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 79 hail storms within 25 miles of Bethlehem, PA. Of those, 60 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 ping pong ball-sized, which can fracture shingle mat and dent metal flashing on contact. 2026 was the most active year on record locally, with 35 documented hail events.
Check Hail History for a Specific Address in Bethlehem| Severity | Count | What it means for roofs |
|---|---|---|
| Severe | 6 events | Ping pong-size, granule loss and bruising common |
| Significant | 54 events | Quarter-size, the standard insurance damage threshold |
| Moderate | 17 events | Marble-size, possible cosmetic damage |
| Minor | 2 events | Pea-size, unlikely to damage modern shingles |
| Year | Reported Hail Events Within 25 mi |
|---|---|
| 2026 | 35 events |
| 2025 | 3 events |
| 2024 | 10 events |
| 2023 | 18 events |
| 2022 | 13 events |
2026 was the busiest hail year on record locally for Bethlehem, with 35 documented events inside the 25-mile radius. Storm activity in Bethlehem typically peaks in spring and early summer, when the jet stream pushes Gulf moisture into the area and supercell thunderstorms become more frequent.
| Date | Location | Severity | Size | NOAA Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-07-29 | 1 SE Harmony Twp, NJ | Minor | 0.25" | Report from mPing. |
| 2026-07-28 | 2 NE Wescosville, PA | Moderate | 0.88" | Spotter Network report of nickel size hail. |
| 2026-07-28 | 1 NE Pleasant Valley, NJ | Moderate | 0.75" | Report from mPING: Dime (0.75 in.). |
| 2026-07-15 | 2 E Lehighton, PA | Severe | 1.50" | — |
| 2026-03-06 | 2 NNE Weisenberg Twp, PA | Significant | 1.07" | Mesonet station GW4258 NEW TRIPOLI. |
| 2026-03-06 | 1 SSW Schnecksville, PA | Significant | 1.16" | Mesonet station TT618 Trexler. |
| 2026-03-06 | 1 NE Lynn Twp, PA | Significant | 1.18" | Mesonet station 3810D 1 NE Lynn Twp. |
| 2026-03-06 | 2 W Laurys Station, PA | Significant | 1.15" | Mesonet station AV911 Slatington. |
| 2026-03-06 | 3 W Upper Macungie Twp., PA | Significant | 1.04" | Mesonet station DW6615 Breinigsville. |
| 2026-03-06 | 3 NNW Weisenberg Twp, PA | Significant | 1.17" | Mesonet station AT064 New Tripoli. |
| 2026-03-06 | 1 NE Palmerton, PA | Significant | 1.07" | Mesonet station GW3103 Palmerton. |
| 2026-03-06 | 1 S Lehighton, PA | Significant | 1.06" | Mesonet station FW6636 Lehighton. |
| 2026-03-06 | 1 NW Berlinsville, PA | Significant | 1.29" | Mesonet station GW5621 WALNUTPORT. |
| 2026-03-06 | 1 SSW West Catasauqua, PA | Severe | 1.52" | — |
| 2026-03-06 | Phillipsburg, NJ | Severe | 1.56" | CO-OP Observer station ESTN4 Phillipsburg. |
| 2026-03-06 | 1 ENE Saylorsburg, PA | Significant | 1.19" | Mesonet station DW3072 Saylorsburg. |
| 2026-03-06 | 1 WSW Brass Castle, NJ | Significant | 1.01" | Mesonet station CW5217 Broadway. |
| 2026-03-06 | 1 SE Lehigh Valley Inte, PA | Significant | 1.31" | Mesonet station GW0047 Bethlehem. |
| 2026-03-06 | Lehigh Valley Internati, PA | Severe | 1.65" | — |
| 2026-03-06 | Hokendauqua, PA | Significant | 1.04" | Mesonet station CW7221 Whitehall. |
NOAA has recorded 242 high-wind events within 25 miles of Bethlehem, PA in the past five years. Of those, 241 reached severe-thunderstorm thresholds (58+ mph). The highest measured gust was 85 mph.
| Severity | Count |
|---|---|
| Severe | 4 events |
| Significant | 237 events |
| Moderate | 1 event |
| Date | Location | Gust (mph) | Severity | NOAA Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-07-28 | Lehigh Valley Internati, PA | 50 | Significant | — |
| 2026-07-28 | Forks Twp, PA | 45 | Moderate | — |
| 2026-07-03 | Holland Twp, NJ | 60 | Significant | Trained spotter measured gusts over 60 MPH in Holland Townsihp. Time estimated. |
| 2026-07-03 | Lehigh Valley Internati, PA | 59 | Significant | Lehigh Valley International Airport gusted to 51 kt. |
| 2026-06-11 | LITTLE GAP, PA | 63 | Significant | Multiple trees blown down. |
| 2026-06-11 | ALLENTOWN MUNI, PA | 58 | Significant | Wires were blown down. |
| 2026-06-06 | FULLERTON, PA | 58 | Significant | Wires were blown down with the wires sparking. |
| 2026-06-06 | 1 ENE Pohatcong Twp, NJ | 52 | Significant | NJWXNET Stewartsville. |
| 2026-06-06 | EASTON, PA | 58 | Significant | Multiple large branches were blown down. |
| 2026-06-06 | Lehigh Valley Internati, PA | 49 | Significant | ASOS station KABE Lehigh Valley Intl Airport. |
| 2026-06-06 | 1 NW Salisbury Twp, PA | 53 | Significant | AWOS station KXLL Queen City. |
| 2026-06-06 | WASHINGTON, NJ | 63 | Significant | Multiple trees and wires were blown down in Washington. |
| 2026-06-06 | WASHINGTON, NJ | 58 | Significant | Multiple wires blown down and poles damaged. |
| 2026-06-06 | WASHINGTON, NJ | 63 | Significant | A large tree was blown down. |
| 2026-05-20 | LAYFIELD, PA | 63 | Significant | Several trees and wires were blown down in New Hanover Township, PA. |
| 2026-05-20 | PENNSBURG, PA | 63 | Significant | Multiple trees and wires blown down in East Greenville. |
| 2026-05-20 | EAGLE PT, PA | 58 | Significant | A tree was blown into wires along Eagle Point Road in Maxatawny Township. |
| 2026-05-20 | LIMEPORT, PA | 58 | Significant | A utility pole was blown down on Beverly Hills Road between Limeport Pike and Lamour Street, closing the road for a period. |
| 2026-05-20 | KINTNERSVILLE, PA | 63 | Significant | Trees and wires blown down onto River Road between PA-611 and Narrows Hill Road. River Road was closed as a result for a period. |
| 2026-03-16 | LAYFIELD, PA | 58 | Significant | A tree down. Time estimated from radar. |
The most recent quarter-size-or-larger hail storm recorded by NOAA within 25 miles of Bethlehem was on July 15, 2026. HailCheck refreshes from the NOAA Storm Events database daily, so newer events appear here as they are reported.
Bethlehem averages roughly 16 reported hail events per year within a 25-mile radius. Significant storms (quarter-size or larger) account for 60 of the 79 events recorded over the last five years.
The largest documented hail near Bethlehem in the last five years was ping pong ball-sized. Most Bethlehem-area hail falls in the marble-to-quarter range, with destructive storms (egg-size or larger) appearing roughly once every few years.
Most homeowners insurance policies in PA 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.
Use the HailCheck address search to enter any street address in or near Bethlehem. HailCheck returns every NOAA hail event within a configurable radius, along with severity bands, dates, and storm narratives for Pro members.
If your property in or near Bethlehem 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 ValidationBethlehem 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.