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HailIndex

Houston hail storm history

Harris County·NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database·~75-day publication lag

Houston and Harris County experience hail events at a rate of 1.6 per year, with 16 documented hail events of 1 inch or larger recorded over the past 10 years. The city's position along the Gulf Coast creates atmospheric conditions favorable for hail development when spring storm systems move through the region. The largest hailstone on record in the Houston area measured 1.75 inches in diameter, reported during a 2025 event in the Champions Forest area of Fort Bend County.

Events ≥1" (10yr)
156
Significant ≥1.5"
60
Avg per year
15.6
Largest recorded
2.75"
Most recent
Aug 19, 2025
Total records
190
NOAA storm history
events (10 yr)141
≥1.5" significant54
peak year (36)2024

Houston's hail season peaks during spring months—April, May, and June—when atmospheric instability and moisture from the Gulf of Mexico combine to fuel supercell thunderstorm development. Secondary hail activity occurs in March and October as transitional weather patterns bring organized storm systems through Harris County. The Gulf's persistent moisture supply contributes to rapid hailstone growth during favorable severe weather events, extending Houston's exposure period compared to inland Texas locations.

Annual frequency — last 10 years

2025
12
2024
39
2023
34
2022
1
2021
19
2020
24
2019
26
2018
4
2017
8
≥2.0" severe≥1.5" significant≥1.0" marginal

When hail hits — monthly pattern

Avg events per month · all years · NOAA data

Jan11
Feb3
Mar33
Apr46
May57
Jun29
Jul2
Aug4
Sep0
Oct0
Nov0
Dec5

All recorded hail events

Of 190 recorded events, 60 (32%) reached 1.5" or larger — the threshold for likely functional damage on standard asphalt shingles.

An mPING reported indicated 1.25 inch hail in the area.

A trained storm spotter reported hail near the Woodlands Mall, around 1.00 - 1.25 inches in size.

May 5, 20251"quarter

A relative of an NWS employee reported quarter size hail.

A member of the public reported 1 inch hail near Kingwood through mPING.

Dec 28, 20241"quarter

A member of the public reported quarter sized hail along Mills Creek Court.

Dec 25, 20241"quarter

A member of the public reported 1 inch hail near Tomball.

A member of the public reported 1.5 inch hail in southwest Cypress.

Hail up to baseball sized was collected around the WFO HGX office.

May 29, 20241.5"ping pong ball

Half dollar to ping pong sized hail was observed near Highway 290.

Quarter sized hail was observed near the intersection of Highway 3 and Clear Lake City Blvd.

May 13, 20240.88"penny

Nickel sized hail was observed.

May 3, 20241"quarter

Penny to quarter sized hail was observed between Cypress and Tomball.

Mar 22, 20241"quarter

Quarter sized hail was observed (via Mping).

Quarter sized hail was observed.

Quarter sized hail was reported via mPing.

Dec 10, 20231"quarter

Quarter size hail occurred in the Kingwood area.

Numerous reports of quarter sized hail to the west of Jersey Village.

Quarter sized hail was reported just northeast of Cypress.

May 16, 20230.75"penny

There was penny sized hail.

May 9, 20230.75"penny

Penny sized hail was reported near the Maplebrook elementary school area.

May 8, 20231.25"half dollar

Public and media reports of hail between quarter and half dollar size.

Apr 27, 20231"quarter

Quarter sized hail was observed near the intersection of Beamer Road and Beltway 8.

Apr 16, 20231"quarter

There was quarter sized hail in La Porte.

There was quarter to egg sized hail near the intersection of Interstate 10 and Fry Road.

A member of the public measured golf ball sized hail in a residential area of Deer Park.

May 7, 20220.88"penny

Nickel sized hail was observed.

Quarter-sized hail was observed in the Heights area of Houston.

Jun 2, 20211"quarter

A television news crew reported quarter to dime sized hail near New Caney.

A member of the public reported hail with a diameter of 1 inch.

Penny sized hail was reported.

Severe hail (1 in.) was observed by a member of the public as a squall line moved through Galveston …

May 24, 20201"quarter

Quarter sized hail was observed in the Creekside Park subdivision.

May 6, 20200.88"penny

Pea to nickel sized hail was reported to last for fifteen minutes.

Half dollar sized hail was reported.

Golf ball sized hail was reported at the Waller Harris County ESD 200 Fire And EMS Station.

Half dollar sized hail was reported.

Penny sized hail was reported.

Jun 28, 20191"quarter

Quarter size hail was observed near the intersection of Veterans and Bammel.

Jun 17, 20190.88"penny

Penny to nickel size hail was reported.

Hen egg sized hail was reported at a Dairy Queen near the intersection of South Lake Houston Parkway…

May 3, 20190.75"penny

Penny sized hail was reported.

There was quarter size hail reported in the Westchase area near Beltway 8 and the Westpark Tollway.

There were various reports of pea to nickel sized hail.

Quarter sized hail observed at CWSU ZHU.

May 26, 20181"quarter

Quarter sized hail was observed.

Jan 11, 20181"quarter

Quarter sized hail occurred in Mission Bend.

May 24, 20171.75"golf ball

Golf ball size hail was reported.

Apr 29, 20171"quarter

Quarter sized hail was reported in Baytown.

Dime to penny sized hail was reported near the intersection of Highway 290 and Fairbanks North Houst…

There was golf ball sized hail near the intersection of Highway 288 and Beltway 8.

Jan 20, 20170.75"penny

There was dime sized hail at the intersection of Beltway 8 and Hammerly Blvd.

Penny size hail observed in the Heights area.

May 21, 20161"quarter

Quarter size hail was observed near the intersection of Beltway 8 and Interstate 45.

May 14, 20160.88"penny

Dime to nickel size hail from near the intersection of Interstate 10 and Beltway 8 East to the Chann…

Quarter to golf ball size hail that lasted for around 20 minutes was observed in the Lakeview Drive …

The quarter size hail was reported in Friendswood.

Quarter sized hail was observed at the intersection of Highway 225 and Richey Street.

Tennis ball sized hail occurred in Bellaire.

About this data

NOAA's Storm Data records for Harris County reflect reported hail events documented through National Weather Service offices and emergency management reports. The count of 16 events ≥1 inch over 10 years is based on verified storm reports; unreported or smaller hail events may not appear in this database, particularly in less densely populated areas or during events that primarily affected open terrain.

NOAA Storm Events Database source