Hail history in Huntsville, AL
On average, NOAA recorded hail within 15 miles of the center of Huntsville on 3.3 days a year from 2016 to 2025, 2.7 of them with hail 1 inch or larger. NOAA recorded hail within 15 miles of the center of Huntsville on 63 days since 2010. The largest hail reported was 2.75 in, in 2025. 47 of those days had hail of 1 inch or larger. May has the most hail days, 13 since 2010. The most recent was March 15, 2026. NOAA also recorded high wind on 197 days, with gusts up to 94 mph.
Ranks #30 of 200 US cities for days with hail 1 inch or larger, 2016 to 2025.
- Hail days since 2010
- 63
- Largest hail
- 2.75 in
- Highest gust
- 94 mph
Source: NOAA/NWS Storm Prediction Center
Data through November 1, 2026
63 hail days within 15 miles since 2010, largest 2.75 in
Source: NOAA/NWS Storm Prediction Center
Data through November 1, 2026
Hail days by year
Bar chart of hail days per year, 2010 to 2026. 63 hail days in total; the most was 8 in 2011.
Hail days by month
Hail days by month since 2010: Jan 0, Feb 2, Mar 12, Apr 12, May 13, Jun 9, Jul 5, Aug 5, Sep 1, Oct 1, Nov 0, Dec 3.
Most recent hail days
| Date | Largest hail | Nearest report |
|---|---|---|
| Mar 15, 2026 | 1.0 in | 7.0 mi |
| Feb 26, 2026 | 1.25 in | 7.0 mi |
| May 20, 2025 | 2.75 in | 0.7 mi |
| May 12, 2025 | 0.75 in | 4.7 mi |
| May 8, 2025 | 0.88 in | 14.6 mi |
| May 2, 2025 | 1.0 in | 3.3 mi |
| Apr 10, 2025 | 1.0 in | 3.2 mi |
| Apr 5, 2025 | 0.75 in | 7.0 mi |
| Aug 17, 2024 | 1.0 in | 11.7 mi |
| May 26, 2024 | 1.0 in | 6.8 mi |
About this data
- Distances are from the center of Huntsville, not from any one property. Look up a street address below for a single building.
- Reports come from trained spotters and the public, so they cluster near towns and roads.
- No report does not mean no hail. Hail can fall where no one is there to report it.
- This is not a damage or insurance assessment.
197 high-wind days within 15 miles since 2010, strongest gust 94 mph
Source: NOAA/NWS Storm Prediction Center
Data through November 1, 2026
Most recent high-wind days
| Date | Highest gust | Nearest report |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 11, 2026 | Not recorded | 7.2 mi |
| Sep 5, 2026 | Not recorded | 1.7 mi |
| Aug 26, 2026 | Not recorded | 3.9 mi |
| Aug 20, 2026 | 58 mph | 3.6 mi |
| Aug 17, 2026 | 61 mph | 7.6 mi |
| Aug 9, 2026 | Not recorded | 13.3 mi |
| Aug 7, 2026 | Not recorded | 12.9 mi |
| Jul 19, 2026 | Not recorded | 13.3 mi |
| Jul 9, 2026 | Not recorded | 8.2 mi |
| Jul 3, 2026 | 66 mph | 6.7 mi |
About this data
- Distances are from the center of Huntsville, not from any one property. Look up a street address below for a single building.
- Reports come from trained spotters and the public, so they cluster near towns and roads.
- No report does not mean no hail. Hail can fall where no one is there to report it.
- Wind speed is the highest reported gust; some reports have no speed.
- This is not a damage or insurance assessment.
Gusts, tornadoes and hurricanes in Huntsville
Estimated peak gusts
2 days since October 1, 2021 had an estimated peak gust of 58 mph or more at Huntsville.
| Day | Estimated peak gust |
|---|---|
| Mar 4, 2025 | 50 mph or more |
| Jan 8, 2024 | 58 mph or more |
| Aug 6, 2023 | 50 mph or more |
| Jan 16, 2023 | 50 mph or more |
| Dec 13, 2022 | 50 mph or more |
| Mar 30, 2022 | 50 mph or more |
| Mar 7, 2022 | 50 mph or more |
| Feb 17, 2022 | 50 mph or more |
Show all 11Show fewer
| Day | Estimated peak gust |
|---|---|
| Jan 15, 2022 | 50 mph or more |
| Dec 6, 2021 | 50 mph or more |
| Oct 28, 2021 | 58 mph or more |
Estimates: the highest gust of each storm day in NOAA’s hourly 2.5 km wind analysis (URMA), which fills in between weather stations. Analyses like this smooth out short thunderstorm gusts, so they are best for widespread wind (hurricanes, winter storms, high wind days); for thunderstorm wind, NOAA’s wind reports are the better record. Not a measurement at any building.
Tornadoes within 10 miles
NOAA recorded 53 tornadoes whose path came within 10 miles of Huntsville since 1950; the strongest was rated EF5.
| Day | Rating | Path length | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 27, 2025 | EF0 | 0.12 miles | 4 miles |
| May 20, 2025 | EF1 | 8.68 miles | 6.9 miles |
| May 20, 2025 | EF2 | 13.15 miles | 3 miles |
| May 8, 2024 | EF1 | 4.35 miles | 6.9 miles |
| May 8, 2024 | EF0 | 3.53 miles | 4.9 miles |
| May 8, 2024 | EF2 | 9.51 miles | 6.2 miles |
| May 8, 2024 | EF0 | 1.73 miles | 3.2 miles |
| Jul 18, 2023 | EF0 | 2.4 miles | 6.4 miles |
Show all 53Show fewer
| Day | Rating | Path length | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 1, 2022 | EF0 | 3.68 miles | 8.1 miles |
| Dec 16, 2019 | EF1 | 1.25 miles | 7.2 miles |
| Nov 29, 2016 | EF2 | 19.85 miles | 8.8 miles |
| Jul 14, 2015 | EF0 | 0.91 miles | 7.4 miles |
| Oct 2, 2014 | EF0 | 0.7 miles | 2.3 miles |
| Apr 11, 2013 | EF1 | 1.34 miles | 9.8 miles |
| Apr 11, 2013 | EF1 | 6.58 miles | 6 miles |
| Mar 2, 2012 | EF3 | 33.99 miles | 10 miles |
| Apr 27, 2011 | EF1 | 14.62 miles | 5.5 miles |
| Apr 27, 2011 | EF1 | 1.42 miles | 9.5 miles |
| Apr 27, 2011 | EF5 | 132 miles | 8 miles |
| Apr 27, 2011 | EF1 | 7.6 miles | 7.7 miles |
| Apr 27, 2011 | EF1 | 20.61 miles | 6.5 miles |
| Apr 27, 2011 | EF1 | 3.09 miles | 7.7 miles |
| Apr 27, 2011 | EF1 | 4.7 miles | 8.1 miles |
| Jan 21, 2010 | EF2 | 6.6 miles | 2.1 miles |
| Jun 3, 2009 | EF0 | 0.1 miles | 6.8 miles |
| May 6, 2009 | EF2 | 10.9 miles | 4 miles |
| Apr 2, 2009 | EF0 | 0.59 miles | 3.7 miles |
| May 8, 2008 | EF1 | 4.01 miles | 8.7 miles |
| Jul 14, 2004 | EF0 | 1 miles | 1.5 miles |
| Mar 5, 2004 | EF0 | 1.5 miles | 9.9 miles |
| May 6, 2003 | EF0 | 0.1 miles | 3 miles |
| Feb 16, 2001 | EF0 | 4.4 miles | 6.9 miles |
| May 25, 1997 | EF0 | 0.2 miles | 3.9 miles |
| May 18, 1995 | EF4 | 39 miles | 8.2 miles |
| Jun 26, 1994 | EF2 | 7 miles | 3.8 miles |
| Jun 26, 1994 | EF1 | 5 miles | 9 miles |
| May 3, 1993 | EF0 | 0.3 miles | 7.1 miles |
| Nov 15, 1989 | EF4 | 18.5 miles | 3.6 miles |
| Aug 16, 1985 | EF1 | 8.5 miles | 1.3 miles |
| Aug 16, 1985 | EF2 | 13 miles | 1.5 miles |
| Apr 14, 1985 | EF1 | 0.1 miles | 2.2 miles |
| Jul 17, 1977 | EF2 | 0.2 miles | 5.5 miles |
| Mar 20, 1976 | EF0 | 0.5 miles | 9.6 miles |
| Apr 3, 1974 | EF3 | 46.5 miles | 4.1 miles |
| Apr 3, 1974 | EF5 | 52 miles | 8.6 miles |
| Apr 1, 1974 | EF3 | 8.4 miles | 1.1 miles |
| Nov 27, 1973 | EF3 | 14.1 miles | 1.1 miles |
| Apr 24, 1970 | EF2 | 0.5 miles | 5.7 miles |
| Dec 21, 1967 | EF1 | 12.6 miles | 0.4 miles |
| Dec 17, 1967 | EF2 | 22.9 miles | 4 miles |
| Nov 24, 1967 | EF2 | 6.6 miles | 5.7 miles |
| Apr 5, 1958 | EF1 | 0.1 miles | 3.9 miles |
| Mar 22, 1952 | EF4 | 21.6 miles | 1.9 miles |
Source: NOAA/NWS Storm Prediction Center. Ratings before 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hurricanes and tropical storms
1 storm in NOAA's records brought modeled tropical-storm-force winds (39 mph or more) to Huntsville.
| Storm | Modeled peak gust | Sustained | Closest pass |
|---|---|---|---|
| Georges (1998) | 53 mph | 43 mph | 267 miles |
Modeled from NOAA’s best tracks for open, flat ground; not measurements. How we model hurricane winds
72 radar hail days within 15 miles since 2020, largest 2.0 in or more
Source: NOAA MRMS radar (MESH), from October 14, 2020. Estimates of the largest hail in each 1 km cell, not measurements.
40 days with radar hail 1 inch or larger, 3 at 2 inches or larger, within 15 miles of Huntsville’s center.
Biggest radar hail days
- 0.75 in+
- 1.0 in+
- 1.5 in+
- 2.0 in+
- 2.5 in+
- 3.0 in+
Most recent radar hail days
| Date | Largest radar estimate |
|---|---|
| Sep 22, 2026 | 1.5 in or more |
| Sep 21, 2026 | 1.25 in or more |
| Sep 5, 2026 | 0.75 in or more |
| Aug 20, 2026 | 1.5 in or more |
| Aug 17, 2026 | 0.75 in or more |
| Aug 11, 2026 | 0.75 in or more |
Storms in Huntsville
An NWS Huntsville study of 1982 to 2001 reports in its forecast area found hail peaked from March through June, with May the busiest month, while damaging winds peaked from February through May and again in June and July.1 The City of Huntsville notes that North Alabama's secondary severe weather season spans November and December.2
Notable storms
- May 20, 2025Egg-sized 2-inch hail fell near the intersection of Bob Wallace and Memorial Parkway, and 1.5-inch hail was reported at Huntsville High School.3,4
- April 24, 2021On April 24, 2021, hail up to 2.5 inches across, about tennis ball size, fell in Madison County. Hail of 1.5 to 2.5 inches was reported off Old Monrovia Road and Research Park Boulevard and near Hughes Road and Gillispie Road in Madison.5,6
- June 28, 2018On June 28, 2018, NWS surveyors found thunderstorm winds to 100 mph in the Killingsworth Cove area of Madison County.7
- April 27, 2011On April 27, 2011, the EF5 tornado that struck Tanner in Limestone County crossed into Madison County and destroyed dozens of well-built homes, with EF4 damage and winds near 170 mph in Anderson Hills. NOAA's Storm Events Database lists 9 deaths in Madison County along its path.8,9
- November 15, 1989Around 4:30 p.m. on November 15, 1989, an F4 tornado touched down on Redstone Arsenal and cut an 18.5-mile path northeast through the Airport Road and Jones Valley areas. It killed 21 people, 12 of them in cars during the afternoon rush hour, and injured 463. NWS Huntsville puts the damage at about $250 million.10,11
Warnings and alerts
The City of Huntsville's City Alerts sign-up includes a Huntsville/Madison County Emergency Management Agency channel that sends location-based emergency notifications by text or email.12
Sources
- 1. NWS Huntsville: Severe Weather Climatology of Huntsville Weather Forecast Office County Warning Area
- 2. City of Huntsville: Huntsville-Madison County Emergency Management Agency unveils new website
- 3. NOAA NCEI: Storm Events Database - Event Details (Huntsville hail, May 20, 2025)
- 4. NOAA NCEI: Storm Events Database - Event Details (Huntsville High School hail, May 20, 2025)
- 5. NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: Storm Events Database: Hail, Madison County, April 24, 2021
- 6. NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: Storm Events Database: Hail, Madison, April 24, 2021
- 7. NWS Huntsville: Huntsville Weather Timeline
- 8. NWS Huntsville: 4/27/2011 Tornado Outbreak: Text Summary
- 9. NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: Storm Events Database: Tornado, Madison County, April 27, 2011
- 10. NWS Huntsville: November 15, 1989 Tornado Details
- 11. NWS Birmingham: Huntsville Tornado 1989 Executive Summary
- 12. City of Huntsville: City Alerts
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Questions about hail in Huntsville
Source: NOAA/NWS Storm Prediction Center
Data through November 1, 2026
- How often does it hail in Huntsville?
- NOAA recorded hail within 15 miles of the center of Huntsville on 3.3 days a year on average from 2016 to 2025, 2.7 of them with hail 1 inch or larger. Since 2010 it recorded 63 hail days.
- When is hail season in Huntsville?
- May has the most hail days within 15 miles of the center of Huntsville, 13 since 2010, then March (12) and April (12).
- What is the largest hail recorded in Huntsville?
- 2.75 in, in 2025: the largest hail NOAA recorded within 15 miles of the center of Huntsville since 2010.
- When did it last hail in Huntsville?
- NOAA's most recent hail report within 15 miles of the center of Huntsville is from March 15, 2026, with hail up to 1.0 in reported 7.0 miles from the center. Data through November 1, 2026.