Carmel hail storm history
Hamilton County·NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database·~75-day publication lag
Carmel, located in Hamilton County, Indiana, has recorded zero hail events of 1 inch or larger over the past 10 years according to NOAA Storm Events Database records. The city sits in central Indiana where spring storm systems from the Great Plains and squall lines from the Midwest create conditions for hail development, though Carmel's specific location has not experienced significant hail impact in the recent documented record.
Hail in the Indianapolis metropolitan area, which includes Carmel, occurs most frequently during April, May, and June, when northeast-tracking storm systems from the Plains interact with Midwest weather patterns. Secondary hail activity can occur in March and July. The intersection of common storm tracks from both the Ohio Valley and Great Plains means that while Carmel itself has not recorded major hail events recently, neighboring areas experience hail during these spring and early summer months.
Annual frequency — last 10 years
When hail hits — monthly pattern
Avg events per month · all years · NOAA data
All recorded hail events
Of 89 recorded events, 18 (20%) reached 1.5" or larger — the threshold for likely functional damage on standard asphalt shingles.
At the intersection of Ditch Road and Indiana Route 32 hail increased from pea-sized to quarter-size…
Thunderstorm hail as large as pennies in Kempton.
Relayed via social media.
Thunderstorm produced few hailstones were as big as a quarter. Most were 0.75 to 0.88 inches in dia…
One inch hail was reported in the vicinity of 9700 Shelborne Road.
Relayed via mPing.
Two separate reports of nickel size hail in downtown Carmel.
Report was relayed through broadcast media.
Slightly larger than quarter-size hail was observed at 96th Street and Meridian Street.
Rainfall of 0.95 inches of rain fell in 25 minutes.
Quarter-sized hail reported at the Zionsville Town Hall.
Hail was covering the ground.
Multiple trees and power lines were down near this location in addition to the large hail.
Hamilton County has lower reporting density in the NOAA Storm Events Database compared to urban areas with dense weather station networks. This means actual hail exposure in Carmel may be higher than the zero recorded events suggest, particularly for smaller hail that may not be reported to official channels. Homeowners in the area should be aware that the absence of recent major hail events does not eliminate future risk. Current-year data is excluded from the annual frequency table until October, when NOAA's Storm Events Database has processed the full hail season accounting for the standard 75-day reporting lag.
NOAA Storm Events Database source