Hail sizes, and how big Triad hail has been
Most hail reported in the Triad is between a penny and a quarter. Egg-size hail is rare here, but it has fallen six times since 2006, three of them in Guilford County on one March afternoon in 2025.
Last reviewed against official sources. General information, not insurance or legal advice.
The National Weather Service calls hail severe at one inch, about the size of a quarter. NOAA lists 413 hail reports in the five Triad counties from 2006 through 2025; 238 were an inch or larger, 32 were golf ball size (1.75 inches) or larger, and six reached 2 inches. None larger than 2 inches was recorded in that period.
Triad reports by size
Object comparisons and diameters follow the Storm Prediction Center's hail size table. Counts are NOAA Storm Events reports for the five counties, 2006 through 2025.
| Like a | Inches | Triad reports |
|---|---|---|
| Penny | 0.75 | 105 |
| Nickel | 0.88 | 70 |
| Quarter | 1.00 | 163 |
| Half dollar | 1.25 | 23 |
| Ping pong ball | 1.50 | 20 |
| Golf ball | 1.75 | 26 |
| Hen egg | 2.00 | 6 |
| Tennis ball and larger | 2.50+ | 0 |
The biggest Triad hail
All six 2-inch reports: near Pisgah in Randolph County (June 26, 2015), Alamance County (April 28, 2016), Ruffin in Rockingham County (May 6, 2022), and Broadview, Hill Top and Groomtown in Guilford County (March 16, 2025). March 16, 2025 produced 14 hail reports in the Triad, the second-busiest day since 2006 after May 14, 2006, with 21.
What sizes mean for Triad roofs
- Penny to nickel: dents in aluminum gutters, downspouts, mailboxes and heat pump fins. A sound roof usually holds up.
- Quarter to half dollar: bruised laminated shingles become more likely, especially older ones, and painted metal can dent.
- Golf ball to egg: cracked shingles and slate, broken skylights, siding holes and car damage.
Slate on older Greensboro and Winston-Salem homes can crack from smaller hail if the slate is already weathered. See hail damage on Triad roofs.
When it hails here
May has the most reports (135), then June (101) and April (69). Hail after mid-October is very rare in the record.
Reporting what you saw
Measure the biggest stone across, photograph it beside a ruler or coin, and send a report to the National Weather Service. NWS Raleigh covers Guilford, Forsyth, Alamance and Randolph; NWS Blacksburg covers Rockingham. A report helps forecasters and adds to the public record; your own photos help your claim either way.
Why some areas have more reports
A hail report needs someone to see, measure and send it. Reports cluster around Greensboro, Winston-Salem and along major roads, where more people are watching, and rural parts of Randolph and Rockingham may have hail that never makes the record. Guilford's 131 reports since 2006, the most of the five counties, partly reflect that. Treat the map as a minimum, not a full picture.
Recent hail reports in the area
| When | Type | Where | Report notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hail 1.25" hail | 3 SW Mebane Alamance County | Picture passed along via social media shows a hail stone ranging from 1 to 1.5 inches. Time and approximate location estimated from radar. |
Frequently asked questions
What's the largest hail recorded in the Triad?
In NOAA's records for 2006 through 2025, 2 inches (hen egg size), reported six times. The latest were three Guilford County reports on March 16, 2025.
Does quarter-size hail damage roofs?
It can, especially older shingles, slate and painted metal. Have soft metals checked first; dents there show hail of that size hit.
Which NWS office covers my county?
NWS Raleigh covers Guilford, Forsyth, Alamance and Randolph counties; NWS Blacksburg, Virginia covers Rockingham.
Policies vary. Check your own policy and ask your insurer or agent about anything that affects your claim. Laws and rules can change; this page reflects official sources as of October 29, 2026. RoofingGreensboro.com is not a contractor, insurer, adjuster or law firm.
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