Athens Hail — Storm History & NOAA Data for Athens, AL

Data current as of 2026-10-16 · Sourced from NOAA Storm Events

Over the past five years, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has recorded 135 hail storms within 25 miles of Athens, AL. Of those, 100 produced hail at least quarter-size — the threshold most insurance carriers consider potentially damaging to asphalt shingles. The largest reported hail in this window was baseball-sized or larger, which can fracture shingle mat and dent metal flashing on contact. 2025 was the most active year on record locally, with 52 documented hail events.

Check Hail History for a Specific Address in Athens

Hail Severity Breakdown — Athens Area (Last 5 Years)

SeverityCountWhat it means for roofs
Catastrophic2 eventsBaseball+ size, structural roof damage likely
Destructive6 eventsEgg-size, expect mat fractures and gutter damage
Severe20 eventsPing pong-size, granule loss and bruising common
Significant72 eventsQuarter-size, the standard insurance damage threshold
Moderate35 eventsMarble-size, possible cosmetic damage

Athens Hail Storms by Year

YearReported Hail Events Within 25 mi
202619 events
202552 events
20247 events
202345 events
202212 events

2025 was the busiest hail year on record locally for Athens, with 52 documented events inside the 25-mile radius. Storm activity in Athens typically peaks in spring and early summer, when the jet stream pushes Gulf moisture into the area and supercell thunderstorms become more frequent.

Notable Recent Athens Hail Storms

Recent Hail Events Near Athens

DateLocationSeveritySizeNOAA Comments
2026-03-16 1 NE Triana, AL Significant 1.00" Report from mPING: Quarter (1.00 in.).
2026-03-16 2 W Madison, AL Moderate 0.75" Report from mPING: Dime (0.75 in.).
2026-02-26 FIVE PTS, AL Severe 1.50" A UAH meteorology student reported 1.5 inch diameter hail off a dash cam video in Five Points.
2026-02-26 ANDERSON, AL Significant 1.25" Half dollar sized hail was reported.
2026-02-26 ATHENS, AL Significant 1.00" Quarter sized hail was reported on Lucas Ferry Road. Time estimated by radar.
2026-02-26 BLACKBURN, AL Moderate 0.75" Penny sized hail was reported via mPING.
2026-02-26 HAZEL GREEN, AL Significant 1.25" Half dollar sized hail was reported.
2026-02-26 ATHENS, AL Significant 1.25" Half dollar sized hail was reported.
2026-02-26 GLADSTONE, AL Moderate 0.75" Penny sized hail was reported via mPING.
2026-02-26 SARDIS SPGS, AL Significant 1.00" Hail of just over one inch in diameter was reported. Time estimated by radar.
2026-02-26 ATHENS, AL Significant 1.00" Quarter sized hail was reported via mPING.
2026-02-26 HARVEST, AL Significant 1.00" Quarter sized hail was reported in Harvest.
2026-02-26 SARDIS SPGS, AL Significant 1.00" Quarter sized hail was reported via mPING.
2026-02-26 GLADSTONE, AL Moderate 0.75" Penny sized hail was reported via mPING.
2026-02-26 GLADSTONE, AL Moderate 0.88" Nickel sized hail was reported.
2026-02-26 MINOR HILL, TN Significant 1.00" Quarter size hail was reported in Minor Hill.
2026-02-26 DELLROSE, TN Significant 1.00" Quarter sized hail was reported and confirmed by EMA via video and photos in southwest Lincoln County.
2026-02-26 BRYSON, TN Significant 1.00" Quarter size hail was reported along I-65 and TN-273 at exit 6.
2026-02-26 DELLROSE, TN Severe 1.75" Golf ball sized hail was reported.
2025-09-11 WHEELER LAKE NORTH, AL Moderate 0.88" Hail with a diameter up to the size of nickels was reported along U.S. Highway 72 in Coxey.

Wind Storm History — Athens Area (Last 5 Years)

NOAA has recorded 488 high-wind events within 25 miles of Athens, AL in the past five years. Of those, 468 reached severe-thunderstorm thresholds (58+ mph). The highest measured gust was 90 mph.

SeverityCount
Severe60 events
Significant408 events
Moderate20 events

Recent Wind Events Near Athens

DateLocationGust (mph)SeverityNOAA Comments
2026-08-21 4 NNW Triana, AL 58 Significant 58 MPH gust reported at HSV International Airport ASOS.
2026-08-17 4 NW Triana, AL 61 Significant Huntsville International Airport ASOS measured a wind gust of 61 mph.
2026-08-17 4 WNW Mooresville, AL 52 Significant 52 MPH wind gust measured at KDCU.
2026-07-03 4 SSW Madison, AL 66 Severe ASOS station KHSV Huntsville.
2026-05-31 ROGERSVILLE, AL 49 Significant A tree and a powerline were reported down at the intersection of Rose Street and CR 26. Time was estimated from radar.
2026-05-31 WHEELER LAKE SOUTH, AL 49 Significant A tree was reported down blocking both lanes at the intersection of CR 91 and CR 631. Time was estimated from radar.
2026-05-31 THORTONTOWN, AL 55 Significant Two trees were down where Felker Drive intersects highway 72. Time was estimated from radar.
2026-05-31 OLIVER, AL 49 Significant A tree was reported down on CR 165 near 18275 highway 72. Time was estimated from radar.
2026-05-31 CADDO, AL 45 Moderate A tree was reported down across the road near 26463 CR 460.
2026-05-25 LEESDALE, AL 45 Moderate A tree was reported down near the intersection of E Upper River road and Mussle Camp road.
2026-05-24 MT TABOR, AL 45 Moderate A tree was reported down in the roadway near 250 Kaylee Loop road.
2026-05-23 PUMPKIN CENTER, AL 49 Significant A tree was knocked down onto the roadway near the intersection of Iron Man Road and Pine Hill Lane. Time estimated.
2026-05-23 ECHOLS XRDS, AL 49 Significant A tree was knocked down onto the roadway with complete blockage near the intersection of East Upper River Road and Mussle Camp Road. Time estimated.
2026-02-26 APPLETON, TN 60 Significant Minor wind damage was reported along Appleton Road in far southeast Lawrence County. Damages are a rough estimate.
2025-12-18 HARTSELLE, AL 55 Significant A tree was reported down near the intersection of Longhorn Pass Street and Georgia Street NE in Hartselle.
2025-12-18 GRASSY, AL 55 Significant The 911 call center was reported a tree down blocking west bound traffic at highway 64 and CR 501.
2025-12-18 ANDERSON, AL 55 Significant A tree was reported dwon at the intersection of CR 49 and CR 207.
2025-12-18 HOLBERT SPGS, AL 60 Significant Trees were reported down on the 10000 block of Upper Snake road.
2025-12-18 MOULTON HGTS, AL 49 Significant A tree was reported down on a powerline and a trailer at this location near highway 20.
2025-12-18 ANDERSON, AL 60 Significant Two trees were reported down over the road at the intersection of CR 8 and CR 534.

Frequently Asked Questions About Athens Hail

When was the last major hail storm in Athens, AL?

The most recent quarter-size-or-larger hail storm recorded by NOAA within 25 miles of Athens was on March 16, 2026. HailCheck refreshes from the NOAA Storm Events database daily, so newer events appear here as they are reported.

How often does it hail in Athens?

Athens averages roughly 27 reported hail events per year within a 25-mile radius. Significant storms (quarter-size or larger) account for 100 of the 135 events recorded over the last five years.

How big does hail typically get in Athens?

The largest documented hail near Athens in the last five years was baseball-sized or larger. Most Athens-area hail falls in the marble-to-quarter range, with destructive storms (egg-size or larger) appearing roughly once every few years.

Does my insurance cover hail damage in AL?

Most homeowners insurance policies in AL cover hail damage to roofs, siding, and gutters under the dwelling and other-structures coverage. Coverage typically requires the damage to be tied to a verifiable storm date — which is where the NOAA hail history above (and a HAAG-style test square validation) becomes important for the claim file.

How do I check hail history for a specific Athens address?

Use the HailCheck address search to enter any street address in or near Athens. HailCheck returns every NOAA hail event within a configurable radius, along with severity bands, dates, and storm narratives for Pro members.

What a HAAG-Style Test Square Validation Means in Athens

If your property in or near Athens took on hail during one of the storms above, the standard process for documenting damage is a 10×10 foot test square inspection. A HAAG-trained reviewer counts impact indicators — granule displacement, mat fractures, and bruising — within the marked square and produces a PASS or FAIL document for the claim file.

HailCheck offers a $99 photo-based HAAG-style test square validation. You submit photos from the field, our reviewer evaluates the impact indicators and cross-references the NOAA storm dates listed above, and a written PASS/FAIL determination is returned within one business day. We do not send anyone to the roof — the validation is built around the photos you submit.

Learn About $99 HAAG-Style Validation

Why Athens's Location Matters for Hail

Athens sits east of the traditional hail alley, where hail events are less frequent than the central plains but tend to be associated with strong squall lines and tropical systems. Local roof systems are less commonly hardened for hail, which can mean even moderate impacts produce claim-worthy damage.

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