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 76 hail storms within 25 miles of Columbia, SC. Of those, 23 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. 2022 was the most active year on record locally, with 30 documented hail events.
Check Hail History for a Specific Address in Columbia| Severity | Count | What it means for roofs |
|---|---|---|
| Destructive | 2 events | Egg-size, expect mat fractures and gutter damage |
| Severe | 5 events | Ping pong-size, granule loss and bruising common |
| Significant | 16 events | Quarter-size, the standard insurance damage threshold |
| Moderate | 23 events | Marble-size, possible cosmetic damage |
| Minor | 30 events | Pea-size, unlikely to damage modern shingles |
| Year | Reported Hail Events Within 25 mi |
|---|---|
| 2026 | 8 events |
| 2024 | 26 events |
| 2023 | 12 events |
| 2022 | 30 events |
2022 was the busiest hail year on record locally for Columbia, with 30 documented events inside the 25-mile radius. Storm activity in Columbia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-09-06 | 6 NE Gilbert, SC | Significant | 1.25" | Trained spotter reported pea sized up to half dollar sized hail around 400 block of Calks Ferry Road, Lexington 29072. |
| 2026-09-06 | 3 W Red Bank, SC | Moderate | 0.75" | Report from mPING of Dime Sized Hail. |
| 2026-09-06 | 5 W Lexington, SC | Destructive | 2.00" | Corrects previous hail report from 5 W Lexington. Broadcast Media relayed a picture via SLACK of 1.5 to 2 inch hail. Time estimated by radar. |
| 2026-09-06 | 5 W Lexington, SC | Destructive | 2.00" | Broadcast Media relayed a picture via SLACK of 1.5 to 2 inch hail. Time estimated by radar. |
| 2026-09-05 | Columbia, SC | Minor | 0.25" | Broadcast media reported via SLACK of Pea Sized Hail falling at their studio. |
| 2026-09-05 | 4 NE Elgin, SC | Minor | 0.25" | Lugoff FD reported via SLACK Pea Sized Hail between Lugoff and Elgin. |
| 2026-09-05 | 5 SE Blythewood, SC | Moderate | 0.50" | mPING report of Half-inch (0.50 in.) Hail. Time estimated by radar. |
| 2026-08-10 | 2 E Sesquicentennial SP, SC | Moderate | 0.70" | Spotter reported dime sized hail along I-20. |
| 2024-06-04 | LEXINGTON, SC | Moderate | 0.88" | Spotter relayed through social media an estimate of nickel-sized hail. |
| 2024-02-23 | RED BANK, SC | Moderate | 0.50" | An mPING report of half inch hail about 1 mile east of Red Bank was received. |
| 2024-02-23 | KATHWOOD, SC | Minor | 0.25" | Public report of pea size hail on 12th St in West Columbia. |
| 2024-02-23 | ARTHURTOWN, SC | Minor | 0.25" | Public report of pea size hail at Bluff Rd and George Rogers Blvd in Columbia. |
| 2024-02-23 | LEXINGTON, SC | Minor | 0.25" | Multiple reports from the public of pea size hail in Lexington were received. |
| 2024-02-23 | (CAE)COLUMBIA METRO, SC | Minor | 0.25" | Pea size hail observed at the National Weather Service office at the Columbia Metropolitan Airport. |
| 2024-02-23 | RED BANK, SC | Moderate | 0.50" | An mPING report of half inch hail about 2 miles east of Red Bank was received. |
| 2024-02-23 | (CAE)COLUMBIA METRO, SC | Moderate | 0.70" | A retired NWS meteorologist reported dime size hail in Three Fountains. |
| 2024-02-23 | COLUMBIA, SC | Minor | 0.25" | Public reported pea size hail on Main St in Columbia. |
| 2024-02-23 | ARTHUR, SC | Minor | 0.25" | Public report of pea size hail in Oak Grove. |
| 2024-02-23 | CAPITOL VIEW, SC | Minor | 0.25" | Public reported pea size hail on Oxford Commons Way. |
| 2024-02-23 | CAPITOL VIEW, SC | Moderate | 0.50" | Public reported half inch hail about 3 miles E of Owens Field. |
NOAA has recorded 354 high-wind events within 25 miles of Columbia, SC in the past five years. Of those, 349 reached severe-thunderstorm thresholds (58+ mph). The highest measured gust was 90 mph.
| Severity | Count |
|---|---|
| Severe | 63 events |
| Significant | 286 events |
| Moderate | 5 events |
| Date | Location | Gust (mph) | Severity | NOAA Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-09-06 | 3 W Red Bank, SC | 70 | Severe | NWS Employee estimated winds of 65-70 mph and small hail at their location. |
| 2026-09-05 | 5 W Red Bank, SC | 65 | Severe | Trained spotter reported via X wind gusts between 55 and 65 mph from 5:40pm and 5:45pm near the intersection of Persimmon Lane and Smith Road with power out across a large part of the area. |
| 2026-09-05 | 2 SW Lake Murray Dam, SC | 66 | Severe | Personal weather station recorded 4 separate peak gusts over 60 mph within a 15 minute period, peaking at 66 mph. |
| 2026-09-05 | 2 SW Lake Murray Dam, SC | 66 | Severe | Corrects previous tstm wnd gst report from 2 SW Lake Murray Dam. Personal weather station recorded 4 separate peak gusts over 60 mph within a 15 minute period, peaking at 66 mph. |
| 2026-08-05 | 1 S Lake Murray Dam, SC | 43 | Moderate | Richland County Mesonet Reports a 43 mph wind gust at 4:10 pm at the Lake Murray Dam. |
| 2026-07-27 | Owens Field, SC | 47 | Significant | — |
| 2026-06-18 | Columbia Metro Apt, SC | 52 | Significant | 52 mph gust recorded at Columbia Metropolitan Airport. |
| 2026-06-18 | RED BANK, SC | 60 | Significant | Lexington County 911 dispatch reported a tree fell on a vehicle near Crown Point Rd and Cabin Creek Ct. |
| 2026-06-18 | OLYMPIA MILLS, SC | 60 | Significant | Richland County Emergency Management reported trees fell on a residence along Howard St in Columbia. |
| 2026-06-18 | CAYCE, SC | 60 | Significant | Spotter reported 6-8 inch diameter branches downed on garage of home on Frink St in Cayce. |
| 2026-06-18 | EASTOVER, SC | 60 | Significant | Richland County Emergency Management reported trees fell along Vanboklen Rd. |
| 2026-06-18 | WOODLAND TERRACE, SC | 60 | Significant | Tree fell on power lines causing a fire at the Woodland Terrace Apartments. |
| 2026-06-18 | EAU CLAIRE, SC | 60 | Significant | Richland County Emergency Management reported trees fell on powerlines and a residence at Truman St near Calk St. |
| 2026-06-18 | EAU CLAIRE, SC | 60 | Significant | Richland County Emergency Management reported a tree fell on a residence at the 5000 block of Knightner St. |
| 2026-06-18 | LITTLE MTN, SC | 60 | Significant | SC Highway Patrol reported a tree down across I-26 near Little Mountain. |
| 2026-06-18 | FOREST ACRES, SC | 60 | Significant | SC Emergency Management Division employee reported the top third of a mature pine tree downed near the corner of Meadowood Rd and Sylvan Dr. |
| 2026-06-18 | MYRON MANOR, SC | 60 | Significant | Richland County Emergency Management reported trees fell on a residence along Adger Rd in Columbia. |
| 2026-06-18 | SMALLWOOD, SC | 60 | Significant | SC Highway Patrol reported a tree down across Boney Rd north of Blythewood. |
| 2026-06-14 | THOR, SC | 60 | Significant | Lexington County EM reported trees down near the intersection of Tindal Rd and Cedar Creek Rd. |
| 2026-06-14 | GASTON LEX CO ARPT, SC | 60 | Significant | Lexington County EM reported a tree down near the intersection of Sharon Church Rd and Sharon Acres Ln. |
The most recent quarter-size-or-larger hail storm recorded by NOAA within 25 miles of Columbia was on September 6, 2026. HailCheck refreshes from the NOAA Storm Events database daily, so newer events appear here as they are reported.
Columbia averages roughly 15 reported hail events per year within a 25-mile radius. Significant storms (quarter-size or larger) account for 23 of the 76 events recorded over the last five years.
The largest documented hail near Columbia in the last five years was egg-sized. Most Columbia-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 SC 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 Columbia. 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 Columbia 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 ValidationColumbia 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.