Hail history in Columbia, SC
On average, NOAA recorded hail within 15 miles of the center of Columbia on 2.6 days a year from 2016 to 2025, 0.7 of them with hail 1 inch or larger. NOAA recorded hail within 15 miles of the center of Columbia on 43 days since 2010. The largest hail reported was 2.75 in, in 2014. 20 of those days had hail of 1 inch or larger. July has the most hail days, 11 since 2010. The most recent was February 23, 2024. NOAA also recorded high wind on 205 days, with gusts up to 98 mph.
Ranks #133 of 200 US cities for days with hail 1 inch or larger, 2016 to 2025.
- Hail days since 2010
- 43
- Largest hail
- 2.75 in
- Highest gust
- 98 mph
Source: NOAA/NWS Storm Prediction Center
Data through November 1, 2026
43 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. 43 hail days in total; the most was 5 in 2011.
Hail days by month
Hail days by month since 2010: Jan 0, Feb 2, Mar 2, Apr 5, May 8, Jun 8, Jul 11, Aug 5, Sep 0, Oct 1, Nov 0, Dec 1.
Most recent hail days
| Date | Largest hail | Nearest report |
|---|---|---|
| Feb 23, 2024 | 0.5 in | 4.6 mi |
| Oct 20, 2023 | 0.25 in | 4.3 mi |
| Aug 6, 2022 | 0.25 in | 13.5 mi |
| Jun 16, 2022 | 1.0 in | 5.2 mi |
| May 21, 2022 | 0.75 in | 4.2 mi |
| May 20, 2022 | 0.25 in | 2.1 mi |
| Apr 26, 2022 | 0.25 in | 14.7 mi |
| Jul 17, 2021 | 0.25 in | 3.1 mi |
| Jun 14, 2021 | 0.25 in | 3.4 mi |
| May 3, 2021 | 0.75 in | 14.2 mi |
About this data
- Distances are from the center of Columbia, 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.
205 high-wind days within 15 miles since 2010, strongest gust 98 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 | 14.9 mi |
| Sep 6, 2026 | Not recorded | 15.0 mi |
| Sep 5, 2026 | Not recorded | 5.2 mi |
| Aug 21, 2026 | Not recorded | 14.8 mi |
| Aug 13, 2026 | Not recorded | 6.4 mi |
| Aug 10, 2026 | Not recorded | 6.7 mi |
| Aug 6, 2026 | Not recorded | 8.2 mi |
| Jul 27, 2026 | Not recorded | 6.9 mi |
| Jul 12, 2026 | Not recorded | 10.6 mi |
| Jul 11, 2026 | Not recorded | 4.7 mi |
About this data
- Distances are from the center of Columbia, 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 Columbia
Estimated peak gusts
1 day since October 1, 2021 had an estimated peak gust of 58 mph or more at Columbia.
| Day | Estimated peak gust |
|---|---|
| Sep 27, 2024 | 50 mph or more |
| Dec 10, 2023 | 50 mph or more |
| Jun 17, 2022 | 70 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 23 tornadoes whose path came within 10 miles of Columbia since 1950; the strongest was rated EF2.
| Day | Rating | Path length | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 27, 2024 | EF1 | 0.89 miles | 8.8 miles |
| Apr 12, 2020 | EF1 | 4.89 miles | 8 miles |
| Mar 3, 2019 | EF1 | 0.6 miles | 1.4 miles |
| Mar 3, 2019 | EF1 | 1.46 miles | 9.6 miles |
| Mar 2, 2012 | EF0 | 2.54 miles | 7.5 miles |
| Mar 15, 2008 | EF1 | 3.7 miles | 9 miles |
| Sep 6, 2004 | EF0 | 0.5 miles | 6.8 miles |
| Sep 6, 2004 | EF1 | 1 miles | 2 miles |
Show all 23Show fewer
| Day | Rating | Path length | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 13, 2001 | EF0 | 0.1 miles | 2 miles |
| Mar 16, 2000 | EF0 | 0.2 miles | 9.4 miles |
| Mar 16, 2000 | EF0 | 0.3 miles | 2 miles |
| Jul 23, 1997 | EF0 | 1.5 miles | 6.4 miles |
| Jul 23, 1997 | EF1 | 3 miles | 3.1 miles |
| Nov 7, 1995 | EF0 | 0.1 miles | 7.8 miles |
| Nov 7, 1995 | EF0 | 0.1 miles | 9.6 miles |
| Oct 27, 1995 | EF0 | 0.1 miles | 7.1 miles |
| Aug 31, 1987 | EF2 | 0.2 miles | 8.3 miles |
| Feb 10, 1981 | EF1 | 0.8 miles | 7 miles |
| May 14, 1976 | EF2 | 3.8 miles | 4.9 miles |
| Nov 12, 1975 | EF2 | 2 miles | 7.1 miles |
| Nov 24, 1967 | EF1 | 1 miles | 9.7 miles |
| May 29, 1967 | EF2 | 0.5 miles | 9.4 miles |
| Jun 11, 1955 | EF0 | 0.8 miles | 5.6 miles |
Source: NOAA/NWS Storm Prediction Center. Ratings before 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hurricanes and tropical storms
21 storms in NOAA's records brought modeled tropical-storm-force winds (39 mph or more) to Columbia.
| Storm | Modeled peak gust | Sustained | Closest pass |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michael (2018) | 51 mph | 42 mph | 36 miles |
| Bonnie (1998) | 73 mph | 59 mph | 183 miles |
| Fran (1996) | 56 mph | 45 mph | 147 miles |
| Hugo (1989) | 73 mph | 60 mph | 15 miles |
| David (1979) | 55 mph | 45 mph | 7 miles |
| Gracie (1959) | 81 mph | 66 mph | 7 miles |
| Helene (1958) | 51 mph | 42 mph | 153 miles |
| Able (1952) | 56 mph | 46 mph | 1 miles |
Show all 21Show fewer
| Storm | Modeled peak gust | Sustained | Closest pass |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unnamed storm, 1916 | 56 mph | 46 mph | 9 miles |
| Unnamed storm, 1906 | 52 mph | 42 mph | 2 miles |
| Unnamed storm, 1899 | 61 mph | 50 mph | 109 miles |
| Unnamed storm, 1896 | 49 mph | 40 mph | 39 miles |
| Unnamed storm, 1894 | 53 mph | 43 mph | 76 miles |
| Unnamed storm, 1893 | 52 mph | 42 mph | 101 miles |
| 1893 Sea Islands hurricane | 85 mph | 69 mph | 8 miles |
| Unnamed storm, 1889 | 50 mph | 41 mph | 39 miles |
| Unnamed storm, 1885 | 54 mph | 44 mph | 99 miles |
| Unnamed storm, 1883 | 48 mph | 39 mph | 138 miles |
| Unnamed storm, 1878 | 55 mph | 45 mph | 46 miles |
| Unnamed storm, 1874 | 50 mph | 41 mph | 92 miles |
| Unnamed storm, 1854 | 68 mph | 55 mph | 8 miles |
Modeled from NOAA’s best tracks for open, flat ground; not measurements. How we model hurricane winds
52 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.
23 days with radar hail 1 inch or larger, 2 at 2 inches or larger, within 15 miles of Columbia’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 11, 2026 | 1.5 in or more |
| Sep 5, 2026 | 1.25 in or more |
| Aug 10, 2026 | 1.0 in or more |
| Jul 10, 2026 | 0.75 in or more |
| Jul 6, 2026 | 1.0 in or more |
| Jul 5, 2026 | 0.75 in or more |
Storms in Columbia
NOAA Storm Prediction Center records within 124 nautical miles of the Columbia radar from 1980 to 2006 show a primary severe season of April 18 to August 25, with hail reports highest in May and damaging wind reports highest in July.1 The State Climatology Office counted 132 damaging hailstorms in Lexington County from 1950 to 2005, ranking it next after Greenville and Spartanburg counties as a hail target in the state.2
Notable storms
- August 15, 2023A microburst produced an 88 mph gust at Columbia Metropolitan Airport, the highest wind gust on record at the station. Trees came down across Richland and Lexington counties, including in Forest Acres.3,4,5
- April 13, 2020Before dawn on April 13, 2020, a line of storms brought downburst winds estimated at 75 knots (86 mph) across northern Columbia, blowing numerous trees onto homes and other structures. NWS Columbia also surveyed an EF1 tornado with winds up to 105 mph that tracked 4.9 miles from southeast of Blythewood toward Elgin, causing minor roof damage to several homes.6,7
- June 20, 2019On the afternoon of June 20, 2019, a downburst with winds estimated at 70 knots (81 mph) hit a large area of Columbia. At least 20 reports of downed trees came in, many blocking roads, taking down power lines and damaging some homes and cars. A falling tree killed a 61-year-old man in Columbia.8,9
- July 1, 2012Storms across the Midlands dropped hen egg-size hail, 2 inches, in Lexington County. Winds estimated at 75 mph blew over a 40-foot amateur radio antenna anchored in concrete near Eastover.10,11
- April 5, 2011An overnight squall line brought winds estimated at 98 mph to the Greenview area of Columbia, putting numerous trees on homes. NOAA's Storm Events Database lists $900,000 in property damage there.12
Warnings and alerts
NWS Columbia issues warnings for Richland and Lexington counties.4,5 The Columbia-Richland County Citizen Alert System sends emergency notices for a registered address by phone call, text message or email.13
Sources
- 1. NOAA Storm Prediction Center: CAE Severe Weather Climatology
- 2. South Carolina State Climatology Office: Hail: Summer Ice Storms
- 3. NWS Columbia: Famously Hot Forecasts, Fall/Winter 2023-24
- 4. NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: Thunderstorm Wind, Lexington County, August 15, 2023
- 5. NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: Thunderstorm Wind, Richland County, August 15, 2023
- 6. NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: Thunderstorm Wind, Richland County, April 13, 2020
- 7. NWS Columbia: April 13th 2020 Tornado Outbreak
- 8. NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: Thunderstorm Wind, Richland County, June 20, 2019
- 9. NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: Thunderstorm Wind, Richland County, June 20, 2019
- 10. NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: Hail, Lexington County, July 1, 2012
- 11. NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: Thunderstorm Wind, Richland County, July 1, 2012
- 12. NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: Thunderstorm Wind, Richland County, April 5, 2011
- 13. Richland County: Emergency Management
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Questions about hail in Columbia
Source: NOAA/NWS Storm Prediction Center
Data through November 1, 2026
- How often does it hail in Columbia?
- NOAA recorded hail within 15 miles of the center of Columbia on 2.6 days a year on average from 2016 to 2025, 0.7 of them with hail 1 inch or larger. Since 2010 it recorded 43 hail days.
- When is hail season in Columbia?
- July has the most hail days within 15 miles of the center of Columbia, 11 since 2010, then May (8) and June (8).
- What is the largest hail recorded in Columbia?
- 2.75 in, in 2014: the largest hail NOAA recorded within 15 miles of the center of Columbia since 2010.
- When did it last hail in Columbia?
- NOAA's most recent hail report within 15 miles of the center of Columbia is from February 23, 2024, with hail up to 0.5 in reported 4.6 miles from the center. Data through November 1, 2026.