Abilene hail storm history
Taylor County·NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database·~75-day publication lag
Abilene, located in Taylor County, experiences hail events at a rate of 3.3 per year on average, with 33 documented storms producing hail 1 inch or larger over the past 10 years. The city sits on the southern High Plains, where elevated terrain and afternoon atmospheric instability create conditions favorable for large-hail development. The largest recorded hailstone in the area measured 2.75 inches in diameter, similar in size to a baseball.
Hail risk in Abilene peaks from May through July, when warm, moist air moving northward collides with dry upper-level winds and elevated terrain. During these three months, the frequency of severe thunderstorms capable of producing 1.5-inch or larger hail increases substantially—12 events of this magnitude occurred over the 10-year study period. Secondary activity occurs in April and August, though hail events in these months are typically smaller and less frequent.
Annual frequency — last 10 years
When hail hits — monthly pattern
Avg events per month · all years · NOAA data
All recorded hail events
Of 223 recorded events, 98 (44%) reached 1.5" or larger — the threshold for likely functional damage on standard asphalt shingles.
Public reported quarter size hail.
Public report of quarter size hail 2.5 miles northeast of Tuscola.
Public reported golf ball size hail.
Public reported quarter size hail.
An amateur radio operator reported 2 to 2.5 inch diameter size hail in Tuscola.
Public reported half dollar size hail on social media near Ovalo.
Amateur radio operator reported quarter size hail at Lytle Lake in Abilene.
Public reported quarter size hail.
Public reported nickel to quarter size hail.
Public reported golf ball size hail.
Public reported quarter to half dollar size coin hail.
Public reported nickel size hail on social media.
Public reported quarter size hail.
Public reported quarter size hail.
A trained spotter reported golf ball size hail.
Public reported quarter size hail.
An amateur radio operator reported golf ball size hail.
Public reported baseball to grapefruit size hail in Hawley.
Public reported quarter size hail.
Public reported nickel to quarter size hail. The time was estimated by radar.
A trained spotter reported quarter size hail.
Public reported quarter size hail.
An emergency manager reported nickel size hail.
Public reported quarter size hail.
The report was from mping.
Public report of quarter size hail was from mPing.
An amateur radio operator reported golf ball size hail 3 miles southeast of Noodle.
Amateur radio operator reported quarter size hail in Hawley.
A Trained Spotter reported golf ball size hail 3 miles southwest of Stith.
A trained spotter reported wind driven ping pong ball size hail that stripped leaves off of trees.
The public reported tennis ball size hail 2 miles northwest of Nugent.
There was quarter size hail at South 27th St and Buffalo Gap Rd.
A storm chaser reported golf ball to tennis ball size hail 4 miles east-northeast of Merkel. A pictu…
The Fire Department reported golf ball size hail in Eula.
The public reported hen egg size hail just southwest of Abilene Regional Airport.
The Fire Department reported quarter size hail 4 miles southeast of Eula.
The public via MPING reported golf ball size hail in Clyde.
The public reported golf ball size hail in Hamby.
The public reported quarter to half-dollar size hail.
A member of the public on social media measured 1 inch hail on the northeast side of Abilene.
Report from Twitter with photo of the hail. The hail was estimated to be golf ball size and was loc…
Hawley Police Department reported lots of pea to dime size hail.
The public reported nickel sized hail 1 mile west of Abilene.
The public posted a picture on Facebook of 2 inch hail.
The KTXS Facebook page indicated 2 inch hail.
The Jones County Sheriffs office reported golf ball size hail along Texas Highway 6 in Lueders.
The broadcast media passed along a report of quarter size hail in south Abilene on social media.
A trained spotter reported quarter to golf ball size hail in Anson. In addition, winds were estimate…
The public reported golf ball size hail at the intersection of Texas Highway 239 and U.S. Highway 70…
A trained spotter reported quarter size hail in Abilene.
A trained spotter reported quarter size hail near the Abilene Christian University campus in Abilene…
A National Weather Service Cooperative Observer reported quarter size hail mixed with lots of nickel…
A trained spotter reported golf ball size hail 3 miles south of Funston.
A trained spotter reported a lot of hail covering the ground, with the largest hail the size of tenn…
A storm chaser reported quarter to billiard size hail along FM 1235, southeast of Merkel.
A trained spotter reported quarter size hail, 3 miles east of Dyess AFB.
A trained spotter reported 3 inch diameter hail 5 miles south of Funston, along Farm to Market Road …
A trained spotter reported quarter size hail in Clyde.
A trained spotter reported pea to penny size hail on Farm to Market Road 604, one mile south of Stat…
NOAA records document 34 hail events in Taylor County over the study period. Event counts for Abilene specifically may vary depending on whether storms crossed city boundaries or occurred in outlying areas; residents should reference county-level data as the most reliable measure of local hail risk.
NOAA Storm Events Database source