salem?
The most recent report in this data is from September 28, 2019 (1.00 in). Final NOAA data runs to July 31, 2026; preliminary NWS reports run to November 3, 2026.
How many hail storms has Salem had in the last five years?
None: there has been no hail report in and within about 5 km (3 miles) of Salem since November 3, 2021. The last one was on September 28, 2019.
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.