Hail history in Columbus, OH
On average, NOAA recorded hail within 15 miles of the center of Columbus on 3.3 days a year from 2016 to 2025, 1.9 of them with hail 1 inch or larger. NOAA recorded hail within 15 miles of the center of Columbus on 65 days since 2010. The largest hail reported was 1.75 in, in 2023. 37 of those days had hail of 1 inch or larger. April has the most hail days, 12 since 2010. The most recent was June 6, 2026. NOAA also recorded high wind on 145 days, with gusts up to 96 mph.
Ranks #54 of 200 US cities for days with hail 1 inch or larger, 2016 to 2025.
- Hail days since 2010
- 65
- Largest hail
- 1.75 in
- Highest gust
- 96 mph
Source: NOAA/NWS Storm Prediction Center
Data through November 1, 2026
65 hail days within 15 miles since 2010, largest 1.75 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. 65 hail days in total; the most was 9 in 2012.
Hail days by month
Hail days by month since 2010: Jan 0, Feb 2, Mar 10, Apr 12, May 7, Jun 11, Jul 12, Aug 3, Sep 5, Oct 2, Nov 1, Dec 0.
Most recent hail days
| Date | Largest hail | Nearest report |
|---|---|---|
| Jun 6, 2026 | 1.25 in | 9.2 mi |
| Apr 22, 2026 | 1.25 in | 2.4 mi |
| Mar 22, 2026 | 1.5 in | 6.3 mi |
| May 2, 2025 | 0.88 in | 9.7 mi |
| Apr 2, 2025 | 1.0 in | 3.1 mi |
| Mar 30, 2025 | 1.0 in | 7.9 mi |
| Feb 27, 2025 | 1.0 in | 6.7 mi |
| Sep 6, 2024 | 1.0 in | 8.8 mi |
| Jul 15, 2024 | 1.0 in | 0.9 mi |
| May 7, 2024 | 1.0 in | 10.7 mi |
About this data
- Distances are from the center of Columbus, 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.
145 high-wind days within 15 miles since 2010, strongest gust 96 mph
Source: NOAA/NWS Storm Prediction Center
Data through November 1, 2026
Most recent high-wind days
| Date | Highest gust | Nearest report |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 9, 2026 | Not recorded | 13.0 mi |
| Aug 22, 2026 | Not recorded | 7.8 mi |
| Aug 16, 2026 | Not recorded | 14.5 mi |
| Aug 11, 2026 | 82 mph | 2.2 mi |
| Aug 10, 2026 | Not recorded | 12.7 mi |
| Aug 8, 2026 | Not recorded | 11.4 mi |
| Jun 14, 2026 | Not recorded | 5.7 mi |
| Jun 6, 2026 | 66 mph | 2.7 mi |
| May 19, 2026 | Not recorded | 14.0 mi |
| Apr 14, 2026 | Not recorded | 14.8 mi |
About this data
- Distances are from the center of Columbus, 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 Columbus
Estimated peak gusts
No day since October 1, 2021 had an estimated peak gust of 58 mph or more at Columbus.
| Day | Estimated peak gust |
|---|---|
| Mar 13, 2026 | 50 mph or more |
| Mar 3, 2023 | 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 27 tornadoes whose path came within 10 miles of Columbus since 1950; the strongest was rated EF3.
| Day | Rating | Path length | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 11, 2026 | Not rated | 1.8 miles | |
| Aug 11, 2026 | Not rated | 3.8 miles | |
| Aug 11, 2026 | Not rated | 3.7 miles | |
| Mar 30, 2025 | EF0 | 2.58 miles | 7.7 miles |
| Feb 27, 2024 | EF2 | 14.04 miles | 9.2 miles |
| Feb 27, 2024 | EF1 | 3.81 miles | 6.9 miles |
| Sep 25, 2018 | EF1 | 3.73 miles | 2.2 miles |
| Apr 3, 2018 | EF1 | 2.63 miles | 8.1 miles |
Show all 27Show fewer
| Day | Rating | Path length | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 4, 2016 | EF0 | 0.3 miles | 3.9 miles |
| Oct 31, 2013 | EF0 | 0.27 miles | 7.5 miles |
| Sep 22, 2010 | EF0 | 0.06 miles | 7.2 miles |
| Aug 28, 2006 | EF0 | 0.1 miles | 5.7 miles |
| Aug 28, 2006 | EF0 | 0.1 miles | 5.7 miles |
| Jun 2, 1991 | EF0 | 0.5 miles | 7.2 miles |
| Aug 7, 1984 | EF1 | 1 miles | 7.5 miles |
| Jun 13, 1981 | EF0 | 0.5 miles | 3.2 miles |
| Jun 17, 1975 | EF1 | 0.1 miles | 9.5 miles |
| Apr 3, 1974 | EF2 | 5.1 miles | 9.7 miles |
| Jul 26, 1973 | EF1 | 1 miles | 9.9 miles |
| May 30, 1973 | EF2 | 2 miles | 8.4 miles |
| May 10, 1973 | EF3 | 89.6 miles | 4.8 miles |
| Feb 22, 1971 | EF3 | 6.8 miles | 3.1 miles |
| Apr 2, 1970 | EF2 | 2 miles | 9.9 miles |
| Sep 12, 1963 | EF0 | 0.1 miles | 7.4 miles |
| Apr 27, 1958 | EF1 | 0.1 miles | 3.6 miles |
| Oct 11, 1954 | EF1 | 0.1 miles | 9.7 miles |
| Jun 26, 1954 | EF0 | 0.1 miles | 7.9 miles |
Source: NOAA/NWS Storm Prediction Center. Ratings before 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hurricanes and tropical storms
2 storms in NOAA's records brought modeled tropical-storm-force winds (39 mph or more) to Columbus.
| Storm | Modeled peak gust | Sustained | Closest pass |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ike (2008) | 57 mph | 46 mph | 144 miles |
| Unnamed storm, 1892 | 53 mph | 43 mph | 48 miles |
Modeled from NOAA’s best tracks for open, flat ground; not measurements. How we model hurricane winds
40 radar hail days within 15 miles since 2020, largest 2.75 in or more
Source: NOAA MRMS radar (MESH), from October 14, 2020. Estimates of the largest hail in each 1 km cell, not measurements.
17 days with radar hail 1 inch or larger, 2 at 2 inches or larger, within 15 miles of Columbus’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 4, 2026 | 1.25 in or more |
| Aug 10, 2026 | 1.0 in or more |
| Aug 9, 2026 | 0.75 in or more |
| Aug 8, 2026 | 1.5 in or more |
| Jul 21, 2026 | 1.0 in or more |
| Jul 10, 2026 | 0.75 in or more |
Storms in Columbus
In NWS Wilmington's 1950 to 2004 climatology for the region that includes Columbus, damaging winds made up nearly 68% of severe weather events, and they peaked in June and July.1
Notable storms
- February 28, 2024Before dawn on February 28, 2024, an EF2 tornado began in the Havens Corners area near Blacklick, with winds near McOwen Road estimated at about 120 mph, and tracked into Licking County before ending near Granville. NWS Wilmington also confirmed an EF1 tornado in Hilliard that day.2,3,4
- September 26, 2018Early on September 26, 2018, an EF1 tornado tracked about 3.7 miles from the Olde Towne neighborhood through Bexley to the Mayfair neighborhood near East Broad Street and South James Road, where winds near 90 mph snapped and uprooted trees and damaged roofs and siding on homes. NOAA's Storm Events Database lists $750,000 in property damage.5
- July 10, 2013On the afternoon of July 10, 2013, a microburst with winds estimated at 95 mph struck near Lincoln Village in Franklin County, tearing roofing from industrial warehouse buildings. NOAA's Storm Events Database lists 6 injuries and $1 million in property damage.6
- September 14, 2008The remnants of Hurricane Ike gusted to 75 mph at Columbus International Airport and 69 mph at Lockbourne and Urbancrest. NOAA's storm records list about $128.7 million in property damage in Franklin County.7
- October 4, 2006Hail up to 2 inches fell for up to 15 minutes across the eastern Columbus suburbs near Gahanna and piled several inches deep in spots, while golf ball size hail in western Licking County badly damaged 30 to 40 mobile homes and caused extensive roof and siding damage to homes near Pataskala. NOAA's storm records list about $201 million in property damage in the area.8,9
- April 20, 2003Golf ball size hail fell from Dublin through Worthington and Powell to Westerville, damaging cars and homes, and lay up to six inches deep in Worthington and near Polaris Mall. NOAA's storm records list about $145 million in property damage in the area.10,11
Warnings and alerts
Warnings for Columbus and Franklin County come from the National Weather Service office in Wilmington, Ohio.12,8 Franklin County Emergency Management and Homeland Security runs ALERT Franklin County, which sends severe weather alerts by phone, text or email, and tests its 198 outdoor warning sirens Wednesdays at noon.13
Sources
- 1. NWS Wilmington, OH: A Severe Weather Climatology for the Wilmington, OH WFO County Warning Area (1950-2004)
- 2. NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: Tornado, Franklin County, February 28, 2024
- 3. NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: Tornado, Licking County, February 28, 2024
- 4. NWS Wilmington, OH: Severe Weather & Tornadoes - February 28, 2024
- 5. NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: Tornado, Franklin County, September 26, 2018
- 6. NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: Thunderstorm Wind, Franklin County, July 10, 2013
- 7. NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: High Wind, Franklin County, September 14, 2008
- 8. NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: Hail, Franklin County, October 4, 2006
- 9. NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: Hail, Licking County, October 4, 2006
- 10. NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: Hail, Franklin County, April 20, 2003
- 11. NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: Hail, Delaware County, April 20, 2003
- 12. National Weather Service: NWS Forecast Office Wilmington, OH
- 13. Franklin County, Ohio: Alerting & Warning
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Questions about hail in Columbus
Source: NOAA/NWS Storm Prediction Center
Data through November 1, 2026
- How often does it hail in Columbus?
- NOAA recorded hail within 15 miles of the center of Columbus on 3.3 days a year on average from 2016 to 2025, 1.9 of them with hail 1 inch or larger. Since 2010 it recorded 65 hail days.
- When is hail season in Columbus?
- April has the most hail days within 15 miles of the center of Columbus, 12 since 2010, then July (12) and June (11).
- What is the largest hail recorded in Columbus?
- 1.75 in, in 2023: the largest hail NOAA recorded within 15 miles of the center of Columbus since 2010.
- When did it last hail in Columbus?
- NOAA's most recent hail report within 15 miles of the center of Columbus is from June 6, 2026, with hail up to 1.25 in reported 9.2 miles from the center. Data through November 1, 2026.