Hail facts

Hail can occur during any strong thunderstorm, meaning it is a threat anywhere.

1 minutes read

Published 08/23/2024

Definition

A type of precipitation, hail occurs during thunderstorms when raindrops, in extremely cold areas of the atmosphere, freeze into balls of ice.

Hail is most common in the warmer months when strong thunderstorms are more frequent.
Hailstones must be at least 0.2 inches in size.
Severe hail is defined as hailstones measuring 1 inch in diameter or larger.

$1.3bn

Property damage due to hail annually
(10-year average – 2014 to 2023)¹

10,006

Number of severe hail events reported by NOAA in 2023²

$2.2bn

Property damage due to hail in 2023 according to National Weather Service³

Source: U.S. Department of Commerce, Storm Prediction Center, National Weather Service, 2023.

Protect windows from large hail with storm shutters and awnings.
Keep roof in good condition. Consider hail-resistant roofing materials.
Replace damaged shingles at once.
Park vehicles in a garage or carport when a storm is on the way.
Protect vehicles with sturdy vehicle covers or tarps, if not possible to park under cover.

¹NOAA. 2024. Severe Weather Maps, Graphics, and Data Page. https://www.spc.noaa.gov/wcm/
²NOAA. 2024. 2024 Annual Preliminary Hail Summary. https://www.spc.noaa.gov/climo/summary/
³National Weather Service. 2024. Summary of Natural Hazard Statistics for 2023 in the United States. https://www.weather.gov/media/hazstat/sum23.pdf