Fort Wayne hail storm history
Allen County·NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database·~75-day publication lag
Allen County, which contains Fort Wayne, has experienced 1 hail event of 1 inch or larger over the past 10 years according to NOAA records. Fort Wayne's location in northeast Indiana places it near Lake Michigan, where lake-enhanced storm systems can amplify hail production when frontal systems move through the region.
Hail risk in Fort Wayne peaks during April, May, and June, with secondary risk in March and July. The combination of lake-enhanced moisture from Lake Michigan and frontal convection during spring creates conditions favorable for severe thunderstorms capable of producing hail during these months.
Annual frequency — last 10 years
When hail hits — monthly pattern
Avg events per month · all years · NOAA data
All recorded hail events
Of 148 recorded events, 42 (28%) reached 1.5" or larger — the threshold for likely functional damage on standard asphalt shingles.
Ping pong to golf ball size hail in South Whitley.
Photo on Facebook shows half-dollar to ping-pong ball size hail.
Several reports of 3 inch hail on Facebook.
Seven minutes of nickel size hail near Main street and Wayne Street.
Photo on Twitter of quarter size hail.
Spotter reports 1 inch hail and also 50 mph wind gusts.
Picture shared on social media of several hailstones, possibly just over an inch in diameter.
A broadcast media member reported penny size hail.
Quarter size hail reported.
Nickle size hail reported.
Quarter size hail lasted about one minute at Story Lake.
Amateur radio operators reported dime to quarter size hail lasting up to 5 minutes between US-30 and…
Dime size hail was reported by the broadcast media.
Quarter size hail was reported near US 24 and North County Road 200 East.
Also estimated 50 mph winds.
Report from MPing. Half Dollar size hail.
The pubic reported hail ranging from golf ball to egg size.
Pea to dime size hail was reported on County Road 300 N.
Law enforcement officials reported some roof damage to a few structures as a result of the hail.
A trained spotter reported damage to siding, screens and a window due to wind driven large hail.
Allen County's documented hail history is limited, with only 1 event of 1 inch or larger recorded in the 10-year NOAA dataset. This low event count reflects both the relatively infrequent nature of significant hail in this part of northeast Indiana and potential underreporting of smaller events in NOAA's Storm Events Database, which prioritizes severe damage reports. 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