1885: Petersburg, Virginia: “The hailstorm which passed over this section Friday afternoon prevailed in many other localities and extended into North Carolina. Hail fell to the depth of 12 inches… In some places in Surry County, this State [Virginia], hail fell to the depth of 18 inches, and in some spots was drifted to the depth of four feet.”1
May 6:
1869: Union County, Illinois: “The hail-stones measured from one to two and a half inches in diameter, and not a few were as large as a man’s fist.”2
1884: Near Dayton, Ohio: “The depth of the hail that fell is variously estimated at from 8 to 12 inches. The stones were very large.”3
1886: Emporia, Kansas: “The worst rain and hailstorm ever known in this vicinity swept over the country just west of this city this forenoon. It struck the westbound Santa Fe train at Elmdale with such force as to break all the glass on the north side, and even the slats of the blinds were broken by the huge hailstones, which are represented as being as large as apples.”4
1895: Omaha, Nebraska: “The most severe and long-continued hail storm in Omaha’s history was experienced this evening… Windows were broken in nearly every dwelling in town.”5
May 7:
1885: Gadsen, Alabama: “The hail was as large as hens’ eggs.”6
May 8:
1870: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: “The great hail-storm…was in some respects remarkable…”7 “The largest hail-stone found measured eleven inches in circumference, and weighed seven ounces.”8
1883: Denver, Colorado: “One of the severest hail-storms ever known in the West occurred here at noon today… Hail-stones measuring an inch in diameter lay six inches deep in the streets.”9
1899: Jefferson County, Georgia: “A terrific hailstorm passed over this (Jefferson) county… The hail was three inches deep at this place [Wadley, GA], and some of the stones weighed over three ounces.”10
May 12:
1879: Madelin, Minnesota: “…hailstones are reported as large as goose eggs…”11
May 15:
1858: Chesterfield County, Virginia: “Some of the stones were of the size of hens’ eggs… The hail was from two to three feet deep in some places in the roads… The storm is unprecedented.”12
May 16:
1885: Atchison, Kansas: “The hail and lightning were terrific, some hailstones measuring 4 inches in circumference.”13
May 17:
1889: Cheboygan, Michigan: “A severe hail and rain storm swept over this city… Windows and electric-light globes were broken by the hailstones, which were as large as hickory nuts.”14
1891: Gainesville, Texas: “Rabbits, birds, and other small animals were killed by the thousands by the hailstones.”15
Fort Worth, Texas: “Many thousand dollars worth of crops were annihilated by a heavy hailstorm…, which fell to a depth of from six to eighteen inches.”16
1896: Seneca, Kansas: “A terrible cyclone [tornado] struck this city this evening at 6:40 P.M. The cyclone was followed by a heavy hailstorm, hail as large as walnuts falling.”17
May 18:
1877: Shaftsbury and Bennington, Vermont: “A terrific hail-storm passed over Shaftsbury and the northern part of this town this afternoon, demolishing windows and doing great damage to vegetation. One of the hail-stones measured five inches in diameter and another 10 inches in circumference. One weighed 10 ½ ounces… Nothing like it has ever been known here.”18
May 19:
1868: San Antonio, Texas: A “tremendous hail-storm visited San Antonio…”19
1871: New Kent County, Virginia: “Trees and houses were blown down and persons on the road were knocked senseless by hail stones. Hail was formed in some places nine inches deep.”20
1896: Washington, DC: “A terrific storm of wind, rain, and hail, which passed over Washington between 12 and 1 o’clock today, broke up the Cabinet meeting in progress at the White House.”21
May 20:
1878: Wheeling, West Virginia: “This evening the heaviest hail and rain storm fell in and around this city that has been known since 1869. The hailstones were fully the size of a hen’s egg, and in their descent tore leaves and limbs from shade-trees.”22
1893: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: “At 3:50 o’clock this afternoon Pittsburgh and vicinity were visited by the most violent hailstorm ever known here… Before man or beast could seek a cover the deluge of ice came in all its intensity, and for five minutes there was a war of the elements most terrifying.”23
May 21:
1876: Clay County, Iowa: “Hailstones from two to three inches in diameter fell in such quantities to cover the ground to the depth of four inches.”24
Morristown, New Jersey: “…hailstones as large as hens’ eggs fell in abundance…”25
1884: Tallulah, Georgia: “The most severe hail-storm occurred today in Rabun County that was ever witnessed in northeast Georgia. Hailstones fell as large as hens’ eggs, and hail drifted to the depth of 12 inches in places.”26
1898: Albemarle County, Virginia: “In sections of the county hailstones as large as partridge eggs fell, and ruined growing crops.”27
May 22:
1873: Near Washington, Iowa: “Hail-stones fell that measured nine inches in diameter. Some were brought to this city [Washington, Iowa], and four hours after they were picked up they were still as large as hens’ eggs.”28
May 23:
1855: Jefferson, Illinois: “The whirlwind was accompanied by a storm of hail, many of the hailstones being of the size of walnuts. Some of them were nine inches in circumference… Nothing like it has ever occurred here before…”29
May 24:
1865: Johnson County, Kansas: “A terrible storm passed over a portion of Johnson County, Kansas…blowing down houses and fences, and uprooting trees and doing great damage. The hail is said to have been blown into drifts two or three feet deep.”30
May 25:
1874: Baltimore, Maryland: “Hail fell for several minutes, the stones being half an inch in diameter.”31
1881: Troy, New York: “A terrific hail-storm visited this city… Hailstones as large as walnuts fell in large quantities for 15 minutes…”32
May 27:
1886: Sandusky, Ohio: “A dead calm was followed by a hail storm in which spheroids of ice as large as marbles fell in showers, stripping trees of all foliage, smashing window lights, and in some instances killing sheep and hogs.”33
1888: Des Moines, Iowa: “The fall of hail was terrific and the rain descended in torrents. The hailstones were piled and drifted in many places from two to four feet deep…”34
1899: Chippewa and Eau Claire Counties, Wisconsin: “Heavy hail fell during the day and many windows were broken.”35
May 28:
1869: Wheeling, West Virginia: “Before the wind had ceased, and it lasted but a moment, the rain had changed to hail, which rattled against the windows for a moment, and then perforated the glass as the lumps of congealed water grew in size. The sound upon the pavements and the roofs was like the rapid firing of musketry, and so great was the force of the stones that shutters were smashed and even the window sashes broken and beaten to pieces… When the storm was at its highest fury, the hailstones were of the size of a man’s clenched fist, and solid as canister balls, which they very much resembled in appearance… In less time than it takes to write it, the streets in the lower portion of the city, or that part nearest the river, were covered to the depth of a foot with these wonderful balls of ice, and every window facing the north, from which direction the storm came, filled with broken panes.”36
May 30:
1871: Hyde Park, New York: “Hail-stones were picked up measuring four-and-a-half inches in circumference.”37
1881: Pittsfield, Massachusetts: “Some of the hail-stones were over three inches in circumference.”38
May 31:
1885: Lancaster, Pennsylvania: “A heavy thunder and hail storm, accompanied by a strong wind, passed over the northern end of this county this afternoon… The hail stones, which were very large, fell to an unusual depth.”39
1893: Little Rock, Arkansas: “Directly after the rainfall hail fell to the depth of eight inches and remained on the ground twelve hours.”40
Photo of Grapefruit-sized Hailstone:
Source: NOAA Photo Library, NOAA Central Library; OAR/ERL/National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL)
Endnotes:
1. “A Disastrous Hailstorm,” The New York Times, May 4, 1885.
2. “A Wonderful Hail-Storm in Illinois,” The New York Times, May 8, 1869.
3. “A Severe Hail-Storm,” The New York Times, May 8, 1884.
4. “Fatal Winds and Hailstones,” The New York Times, May 7, 1886.
5. “Great Damage Done By Rain and Hail,” The New York Times, May 7, 1895.
6. “A Hailstorm Causes Damage,” The New York Times, May 9, 1885.
7. “Hail-Storms,” The New York Times, May 10, 1870.
8. “The Great Hail-Storm In Philadelphia—Hail-Stones Weighing Seven Ounces,” The New York Times, May 10, 1870.
9. “Storms Throughout The Country,” The New York Times, May 9, 1883.
10. “Hail Destroys Georgia Truck Farms,” The New York Times, May 9, 1899.
11. “Extremes of the Weather,” The New York Times, May 14, 1879.
12. “Violent Storms,” The New York Times, May 17, 1858.
13. “A Cyclone in Kansas,” The New York Times, May 19, 1885.
14. “Swept By Storms,” The New York Times, May 19, 1889.
15. “Cut Down By The Hail,” The New York Times, May 20, 1891.
16. “Wheat Mowed Down By Hail,” The New York Times, May 19, 1891.
17. “Swept By Death Wind,” The New York Times, May 18, 1896.
18. “Severe Storm North And East,” The New York Times, May 19, 1877.
19. “Terrible Hail-Storm in Texas—Several Person Reported Killed,” The New York Times, May 24, 1868.
20. “Violent Tornado And Hail In Virginia—Crops Destroyed,” The New York Times, May 20, 1871.
21. “Business Stopped By A Storm,” The New York Times, May 20, 1896.
22. “Heavy Rain And Hail Storms,” The New York Times, May 21, 1878.
23. “Hailstorm in Pittsburg,” The New York Times, May 21, 1893.
24. “Severe Rain And Snow Storms,” The New York Times, May 23, 1876.
25. “A Hail-Storm,” The New York Times, May 22, 1876.
26. “A Heavy George Hail-Storm,” The New York Times, May 22, 1884.
27. “Storms in Virginia, The New York Times, May 24, 1898.
28. “Tornado In Iowa,” The New York Times, May 24, 1873.
29. The Chicago Tribune, May 24, 1855.
30. “Severe Storm In The West,” The New York Times, May 27, 1865.
31. “The Hail-Storm Yesterday,” The New York Times, May 26, 1874.
32. “Hail-Storm in Troy,” The New York Times, May 27, 1881.
33. “A Fierce Hailstorm,” The New York Times, May 28, 1886.
34. “Victims of the Storm,” The New York Times, May 30, 1888.
35. “Bad Storms in Wisconsin,” The New York Times, May 28, 1899.
36. Wheeling Intelligencer, May 29, 1869.
37. “Terrific Storms Up The Hudson,” The New York Times, May 31, 1871.
38. “Damage By Severe Storms,” The New York Times, May 31, 1881.
39. “Thunder, Hail, And Wind,” The New York Times, June 1, 1885.
40. “Great Havoc Caused By Storms,” The New York Times, June 1, 1893.