Hail history in Indianapolis, IN
On average, NOAA recorded hail within 15 miles of the center of Indianapolis on 4.4 days a year from 2016 to 2025, 2.9 of them with hail 1 inch or larger. NOAA recorded hail within 15 miles of the center of Indianapolis on 86 days since 2010. The largest hail reported was 3.4 in, in 2021. 62 of those days had hail of 1 inch or larger. June has the most hail days, 15 since 2010. The most recent was August 11, 2026. NOAA also recorded high wind on 147 days, with gusts up to 84 mph.
Ranks #24 of 200 US cities for days with hail 1 inch or larger, 2016 to 2025.
- Hail days since 2010
- 86
- Largest hail
- 3.4 in
- Highest gust
- 84 mph
Source: NOAA/NWS Storm Prediction Center
Data through November 1, 2026
86 hail days within 15 miles since 2010, largest 3.4 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. 86 hail days in total; the most was 10 in 2012.
Hail days by month
Hail days by month since 2010: Jan 1, Feb 1, Mar 13, Apr 10, May 14, Jun 15, Jul 14, Aug 12, Sep 3, Oct 2, Nov 1, Dec 0.
Most recent hail days
| Date | Largest hail | Nearest report |
|---|---|---|
| Aug 11, 2026 | 1.25 in | 8.5 mi |
| Jul 27, 2026 | 1.25 in | 8.4 mi |
| Jun 16, 2026 | 1.25 in | 4.7 mi |
| Mar 22, 2026 | 1.5 in | 6.8 mi |
| Mar 3, 2026 | 1.0 in | 13.7 mi |
| Feb 19, 2026 | 1.0 in | 11.2 mi |
| May 20, 2025 | 1.0 in | 10.4 mi |
| May 16, 2025 | 1.0 in | 13.6 mi |
| Apr 2, 2025 | 1.0 in | 8.1 mi |
| Mar 30, 2025 | 0.75 in | 6.4 mi |
About this data
- Distances are from the center of Indianapolis, 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.
147 high-wind days within 15 miles since 2010, strongest gust 84 mph
Source: NOAA/NWS Storm Prediction Center
Data through November 1, 2026
Most recent high-wind days
| Date | Highest gust | Nearest report |
|---|---|---|
| Aug 12, 2026 | Not recorded | 14.0 mi |
| Aug 11, 2026 | 58 mph | 2.7 mi |
| Aug 1, 2026 | Not recorded | 3.2 mi |
| Jul 27, 2026 | 59 mph | 7.8 mi |
| Jun 11, 2026 | Not recorded | 8.5 mi |
| Jun 10, 2026 | Not recorded | 9.0 mi |
| Jun 9, 2026 | 63 mph | 12.5 mi |
| May 19, 2026 | Not recorded | 12.7 mi |
| May 18, 2026 | Not recorded | 14.2 mi |
| Apr 27, 2026 | Not recorded | 7.9 mi |
About this data
- Distances are from the center of Indianapolis, 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 Indianapolis
Estimated peak gusts
No day since October 1, 2021 had an estimated peak gust of 58 mph or more at Indianapolis.
| Day | Estimated peak gust |
|---|---|
| Mar 13, 2026 | 50 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 44 tornadoes whose path came within 10 miles of Indianapolis since 1950; the strongest was rated EF4.
| Day | Rating | Path length | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 1, 2026 | Not rated | 3.2 miles | |
| Apr 2, 2025 | EF2 | 13.03 miles | 9.7 miles |
| Jun 15, 2019 | EF0 | 0.89 miles | 8.1 miles |
| Jun 15, 2019 | EF1 | 1.86 miles | 5.5 miles |
| Aug 24, 2016 | EF0 | 0.37 miles | 2.6 miles |
| May 30, 2015 | EF1 | 0.28 miles | 4.4 miles |
| Jun 24, 2014 | EF1 | 2.84 miles | 8.7 miles |
| Sep 1, 2012 | EF0 | 0.1 miles | 1.7 miles |
Show all 44Show fewer
| Day | Rating | Path length | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 30, 2008 | EF2 | 7.1 miles | 8.2 miles |
| Jan 29, 2008 | EF1 | 0.1 miles | 7.5 miles |
| Jun 12, 2005 | EF0 | 0.3 miles | 3.2 miles |
| May 30, 2004 | EF2 | 20 miles | 3.4 miles |
| Sep 20, 2002 | EF3 | 112 miles | 3.6 miles |
| May 13, 1995 | EF2 | 6.5 miles | 0.6 miles |
| Apr 15, 1994 | EF1 | 0.2 miles | 6.4 miles |
| Nov 22, 1992 | EF3 | 9 miles | 6.6 miles |
| Jul 16, 1992 | EF0 | 0.1 miles | 6.4 miles |
| Jun 17, 1992 | EF0 | 0.3 miles | 9.7 miles |
| Aug 20, 1990 | EF0 | 0.5 miles | 0.3 miles |
| Sep 12, 1988 | EF1 | 34 miles | 4.5 miles |
| Mar 10, 1986 | EF1 | 2.5 miles | 5.5 miles |
| May 27, 1985 | EF1 | 0.1 miles | 7.2 miles |
| Apr 28, 1981 | EF1 | 0.1 miles | 9 miles |
| Jun 2, 1980 | EF2 | 0.1 miles | 0.3 miles |
| Jun 1, 1980 | EF0 | 0.1 miles | 5.5 miles |
| Jul 26, 1979 | EF0 | 0.1 miles | 6.4 miles |
| Jun 25, 1978 | EF3 | 1 miles | 6.9 miles |
| Mar 20, 1976 | EF0 | 6.9 miles | 9 miles |
| Jul 4, 1973 | EF1 | 15.9 miles | 2 miles |
| Jun 4, 1973 | EF1 | 0.1 miles | 3.5 miles |
| May 19, 1973 | EF1 | 18.4 miles | 0.9 miles |
| May 7, 1973 | EF1 | 2.5 miles | 4.4 miles |
| May 14, 1972 | EF4 | 30 miles | 3.5 miles |
| May 14, 1970 | EF1 | 1.5 miles | 1.4 miles |
| Aug 8, 1969 | EF3 | 0.1 miles | 4.9 miles |
| Jul 10, 1966 | EF1 | 0.1 miles | 1.3 miles |
| Apr 22, 1963 | EF3 | 0.3 miles | 8 miles |
| Apr 16, 1960 | EF1 | 0.1 miles | 4.4 miles |
| Feb 9, 1959 | EF2 | 0.4 miles | 6.7 miles |
| Nov 15, 1955 | EF2 | 0.1 miles | 1.4 miles |
| Mar 21, 1955 | EF1 | 3.3 miles | 0.4 miles |
| Jun 13, 1954 | EF1 | 0.1 miles | 0.9 miles |
| May 31, 1954 | EF1 | 0.1 miles | 0.3 miles |
| May 9, 1952 | EF1 | 15.6 miles | 4.4 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 Indianapolis.
| Storm | Modeled peak gust | Sustained | Closest pass |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ike (2008) | 59 mph | 48 mph | 62 miles |
Modeled from NOAA’s best tracks for open, flat ground; not measurements. How we model hurricane winds
44 radar hail days within 15 miles since 2020, largest 2.25 in or more
Source: NOAA MRMS radar (MESH), from October 14, 2020. Estimates of the largest hail in each 1 km cell, not measurements.
25 days with radar hail 1 inch or larger, 2 at 2 inches or larger, within 15 miles of Indianapolis’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 |
|---|---|
| Aug 15, 2026 | 1.0 in or more |
| Aug 11, 2026 | 1.5 in or more |
| Jul 27, 2026 | 1.0 in or more |
| Jul 4, 2026 | 0.75 in or more |
| Apr 24, 2026 | 0.75 in or more |
| Aug 16, 2025 | 1.0 in or more |
Storms in Indianapolis
In the Storm Prediction Center's 1980 to 2006 climatology for the Indianapolis radar area, the primary severe season runs March 30 to August 29, with hail peaking in May and damaging wind in July.1 A pre-dawn line of thunderstorms on April 19, 2025 produced an 84 mph gust at Indianapolis International Airport, the second strongest gust on record for the station.2
Notable storms
- June 29, 2023A derecho that grew from storms over Iowa crossed Indianapolis on June 29, 2023, with a 70 mph gust at Indianapolis International Airport and over 57,000 power outages in Marion County. NOAA's storm records list about $3.5 million in property damage in the area.3,4
- June 18, 2021On the evening of June 18, 2021, storms dropped hail up to 2 inches in the Castleton area and near Geist Reservoir, and one report from Castleton noted cars damaged by the hail. To the east, hail measured at 3.25 inches fell about 1 mile east of Cumberland.5
- August 13, 2011On the evening of August 13, 2011, winds estimated at 60 to 70 mph hit the rigging above a concert stage at the Indiana State Fairgrounds, and its collapse killed 7 people and injured 43. A 77 mph gust was measured in Plainfield the same evening.6,7
- June 2, 2009On June 2, 2009, baseball-size hail near 116th Street and Hague Road damaged siding and windows on many Cherry Hill homes, and hail damaged buildings and vehicles in Fishers from 106th to 126th Street.8,9
- January 29, 2008A squall line on January 29, 2008 brought winds estimated at 100 mph near Avon that caused significant damage to 10 homes, and 85 mph winds at 30th Street and High School Road pushed a garage off its foundation. NOAA's storm records list about $815,000 in property damage in the area.10,11
- April 19, 1996On the evening of April 19, 1996, storms dropped 3-inch hail in Plainfield and 2-inch hail in Beech Grove. Downburst winds damaged 12 homes on the south side of Indianapolis, and the same storm produced an F1 tornado in the southern suburbs that injured 5 people.12
Warnings and alerts
Warnings for Indianapolis come from the National Weather Service office in Indianapolis, which serves 39 central Indiana counties.13 Marion County Emergency Management's official mass notification system is RAVE Alert (powered by Smart911), and texting MESAINDY to 67283 signs up for its MESA Indy text alerts.14 Marion County sounds its outdoor warning sirens when the National Weather Service issues a tornado warning for the county.14
Sources
- 1. NOAA Storm Prediction Center: IND Severe Weather Climatology
- 2. NWS Indianapolis: Spring 2025 Review of Weather Conditions Experienced in Central Indiana
- 3. NWS Indianapolis: Severe Storms of June 29, 2023
- 4. NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: Thunderstorm Wind, Marion County, June 29, 2023
- 5. NWS Indianapolis: June 18-19, 2021 Severe Storms and Flooding
- 6. NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: Thunderstorm Wind, Marion County, August 13, 2011
- 7. NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: Thunderstorm Wind, Hendricks County, August 13, 2011
- 8. NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: Hail, Hamilton County, June 2, 2009
- 9. NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: Hail, Hamilton County, June 2, 2009
- 10. NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: Thunderstorm Wind, Hendricks County, January 29, 2008
- 11. NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: Thunderstorm Wind, Marion County, January 29, 2008
- 12. NWS Indianapolis: Tornadoes and Severe Weather of April 19, 1996
- 13. NWS Indianapolis: About the NWS Indianapolis
- 14. City of Indianapolis and Marion County (indy.gov): Emergency Management Alerts & Notifications
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Questions about hail in Indianapolis
Source: NOAA/NWS Storm Prediction Center
Data through November 1, 2026
- How often does it hail in Indianapolis?
- NOAA recorded hail within 15 miles of the center of Indianapolis on 4.4 days a year on average from 2016 to 2025, 2.9 of them with hail 1 inch or larger. Since 2010 it recorded 86 hail days.
- When is hail season in Indianapolis?
- June has the most hail days within 15 miles of the center of Indianapolis, 15 since 2010, then May (14) and July (14).
- What is the largest hail recorded in Indianapolis?
- 3.4 in, in 2021: the largest hail NOAA recorded within 15 miles of the center of Indianapolis since 2010.
- When did it last hail in Indianapolis?
- NOAA's most recent hail report within 15 miles of the center of Indianapolis is from August 11, 2026, with hail up to 1.25 in reported 8.5 miles from the center. Data through November 1, 2026.