Hail history in Salem, OR
No NOAA hail reports within 15 miles of the center of Salem since 2010. NOAA also recorded high wind on 1 day, with gusts up to 52 mph.
Ranks #177 of 200 US cities for days with hail 1 inch or larger, 2016 to 2025.
Source: NOAA/NWS Storm Prediction Center
Data through November 1, 2026
No NOAA hail reports within 15 miles since 2010
Source: NOAA/NWS Storm Prediction Center
Data through November 1, 2026
About this data
- Distances are from the center of Salem, 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.
1 high-wind day within 15 miles since 2010, strongest gust 52 mph
Source: NOAA/NWS Storm Prediction Center
Data through November 1, 2026
Most recent high-wind days
| Date | Highest gust | Nearest report |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 16, 2020 | 52 mph | 0.9 mi |
About this data
- Distances are from the center of Salem, 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 Salem
Estimated peak gusts
1 day since October 1, 2021 had an estimated peak gust of 58 mph or more at Salem.
| Day | Estimated peak gust |
|---|---|
| Dec 27, 2022 | 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 6 tornadoes whose path came within 10 miles of Salem since 1950; the strongest was rated EF2.
| Day | Rating | Path length | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 14, 2010 | EF2 | 5 miles | 9.2 miles |
| Dec 16, 2006 | EF0 | 1.5 miles | 9.5 miles |
| Jun 21, 2003 | EF1 | 0.3 miles | 9.2 miles |
| Sep 17, 1997 | EF0 | 0.5 miles | 7.6 miles |
| Sep 17, 1997 | EF0 | 1 miles | 7 miles |
| May 31, 1997 | EF0 | 1.5 miles | 3.9 miles |
Source: NOAA/NWS Storm Prediction Center. Ratings before 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hurricanes and tropical storms
No hurricane or tropical storm in NOAA's records brought modeled tropical-storm-force winds (39 mph) to Salem.
Modeled from NOAA’s best tracks for open, flat ground; not measurements. How we model hurricane winds
1 radar hail day within 15 miles since 2020, largest 1.25 in or more
Source: NOAA MRMS radar (MESH), from October 14, 2020. Estimates of the largest hail in each 1 km cell, not measurements.
1 day with radar hail 1 inch or larger, 0 at 2 inches or larger, within 15 miles of Salem’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 |
|---|---|
| Feb 25, 2023 | 1.25 in or more |
Storms in Salem
NWS Portland's Salem climate summary says destructive windstorms are rare in Salem because hills to the south and southwest block strong south winds, and surface winds seldom exceed 50 mph.1 Salem's airport averages about 5 thunderstorm days a year, and the most on record was 14 in 1983.2
Notable storms
- February 11, 2021From February 11 to 13, 2021, freezing rain left 0.5 to 1.25 inches of ice across the Salem area and caused widespread tree damage. NOAA lists $10 million in property damage for the central Willamette Valley.3
- September 17, 2020A severe thunderstorm formed southeast of Salem overnight and moved north across the eastern Willamette Valley with hail near 1 inch and wind damage. Near McNary Field it brought down tree branches 6 to 8 inches thick.4
- December 14, 2010On December 14, 2010, an EF2 tornado moved northeast across Aumsville, southeast of Salem, on a path about 5 miles long and 150 yards wide. It damaged 50 structures, downed or snapped more than 30 large trees, tipped over two semi-trailers and caused two minor injuries. NOAA lists $1.2 million in property damage.5
- December 16, 2006On December 16, 2006, a small F0 tornado touched down near Salem right after a thunderstorm with small hail. It tossed a 12-inch cedar tree into a barn and threw an RV onto its side.6
- April 29, 2003Hail from 0.5 to 1.125 inches across fell in the Keizer area.7
- October 12, 1962During the Columbus Day storm, Salem recorded its strongest gust on record, 90 mph, with sustained winds of 58 mph.1,8
Warnings and alerts
Salem's emergency notifications are now part of Marion Polk Alerts, which lets residents register up to five addresses and opt in to weather alerts.9
Sources
- 1. NWS Portland: Climate of Salem
- 2. NWS Portland: Days per Month with Dense/Heavy Fog and Thunderstorms
- 3. NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: Ice Storm, Central Willamette Valley, February 11, 2021
- 4. NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: Thunderstorm Wind, Marion County, September 17, 2020
- 5. NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: Tornado, Marion County, December 14, 2010
- 6. NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: Tornado, Marion County, December 16, 2006
- 7. NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: Hail, Marion County, April 29, 2003
- 8. NWS Portland: Salem Wind and Weather: Pressure and Wind Data
- 9. City of Salem: Get Community Alerts
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Questions about hail in Salem
Source: NOAA/NWS Storm Prediction Center
Data through November 1, 2026
- How often does it hail in Salem?
- NOAA has no hail reports within 15 miles of the center of Salem since 2010. Reports come from people who saw the hail, so no report does not mean no hail.