Hail history in Houston, TX
On average, NOAA recorded hail within 15 miles of the center of Houston on 2.0 days a year from 2016 to 2025, 1.7 of them with hail 1 inch or larger. NOAA recorded hail within 15 miles of the center of Houston on 34 days since 2010. The largest hail reported was 2.5 in, in 2019. 29 of those days had hail of 1 inch or larger. May has the most hail days, 12 since 2010. The most recent was April 30, 2026. NOAA also recorded high wind on 76 days, with gusts up to 97 mph.
Ranks #65 of 200 US cities for days with hail 1 inch or larger, 2016 to 2025.
- Hail days since 2010
- 34
- Largest hail
- 2.5 in
- Highest gust
- 97 mph
Source: NOAA/NWS Storm Prediction Center
Data through November 1, 2026
34 hail days within 15 miles since 2010, largest 2.5 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. 34 hail days in total; the most was 6 in 2016.
Hail days by month
Hail days by month since 2010: Jan 2, Feb 1, Mar 5, Apr 7, May 12, Jun 6, Jul 0, Aug 1, Sep 0, Oct 0, Nov 0, Dec 0.
Most recent hail days
| Date | Largest hail | Nearest report |
|---|---|---|
| Apr 30, 2026 | 1.0 in | 14.2 mi |
| Aug 18, 2025 | 1.25 in | 6.7 mi |
| May 29, 2024 | 1.5 in | 6.6 mi |
| May 28, 2024 | 1.75 in | 5.6 mi |
| Mar 21, 2024 | 1.25 in | 5.7 mi |
| Mar 15, 2024 | 1.5 in | 7.3 mi |
| Jun 23, 2023 | 2.0 in | 1.2 mi |
| Jun 15, 2021 | 1.0 in | 1.1 mi |
| Mar 17, 2021 | 1.0 in | 3.7 mi |
| Jun 28, 2019 | 1.0 in | 14.7 mi |
About this data
- Distances are from the center of Houston, 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.
76 high-wind days within 15 miles since 2010, strongest gust 97 mph
Source: NOAA/NWS Storm Prediction Center
Data through November 1, 2026
Most recent high-wind days
| Date | Highest gust | Nearest report |
|---|---|---|
| Feb 14, 2026 | Not recorded | 10.1 mi |
| Oct 24, 2025 | 63 mph | 4.6 mi |
| Aug 4, 2025 | 63 mph | 4.6 mi |
| May 26, 2025 | 60 mph | 14.8 mi |
| Mar 23, 2025 | 61 mph | 11.4 mi |
| Mar 4, 2025 | 79 mph | 4.0 mi |
| May 28, 2024 | 75 mph | 2.5 mi |
| May 16, 2024 | 92 mph | 1.7 mi |
| Apr 9, 2024 | 60 mph | 4.4 mi |
| Mar 15, 2024 | 60 mph | 8.0 mi |
About this data
- Distances are from the center of Houston, 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 Houston
Estimated peak gusts
1 day since October 1, 2021 had an estimated peak gust of 58 mph or more at Houston.
| Day | Estimated peak gust |
|---|---|
| Jul 8, 2024 | 70 mph or more |
| Jul 7, 2024 | 50 mph or more |
| Jun 21, 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 61 tornadoes whose path came within 10 miles of Houston since 1950; the strongest was rated EF4.
| Day | Rating | Path length | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 8, 2022 | EF0 | 1.1 miles | 8.4 miles |
| Aug 27, 2017 | EF0 | 0.08 miles | 5 miles |
| Mar 29, 2017 | EF0 | 0.27 miles | 8.2 miles |
| Jun 28, 2014 | EF0 | 0.73 miles | 5.7 miles |
| Feb 10, 2006 | EF0 | 0.2 miles | 9.9 miles |
| Nov 22, 2004 | EF0 | 0.5 miles | 4 miles |
| Nov 17, 2004 | EF1 | 0.5 miles | 10 miles |
| Aug 22, 2002 | EF0 | 0.1 miles | 4 miles |
Show all 61Show fewer
| Day | Rating | Path length | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 8, 1999 | EF0 | 0.5 miles | 4 miles |
| Oct 16, 1998 | EF0 | 1 miles | 4 miles |
| Apr 20, 1995 | EF0 | 0.1 miles | 4 miles |
| Nov 16, 1993 | EF1 | 2 miles | 4 miles |
| May 30, 1993 | EF0 | 0.1 miles | 4.8 miles |
| Apr 7, 1993 | EF1 | 0.2 miles | 4 miles |
| Nov 21, 1992 | EF4 | 30 miles | 7.6 miles |
| Nov 21, 1992 | EF2 | 12 miles | 5.1 miles |
| Jun 1, 1992 | EF1 | 0.5 miles | 8.1 miles |
| Apr 19, 1992 | EF0 | 0.1 miles | 4 miles |
| Jun 6, 1991 | EF0 | 0.2 miles | 4 miles |
| May 8, 1991 | EF0 | 0.1 miles | 8.8 miles |
| Apr 8, 1991 | EF0 | 0.1 miles | 4 miles |
| Jan 18, 1991 | EF1 | 1.5 miles | 4 miles |
| Jan 18, 1991 | EF0 | 0.4 miles | 3.8 miles |
| Dec 10, 1983 | EF0 | 0.5 miles | 7.7 miles |
| Aug 18, 1983 | EF0 | 0.5 miles | 7.7 miles |
| Aug 17, 1983 | EF0 | 0.3 miles | 4 miles |
| Aug 17, 1983 | EF0 | 0.3 miles | 8.1 miles |
| Jul 15, 1983 | EF1 | 0.5 miles | 4.3 miles |
| May 21, 1983 | EF0 | 0.3 miles | 3.9 miles |
| May 21, 1983 | EF0 | 0.5 miles | 4.6 miles |
| May 20, 1983 | EF2 | 4 miles | 8.8 miles |
| May 20, 1983 | EF0 | 0.3 miles | 8.1 miles |
| May 19, 1983 | EF2 | 12 miles | 7.4 miles |
| Feb 9, 1983 | EF1 | 1 miles | 9.3 miles |
| Apr 23, 1981 | EF1 | 0.2 miles | 9.5 miles |
| Oct 30, 1979 | EF1 | 0.2 miles | 4 miles |
| Sep 18, 1979 | EF1 | 0.1 miles | 5.8 miles |
| Sep 18, 1979 | EF2 | 1 miles | 4.3 miles |
| May 21, 1979 | EF0 | 0.8 miles | 4.4 miles |
| May 21, 1979 | EF0 | 0.5 miles | 4.3 miles |
| Apr 19, 1979 | EF0 | 0.1 miles | 4 miles |
| May 29, 1978 | EF2 | 0.2 miles | 7.2 miles |
| Dec 13, 1977 | EF0 | 0.1 miles | 4.3 miles |
| Dec 13, 1977 | EF3 | 25.1 miles | 6.5 miles |
| Jun 30, 1975 | EF0 | 0.1 miles | 4 miles |
| Aug 29, 1974 | EF2 | 1 miles | 8.5 miles |
| Aug 11, 1972 | EF0 | 0.1 miles | 1.2 miles |
| Mar 20, 1972 | EF0 | 0.1 miles | 3.4 miles |
| Mar 20, 1972 | EF1 | 0.1 miles | 3.4 miles |
| Mar 20, 1972 | EF1 | 0.1 miles | 3.6 miles |
| Aug 25, 1971 | EF1 | 0.1 miles | 4.3 miles |
| Oct 27, 1970 | EF2 | 2 miles | 7.4 miles |
| Oct 27, 1970 | EF1 | 8.2 miles | 7.4 miles |
| Sep 17, 1970 | EF0 | 0.5 miles | 4.8 miles |
| May 15, 1970 | EF1 | 28.9 miles | 2.5 miles |
| Feb 1, 1970 | EF1 | 1 miles | 9.2 miles |
| May 5, 1969 | EF0 | 0.1 miles | 2.2 miles |
| Jun 18, 1966 | EF2 | 4.9 miles | 1.2 miles |
| Apr 17, 1964 | EF2 | 21.9 miles | 7 miles |
| Mar 18, 1964 | EF1 | 5.1 miles | 2.5 miles |
| Apr 15, 1954 | EF1 | 3.3 miles | 8 miles |
Source: NOAA/NWS Storm Prediction Center. Ratings before 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hurricanes and tropical storms
45 storms in NOAA's records brought modeled tropical-storm-force winds (39 mph or more) to Houston.
| Storm | Modeled peak gust | Sustained | Closest pass |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beryl (2024) | 75 mph | 61 mph | 28 miles |
| Nicholas (2021) | 60 mph | 49 mph | 27 miles |
| Ike (2008) | 98 mph | 80 mph | 25 miles |
| Rita (2005) | 54 mph | 44 mph | 90 miles |
| Claudette (2003) | 49 mph | 40 mph | 103 miles |
| Jerry (1989) | 69 mph | 56 mph | 26 miles |
| Chantal (1989) | 54 mph | 44 mph | 29 miles |
| Allison (1989) | 50 mph | 41 mph | 10 miles |
Show all 45Show fewer
| Storm | Modeled peak gust | Sustained | Closest pass |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bonnie (1986) | 50 mph | 41 mph | 64 miles |
| Alicia (1983) | 99 mph | 81 mph | 9 miles |
| Delia (1973) | 61 mph | 50 mph | 41 miles |
| Fern (1971) | 50 mph | 41 mph | 100 miles |
| Felice (1970) | 52 mph | 42 mph | 5 miles |
| Abby (1964) | 52 mph | 42 mph | 69 miles |
| Cindy (1963) | 48 mph | 39 mph | 13 miles |
| Carla (1961) | 63 mph | 51 mph | 105 miles |
| Debra (1959) | 82 mph | 67 mph | 17 miles |
| Audrey (1957) | 60 mph | 48 mph | 100 miles |
| Unnamed storm, 1949 | 98 mph | 80 mph | 4 miles |
| Unnamed storm, 1947 | 72 mph | 59 mph | 14 miles |
| Unnamed storm, 1945 | 71 mph | 57 mph | 41 miles |
| Unnamed storm, 1943 | 86 mph | 70 mph | 2 miles |
| Unnamed storm, 1942 | 62 mph | 51 mph | 23 miles |
| Unnamed storm, 1941 | 88 mph | 72 mph | 12 miles |
| Unnamed storm, 1940 | 58 mph | 47 mph | 58 miles |
| Unnamed storm, 1934 | 66 mph | 54 mph | 62 miles |
| Unnamed storm, 1932 | 104 mph | 85 mph | 40 miles |
| Unnamed storm, 1921 | 55 mph | 45 mph | 37 miles |
| 1919 Florida Keys hurricane | 51 mph | 41 mph | 190 miles |
| 1915 Galveston hurricane | 133 mph | 108 mph | 26 miles |
| Unnamed storm, 1909 | 91 mph | 74 mph | 54 miles |
| 1900 Galveston hurricane | 126 mph | 103 mph | 21 miles |
| Unnamed storm, 1897 | 58 mph | 47 mph | 27 miles |
| Unnamed storm, 1891 | 72 mph | 58 mph | 9 miles |
| Unnamed storm, 1888 | 57 mph | 46 mph | 60 miles |
| Unnamed storm, 1886 | 53 mph | 43 mph | 109 miles |
| Unnamed storm, 1886 | 63 mph | 51 mph | 68 miles |
| Unnamed storm, 1879 | 78 mph | 63 mph | 61 miles |
| Unnamed storm, 1875 | 52 mph | 42 mph | 28 miles |
| Unnamed storm, 1871 | 49 mph | 40 mph | 20 miles |
| Unnamed storm, 1871 | 50 mph | 40 mph | 14 miles |
| Unnamed storm, 1867 | 54 mph | 44 mph | 95 miles |
| Unnamed storm, 1866 | 61 mph | 50 mph | 93 miles |
| Unnamed storm, 1863 | 57 mph | 46 mph | 49 miles |
| Unnamed storm, 1854 | 84 mph | 68 mph | 51 miles |
Modeled from NOAA’s best tracks for open, flat ground; not measurements. How we model hurricane winds
89 radar hail days within 15 miles since 2020, largest 3.0 in or more
Source: NOAA MRMS radar (MESH), from October 14, 2020. Estimates of the largest hail in each 1 km cell, not measurements.
44 days with radar hail 1 inch or larger, 8 at 2 inches or larger, within 15 miles of Houston’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 9, 2026 | 0.75 in or more |
| Aug 28, 2026 | 1.0 in or more |
| Aug 24, 2026 | 1.0 in or more |
| Jul 12, 2026 | 1.75 in or more |
| Jul 7, 2026 | 0.75 in or more |
| Jul 6, 2026 | 1.0 in or more |
Houston and other Texas cities
Source: NOAA/NWS Storm Prediction Center
Data through November 1, 2026
Days a year with hail 1 inch or larger within 15 miles of each city's center, 2016 to 2025, and each city's rank among 200 US cities.
| City | Days a year | US rank |
|---|---|---|
| Amarillo | 6.2 | #3 |
| Lubbock | 4.8 | #6 |
| Dallas | 4.7 | #9 |
| San Antonio | 3.7 | #16 |
| Tyler | 2.9 | #24 |
| Waco | 2.5 | #34 |
| Killeen | 2.3 | #40 |
| Austin | 2.2 | #46 |
| Longview | 2.0 | #51 |
| Houston | 1.7 | #65 |
| Beaumont | 1.4 | #77 |
| College Station | 1.3 | #85 |
| McAllen | 1.2 | #93 |
| El Paso | 1.2 | #93 |
| Laredo | 1.1 | #99 |
| Brownsville | 0.4 | #152 |
| Corpus Christi | 0.3 | #157 |
About this data
- Each city counts reports within 15 miles of its center, not of any one property.
- 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.
Storms in Houston
NWS Houston/Galveston says severe thunderstorm hazards in southeast Texas peak from March to May, with a second peak in November.1 NWS Houston/Galveston notes that downburst winds, which can top 100 mph, cause damage in southeast Texas far more often than tornadoes do.2 In the Houston/Galveston radar area, damaging wind reports outnumbered hail reports 3,061 to 2,278 from 1980 to 2006.3
Notable storms
- July 8, 2024Hurricane Beryl came ashore near Matagorda early that morning, and its center passed over the western side of the Houston area as it weakened to a tropical storm. Bush Intercontinental Airport recorded a 72-knot (83 mph) gust, and NHC cites media reports that 2.7 million people in southeastern Texas lost power.4
- May 16, 2024An evening derecho swept the Houston area with gusts estimated over 100 mph, blowing out numerous skyscraper windows downtown. NOAA's records list nine deaths in the city.5,6
- June 21, 2023Evening storms produced a 97 mph gust measured at Bush Intercontinental Airport, and an 82 mph gust near Spring brought large pine trees down onto homes.7,8
- August 27, 2017Hurricane Harvey's rains totaled 36 to 48 inches in the Houston metro area. NHC counts 36 direct deaths in Harris County and at least 160,000 flooded structures in Harris and Galveston counties.9
- September 13, 2008Hurricane Ike made landfall on the north end of Galveston Island early that morning, and its center moved up Galveston Bay just east of Houston. Hobby Airport recorded an 80-knot (92 mph) gust, Ike brought down many trees and power lines across the Houston area, and glass and traffic signals littered downtown streets.10
- April 16, 2001Hail up to 1.5 inches piled several inches deep on Houston's west side near South Braeswood and Fondren Road and stayed on the ground for 24 hours, and 2.75-inch hail fell in Missouri City. NOAA's Storm Events Database lists $20 million in property damage in Houston and $2 million in Missouri City.11,12
Warnings and alerts
NWS Houston/Galveston issues forecasts and warnings for much of southeast Texas, including Harris County.1,2 AlertHouston, the City of Houston's emergency alert system, sends mostly geo-targeted messages by email, text, voice call or app notification for up to five addresses per contact.13
Sources
- 1. NWS Houston/Galveston: Skywarn Weather Spotter Training & Safety
- 2. NWS Houston/Galveston: Southeast Texas Severe Weather Awareness Week 2015
- 3. NOAA Storm Prediction Center: HGX Severe Weather Climatology
- 4. NOAA National Hurricane Center: Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Beryl (2024)
- 5. NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: Thunderstorm Wind, Harris County, May 16, 2024
- 6. NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: Thunderstorm Wind, Harris County, May 16, 2024
- 7. NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: Thunderstorm Wind, Harris County, June 21, 2023
- 8. NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: Thunderstorm Wind, Harris County, June 21, 2023
- 9. NOAA National Hurricane Center: Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Harvey (2017)
- 10. NOAA National Hurricane Center: Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Ike (2008)
- 11. NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: Hail, Harris County, April 16, 2001
- 12. NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: Hail, Fort Bend County, April 16, 2001
- 13. City of Houston Emergency Operations Center: Emergency Alerts
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Questions about hail in Houston
Source: NOAA/NWS Storm Prediction Center
Data through November 1, 2026
- How often does it hail in Houston?
- NOAA recorded hail within 15 miles of the center of Houston on 2.0 days a year on average from 2016 to 2025, 1.7 of them with hail 1 inch or larger. Since 2010 it recorded 34 hail days.
- When is hail season in Houston?
- May has the most hail days within 15 miles of the center of Houston, 12 since 2010, then April (7) and June (6).
- What is the largest hail recorded in Houston?
- 2.5 in, in 2019: the largest hail NOAA recorded within 15 miles of the center of Houston since 2010.
- When did it last hail in Houston?
- NOAA's most recent hail report within 15 miles of the center of Houston is from April 30, 2026, with hail up to 1.0 in reported 14.2 miles from the center. Data through November 1, 2026.