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Hail history for Hickory, NC

Last hail within 10 milesJul 28, 20261 in (quarter)

Hail days, last 12 months1

Largest hail since 20062 in (hen egg)Jul 21, 2018

Hail days since 200669

Days with hail 1 inch or larger35

Tornadoes within 10 miles9

Damaging wind reports within 10 miles175

Hail has been reported within 10 miles of Hickory on 69 days since 2006. The largest stones measured 2 in (hen egg) on Jul 21, 2018. Hail is most common here in June and July.

Hickory ranks #93 for hail days among the 1,399 U.S. cities of 25,000 to 100,000 people. See the ranking →

Recent hail near Hickory

Date	Hail size	Where	Source
Jul 28, 2026	1 in quarter	Bethlehem 1 hail report · closest 7 mi from Hickory	NWS storm report (preliminary)
Jul 10, 2025	1 in quarter	Oyama 1 hail report · closest 3 mi from Hickory	NOAA Storm Events
May 8, 2025	1 in quarter	Saw Mills 1 hail report · closest 10 mi from Hickory	NOAA Storm Events

One row per day: the largest hail reported that day within 10 miles, the places and the number of reports.

Hail days near Hickory by year

When hail season peaks near Hickory

Of the 69 hail days since 2006, most fell in June (19) and July (17).

Largest hail storms near Hickory

Jul 1, 2012 · 2 in (hen egg) · Brookford (4 mi from Hickory)

Jul 21, 2018 · 2 in (hen egg) · Hickory (4 mi from Hickory)

National Weather Service description (English): Public reported (via Social Media) two-inch diameter hail on the north side of Hickory.

Apr 25, 2006 · 1.75 in (golf ball) · Granite Falls (2 mi from Hickory)

National Weather Service description (English): Reported on Lake Hickory, just west of the Alexander county line.

Jun 29, 2016 · 1.75 in (golf ball) · Hickory (4 mi from Hickory)

National Weather Service description (English): Media and the public reported quarter to golf ball size hail on the north and northeast side of Hickory. The largest hail was reported at Cloninger Mill Rd and N Center St.

May 26, 2022 · 1.75 in (golf ball) · Granite Falls (7 mi from Hickory)

National Weather Service description (English): Media reported quarter to golf ball size hail in the Granite Falls and Northlakes areas.

Tornadoes within 10 miles of Hickory

Date	Rating	Where	Path
Aug 7, 2023	EF1	Claremont 10 mi from Hickory	13.4 mi long, 550 yd wide
Oct 23, 2017	EF2	Hickory Muni Airport 3 mi from Hickory	1.0 mi long, 300 yd wide
Oct 23, 2017	EF1	Longview 2 mi from Hickory	3.9 mi long, 1,300 yd wide
Oct 23, 2017	EF1	Grace Chapel 5 mi from Hickory	0.8 mi long, 750 yd wide
Oct 23, 2017	EF1	Bethlehem 6 mi from Hickory	5.7 mi long, 500 yd wide
Oct 8, 2017	EF0	Baton 10 mi from Hickory	2.4 mi long, 100 yd wide
Jan 11, 2012	EF2	Burke Chapel 10 mi from Hickory	4.2 mi long, 300 yd wide
Jan 11, 2012	EF0	Rhodhiss 3 mi from Hickory	0.1 mi long, 75 yd wide
Apr 28, 2011	EF1	Saw Mills 9 mi from Hickory	4.5 mi long, 100 yd wide

Damaging thunderstorm winds near Hickory

175 reports of damaging thunderstorm wind within 10 miles of Hickory since 2006, on 118 days. The strongest measured gust was 64 mph on Aug 17, 2026.

Date	Strongest gust	Where	Source
Sep 18, 2026	damage reported	Newton, Longview 2 wind reports	NWS storm report (preliminary)
Aug 28, 2026	damage reported	Conover, Newton, Saint Stephens 6 wind reports	NWS storm report (preliminary)
Aug 21, 2026	damage reported	Hildebran 1 wind report	NWS storm report (preliminary)
Aug 17, 2026	64 mph, measured	Longview, Hickory, Rhodhiss 5 wind reports	NWS storm report (preliminary)
Jul 28, 2026	75 mph, estimated	Saint Stephens, Longview, Conover 7 wind reports	NWS storm report (preliminary)
Jul 19, 2026	damage reported	Conover, Hickory 2 wind reports	NWS storm report (preliminary)
Jul 10, 2026	damage reported	Cooksville 1 wind report	NWS storm report (preliminary)
Jun 27, 2026	58 mph, estimated	Rhodhiss, Icard 2 wind reports	NOAA Storm Events
Mar 16, 2026	58 mph, estimated	Conover 1 wind report	NOAA Storm Events
Jul 9, 2025	58 mph, estimated	Newton 1 wind report	NOAA Storm Events

Severe thunderstorm wind means gusts of 58 mph or more, or wind that caused damage. Measured gusts come from weather stations; estimated ones from spotters and damage surveys.

Filing a roof or car hail claim?

Insurers ask for the date of loss. The dates on this page are when hail was reported near Hickory; hail can hit one street and miss the next, so a report is not proof of damage at your address. A licensed roofer or your insurance adjuster can inspect the roof. Many policies set a time limit for filing a claim — check yours.

Nearby cities

Data: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (final records through Jun 30, 2026) and National Weather Service Local Storm Reports (preliminary, since then). Distances are measured from the center of Hickory.

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