How big was the hail on May 15, 2024?

The maximum estimated stone size anywhere in the country that day was 1.00 inches, over Hickory, NC. Sizes vary street to street inside a single swath, so a city's figure is the largest radar estimated anywhere within about 5 miles of it.

Where does this hail data come from?

NOAA MRMS radar, specifically the Maximum Estimated Size of Hail product, ingested directly from the public NOAA archive. It runs about a quarter of an inch against ground truth, which makes it good for deciding where to look and not a substitute for an inspection.

Does this mean roofs were damaged?

Radar measures stone size, not damage. Whether a particular roof was damaged depends on stone size, wind direction, roof age and material — only an inspection settles it. These figures tell you where it is worth looking.

How do I see the actual swath on a map?

A HailMate plan puts a whole state on a real interactive map, with this swath and three years of others already on it. From $79/mo, and the canvassing tools come with it.

United States · May 15, 2024

Hail map — May 15, 2024

Name: US hail map — May 15, 2024
Creator: HailMate

NOAA radar detected hail of an inch or more over 6 cities across 5 states on May 15, 2024. The largest stones — 1.00″, quarter size — fell over Hickory, NC.

Hail swath map for Hickory, NC on May 15, 2024 showing 1.00 inch hail. — Largest rendered swath of the day: Hickory, NC — 1.00″ hail. Each city below has its own map for this storm.

States hit: 5
Cities hit: 6
Largest stone: 1.00″; quarter size
Impact rating: 3/10; from stone size

Sizes come from NOAA MRMS radar (MESH), which runs about ±0.25″ against ground truth. It is canvass-targeting quality, not claim evidence.

Roofing contractors

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Three years of hail swaths, filterable by stone size
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Homeowners

Did hail hit your address?

This page covers your area as a whole. Check your own address to see every storm on record for your roof — the date and the stone size for each one — and we'll email you the full report to keep.

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Free, and no account needed to look it up. If hail did hit, you can ask for a free inspection from a vetted local roofer.

States hit on May 15, 2024

Every state where NOAA radar put an inch or more of hail over a city that day, biggest stone first.

North Carolina1 city · 1.00″Oklahoma2 cities · 1.00″Florida1 city · 1.00″Kansas1 city · 1.00″Texas1 city · 1.00″

Hardest hit on May 15, 2024

Hickory, NC1.00″ · quarter Bartlesville, OK1.00″ · quarter Ponca City, OK1.00″ · quarter Sebastian, FL1.00″ · quarter Derby, KS1.00″ · quarter Plainview, TX1.00″ · quarter

What people on the ground measured in the US on May 15, 2024

15 reports filed with the National Weather Service — 3 from trained spotters or officials. These are measured stones, not radar estimates, so they are the closest thing to proof that hail actually reached the ground.

4.00″ softball size Fire Dept/Rescue
Newkirk, OK7:35 PM CDTKay County
3.50″ baseball size Trained Spotter
Burbank, OK8:27 PM CDTOsage County
3.5 inch hail covered the ground.
3.00″ baseball size Public
Burbank, OK8:27 PM CDTOsage County
2.75″ baseball size Fire Dept/Rescue
6 ENE Clarkton, NC7:23 PM EDTBladen County
Baseball sized hail near the intersection of Lisbon Rd and Rosindale Rd. Hail damaged windshields on cars.
2.75″ baseball size Trained Spotter
5 ESE Kildare, OK7:54 PM CDTKay County
2.50″ hen egg size CO-OP Observer
Braman, OK7:05 PM CDTKay County
2.50″ hen egg size Storm Chaser
Burbank, OK8:27 PM CDTOsage County
Tennis ball size hail.
2.00″ hen egg size Public
Peletier, NC6:17 PM EDTCarteret County
Corrects previous hail report from Peletier. Delayed report. Picture of hail of at least 2 inches in diameter submitted via Facebook. Time estimated based on radar. Corrected for size. A follow up picture was submitted with the hail stone next to a ruler.
2.00″ hen egg size Trained Spotter
4 NE Caldwell, KS6:15 PM CDTSumner County
Delayed report.
1.75″ golf ball size Public
7 S Turbeville, SC5:05 PM EDTClarendon County
Public sent in pictures of hail and wind damage to their property. The pictures shows golf ball size hail along with wind damage to their property. There were several large limbs downed, a tree uprooted, damage to shingles and facia and also lawn objects blown around.
1.75″ golf ball size Public
2 NNW Hebron, SC5:15 PM EDTWilliamsburg County
Media relayed report via social media of golf ball size hail in the Barrineau community around 515 pm.
1.75″ golf ball size Public
3 SW Plainview, TX4:30 PM CDTHale County
Quarter to golf ball size. Time estimated.
1.75″ golf ball size 911 Call Center
Cypress Creek, NC5:49 PM EDTDuplin County
Delayed report. 911 center said a deputy called in to report large hail hitting his vehicle. He estimated the hail was up to golf ball size. Time estimated based on radar.
1.75″ golf ball size 911 Call Center
4 N Clarkton, NC7:13 PM EDTBladen County
1.75″ golf ball size Public
3 N Caldwell, KS6:38 PM CDTSumner County
Report from mPING: Golf Ball (1.75 in.).

Showing the 15 largest of 90 hail reports filed that day.

Reports come from the National Weather Service Local Storm Report feed, ingested every 15 minutes. A report records where the observer was, not the full extent of the swath — treat it as evidence about the storm, not about any one roof.

Other hail days

August 19, 202620 cities · 2.00″August 18, 20266 cities · 1.50″August 17, 20266 cities · 1.00″August 16, 202610 cities · 1.50″August 15, 20268 cities · 1.50″August 14, 202611 cities · 2.00″August 13, 202616 cities · 2.00″August 12, 202610 cities · 1.50″August 11, 202633 cities · 2.00″August 10, 202623 cities · 1.50″August 9, 202649 cities · 1.50″August 8, 20265 cities · 1.50″

Every state with hail on record →

FAQ

US hail on May 15, 2024

NOAA radar put hail of an inch or more over 6 cities across 5 states on May 15, 2024. The largest stones — 1.00 inches, quarter size — were over Hickory, NC. Every state hit is listed on this page, and every city under it.

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