Hail history for Sterling, Virginia
NOAA hail reports in and within about 5 km (3 miles) of Sterling since 1961, with preliminary reports to November 3, 2026.
Readout · Sterling
- Last hail
- Aug 29, 2024
- 1.00 in, quarter size
- Hail days, last 5 years
- 2
- since Nov 3, 2021 · 3 reports
- Largest ever
- 5.00 in
- softball · Jul 2, 1968
15 reports on 11 days since 1961 · #78 of 152 Virginia places
Hail map · Sterling
- 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 Sterling is from August 29, 2024. A local roofer can check and document it at no cost.
Phone line opening soon
What the record says about Sterling
The latest hail report in and around Sterling is from August 29, 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 August 29, 2024.
Over the 20 years 2006–2025, Sterling logged 6 reports on 3 hail days, about 0.3 reports a year. That is 40% less than the median Virginia town on this site (0.5 a year) and ranks #78 of 152 Virginia cities and towns on this site for all-time reports. Sterling accounts for 9% of the 171 reports filed in Loudoun County.
20% 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 5.00 in (softball) on July 2, 1968, which ties or sets the Virginia record.
The busiest year was 2011, with 3 reports on 1 day. Hail here peaks in July (40% of reports); 20% fall between April and June.
Reports a year 2006–2025 average
- Sterling 0.3
- Loudoun County 5.0
- Median Virginia town on this site 0.5
Hail days 2006–2025
- Sterling 3
- Loudoun County 40
- Median Virginia town on this site 7
Share 2 in or larger of sized reports
- Sterling 20%
- Loudoun County 5%
- 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 | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||
| 2023 | 2 | 2 | |||||||||||
| 2022 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 2021 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 2020 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 2019 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 2018 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 2017 | 0 |
Hail days since Nov 3, 2021
| Date | Reports | Largest | Storm page |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 29, 2024 | 1 | 1.00 in | — |
| Jul 28, 2023 | 2 | 1.00 in | — |
Largest hail on record
| Date | Size | Location | County | Time · source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 2, 1968 | 5.00 insoftball | — | Loudoun | 14:00 local · NCEI |
| May 2, 2002 | 2.75 inbaseball | Sterling | Loudoun | 14:20 local · NCEI |
| Jul 2, 1968 | 2.75 inbaseball | — | Loudoun | 14:00 local · NCEI |
| Aug 29, 2024 | 1.00 inquarter | 1.28 WSW Broad Run Farms | Loudoun | 15:46 local · NCEI |
| Jul 28, 2023 | 1.00 inquarter | 1.17 E Sterling | Loudoun | 16:55 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 7 47%
- 2 in + 3 20%
Most recent reports
| Date | Size | Location | County | Damage | Time · source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 29, 2024 | 1.00 inquarter | 1.28 WSW Broad Run Farms | Loudoun | — | 15:46 local · NCEI |
| Jul 28, 2023 | 1.00 inquarter | 1.17 E Sterling | Loudoun | — | 16:55 local · NCEI |
| Jul 28, 2023 | 1.00 inquarter | 1.77 WSW Broad Run Farms | Loudoun | — | 16:53 local · NCEI |
| Aug 18, 2011 | 1.00 inquarter | 2.21 SSW Broad Run Farms | Loudoun | — | 17:08 local · NCEI |
| Aug 18, 2011 | 1.00 inquarter | 0.54 NNE Sterling | Loudoun | — | 17:07 local · NCEI |
| Aug 18, 2011 | 1.00 inquarter | 1.55 E Sterling | Loudoun | — | 16:55 local · NCEI |
| Aug 27, 2003 | 0.75 inpenny | Sterling | Loudoun | — | 17:55 local · NCEI |
| May 2, 2002 | 2.75 inbaseball | Sterling | Loudoun | — | 14:20 local · NCEI |
| Jul 16, 2000 | 0.75 inpenny | Sterling | Loudoun | — | 17:35 local · NCEI |
| Jul 14, 2000 | 0.75 inpenny | Sterling | Loudoun | $10K | 21:11 local · NCEI |
| Jun 14, 1989 | 0.75 inpenny | — | Loudoun | — | 14:05 local · NCEI |
| May 6, 1989 | 0.75 inpenny | — | Loudoun | — | 14:02 local · NCEI |
Hail history near Sterling
- Ashburn 6 km · 11
- Great Falls 9 km · 13
- Chantilly 13 km · 13
- Leesburg 17 km · 28
- Centreville 18 km · 13
- Fairfax 19 km · 13
- Falls Church 24 km · 10
- Manassas 29 km · 19
Questions about hail in Sterling
How often does it hail in Sterling, Virginia?
15 hail reports have been logged in and within about 5 km (3 miles) of Sterling since 1961. Over the 20 years 2006–2025 that averages 0.3 reports a year. That ranks #78 of 152 Virginia places by number of reports.
When is hail season in Sterling?
Most reports come in July, August, May. July alone accounts for 40% of all reports.
What is the largest hail recorded in Sterling?
5.00 in (softball size) on July 2, 1968. 20% of reports here were 2 inches or larger.
When did it last hail in Sterling?
The most recent report in this data is from August 29, 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 Sterling had in the last five years?
2 separate days with hail reports since November 3, 2021, adding up to 3 reports. The most recent was August 29, 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.