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 64 hail storms within 25 miles of Charleston, WV. Of those, 45 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 egg-sized, which can fracture shingle mat and dent metal flashing on contact. 2025 was the most active year on record locally, with 33 documented hail events.
Check Hail History for a Specific Address in Charleston| Severity | Count | What it means for roofs |
|---|---|---|
| Destructive | 1 event | Egg-size, expect mat fractures and gutter damage |
| Severe | 19 events | Ping pong-size, granule loss and bruising common |
| Significant | 25 events | Quarter-size, the standard insurance damage threshold |
| Moderate | 19 events | Marble-size, possible cosmetic damage |
| Year | Reported Hail Events Within 25 mi |
|---|---|
| 2026 | 11 events |
| 2025 | 33 events |
| 2024 | 3 events |
| 2023 | 5 events |
| 2022 | 12 events |
2025 was the busiest hail year on record locally for Charleston, with 33 documented events inside the 25-mile radius. Storm activity in Charleston 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-05-20 | 2 N Cross Lanes, WV | Moderate | 0.50" | Report from mPING: Half-inch (0.50 in.). |
| 2026-05-20 | Poca, WV | Significant | 1.00" | Reports of nickel to quarter size hail. |
| 2026-05-20 | 2 SW Sissonville, WV | Significant | 1.25" | Report from mPING: Half Dollar (1.25 in.). |
| 2026-05-20 | 1 S Poca, WV | Significant | 1.00" | Report from mPING: Quarter (1.00 in.). |
| 2026-05-20 | 4 ESE Clendenin, WV | Significant | 1.25" | — |
| 2026-05-20 | Clendenin, WV | Severe | 1.75" | Verified through social media picture. |
| 2026-05-20 | 1 N Sissonville, WV | Significant | 1.00" | Social media video showing quarter size hail. |
| 2026-05-13 | Pinch, WV | Moderate | 0.50" | Report from mPING: Half-inch (0.50 in.). Time is estimated by radar. |
| 2026-04-02 | 1 SW Dunbar, WV | Moderate | 0.75" | Report from mPING: Dime (0.75 in.). |
| 2026-04-02 | Dunbar, WV | Moderate | 0.70" | Time estimated from radar. |
| 2026-04-01 | SPRING HILL, WV | Moderate | 0.75" | — |
| 2025-05-05 | SOUTH RUFFNER, WV | Moderate | 0.75" | — |
| 2025-05-05 | (CRW) YEAGER ARPT, WV | Significant | 1.00" | — |
| 2025-05-05 | SOUTH PARK, WV | Moderate | 0.75" | — |
| 2025-05-05 | ELK, WV | Moderate | 0.75" | — |
| 2025-05-05 | CREED, WV | Significant | 1.00" | — |
| 2025-05-05 | RUTLEDGE, WV | Moderate | 0.88" | — |
| 2025-05-05 | ELKVIEW, WV | Significant | 1.00" | — |
| 2025-05-05 | BLUNDON, WV | Significant | 1.00" | — |
| 2025-05-05 | SISSONVILLE, WV | Significant | 1.00" | — |
NOAA has recorded 355 high-wind events within 25 miles of Charleston, WV in the past five years. Of those, 355 reached severe-thunderstorm thresholds (58+ mph). The highest measured gust was 85 mph.
| Severity | Count |
|---|---|
| Severe | 22 events |
| Significant | 333 events |
| Date | Location | Gust (mph) | Severity | NOAA Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-09-21 | 3 S Sissonville, WV | 60 | Significant | — |
| 2026-07-21 | 9 WSW Marmet, WV | 55 | Significant | Reported on a personal weather station. |
| 2026-06-22 | BARLOW, WV | 52 | Significant | A downed tree occurred along I-79 south just before the Mink Shoals exit, blocking the right lane. |
| 2026-06-18 | SPRING HILL, WV | 58 | Significant | A tree fell and blocked Kanawha Turnpike at the 4600 block. |
| 2026-06-18 | LORY, WV | 58 | Significant | Several trees were downed in and near Julian, including on Camp Creek and Johns Hollow Roads. |
| 2026-06-18 | KENNA, WV | 58 | Significant | Multiple trees were downed across the southern part of the county. |
| 2026-06-14 | SOUTH RUFFNER, WV | 52 | Significant | In the South Hills of Charleston, a tree was blown down at the intersection of South Ruffner Road and Shady Lane. |
| 2026-06-14 | SYLVESTER, WV | 52 | Significant | In Sylvester, a tree was blown down on Coal River Road. |
| 2026-06-14 | BLUE CREEK, WV | 58 | Significant | Hundreds of homes around Elkview were without power due to tree and power line damage. |
| 2026-06-14 | BLACK BETSEY, WV | 58 | Significant | A power pole and lines were blown down on CR-5 near Hidden Farms Road. |
| 2026-06-14 | POCATALICO, WV | 58 | Significant | Over 800 customers in the Pocatalico area were without power due to tree damage. |
| 2026-06-14 | KETTLE, WV | 52 | Significant | One downed tree was observed along Long Ridge Road. |
| 2026-06-12 | ANDREW, WV | 58 | Significant | In the community of Andrew, a downed tree was observed near Ridgeview Nellis Road. |
| 2026-06-12 | COSTA, WV | 58 | Significant | Trees and power lines were blown down on Loghouse Road off of Short Creek Road in Costa. |
| 2026-06-12 | ASHFORD, WV | 58 | Significant | A downed tree blocked portions of Price Hollow Road near Ashford Nellis Road. |
| 2026-06-12 | RUTH, WV | 58 | Significant | A downed tree was observed along Parkway Road. |
| 2026-06-12 | BUNKER HILL, WV | 58 | Significant | A downed tree was observed along 7th Avenue in Dunbar. |
| 2026-05-27 | ASHFORD, WV | 58 | Significant | Numerous trees and power lines were blown down along Ashford-Nellis Road at Casey Fork. |
| 2026-05-27 | JULIAN, WV | 58 | Significant | A tree was blown down on Middle Horse Creek Rd in the town of Julian. |
| 2026-05-27 | HARMONY, WV | 58 | Significant | Tree damage in the Harmony area resulted in approximately 100 homes to be without power. |
The most recent quarter-size-or-larger hail storm recorded by NOAA within 25 miles of Charleston was on May 20, 2026. HailCheck refreshes from the NOAA Storm Events database daily, so newer events appear here as they are reported.
Charleston averages roughly 13 reported hail events per year within a 25-mile radius. Significant storms (quarter-size or larger) account for 45 of the 64 events recorded over the last five years.
The largest documented hail near Charleston in the last five years was egg-sized. Most Charleston-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 WV 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 Charleston. 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 Charleston 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 ValidationCharleston 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.