Ellicott City Hail — Storm History & NOAA Data for Ellicott City, MD

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 39 hail storms within 25 miles of Ellicott City, MD. Of those, 36 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 14 documented hail events.

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Hail Severity Breakdown — Ellicott City Area (Last 5 Years)

SeverityCountWhat it means for roofs
Destructive1 eventEgg-size, expect mat fractures and gutter damage
Severe7 eventsPing pong-size, granule loss and bruising common
Significant28 eventsQuarter-size, the standard insurance damage threshold
Moderate3 eventsMarble-size, possible cosmetic damage

Ellicott City Hail Storms by Year

YearReported Hail Events Within 25 mi
20268 events
202514 events
20244 events
202311 events
20222 events

2025 was the busiest hail year on record locally for Ellicott City, with 14 documented events inside the 25-mile radius. Storm activity in Ellicott City 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 Ellicott City Hail Storms

Recent Hail Events Near Ellicott City

DateLocationSeveritySizeNOAA Comments
2026-07-28 Highlandtown, MD Moderate 0.75" Pea to dime size hail
2026-07-28 1 N Highlandtown, MD Severe 1.75" Golf ball size hail
2026-07-28 Dundalk, MD Severe 1.75" Quarter to golf ball size hail in the Dundalk area. Time estimated.
2026-07-05 1 WNW Finksburg, MD Significant 1.00" —
2026-07-05 3 SW Hampstead, MD Significant 1.25" About a dozen trees snapped and uprooted at a residence in the 300 block of Paper Mill Drive. Also observed half dollar size hail. Numerous trees down in the area from likely significant downburst.
2026-07-05 1 SSE Reese, MD Significant 1.00" —
2026-07-05 Hampstead, MD Moderate 0.75" —
2026-07-04 1 N South Gate, MD Moderate 0.75" —
2025-06-29 DUNDALK, MD Significant 1.00" Quarter size hail was reported near Dundalk.
2025-06-18 ODENTON, MD Significant 1.00" Quarter size hail was reported near Odenton.
2025-06-18 ROBINSON, MD Significant 1.00" Quarter size hail was reported on Eastway.
2025-06-18 PIONEER CITY, MD Significant 1.25" Half dollar size hail was reported on Reece Road near Wigle Road.
2025-06-18 DELMONT, MD Significant 1.25" Half dollar size hail was reported on Maple Tree Road.
2025-05-16 EMORY GROVE, MD Significant 1.00" Quarter size hail was reported north of Reisterstown.
2025-05-16 WESTMINSTER ARPT, MD Severe 1.50" Ping pong ball size hail was reported near Westminster.
2025-05-16 FOWBLESBURG, MD Destructive 2.50" Tennis ball size hail was reported south-southeast of Hampstead.
2025-05-16 MEXICO, MD Significant 1.00" Quarter size hail was reported east-northeast of Westminster.
2025-05-03 CEDAR GROVE, MD Significant 1.00" Quarter size hail was reported near Damascus.
2025-05-03 GLENWOOD, MD Severe 1.50" Ping pong ball size hail was reported near Glenwood.
2025-05-03 TIMONIUM, MD Severe 1.75" Golf ball size hail was reported near Timonium.

Wind Storm History — Ellicott City Area (Last 5 Years)

NOAA has recorded 451 high-wind events within 25 miles of Ellicott City, MD in the past five years. Of those, 450 reached severe-thunderstorm thresholds (58+ mph). The highest measured gust was 92 mph.

SeverityCount
Severe123 events
Significant327 events
Moderate1 event

Recent Wind Events Near Ellicott City

DateLocationGust (mph)SeverityNOAA Comments
2026-07-28 Riverdale, MD 58 Significant A wind gust of 50 knots (58 MPH) was measured by a mesonet in Riverdale (AU722/KB3PHD).
2026-07-28 Riverdale, MD 58 Significant A wind gust of 50 knots (58 MPH) was measured by a mesonet in Riverdale (AU722/KB3PHD).
2026-07-18 BWI Marshall Airport, MD 61 Significant A wind gust of 53 knots (61 MPH) was measured by the ASOS at Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (KBWI).
2026-07-06 4 S Middle River, MD 58 Significant —
2026-07-05 2 NNW Olney, MD 60 Significant Measured wind gust from a trained spotter at the intersection of MD-108 and Zion Rd.
2026-07-04 BWI Marshall Airport, MD 58 Significant A wind gust of 50 knots (58 MPH) was measured by the ASOS at Baltimore-Washington Thurgood Marshall International Airport (KBWI).
2026-07-04 2 N Henryton, MD 81 Severe A wind gust of 70 knots (81 MPH) was measured by a trained spotter near the intersection of Ridge Road and Brangles Road. Hundreds of large trees blew down in the area.
2026-06-22 CONAWAYS, MD 64 Severe There were about a dozen phone calls for trees and/or powerlines down around Crofton.
2026-06-13 1 SE Parole, MD 63 Significant —
2026-06-13 2 SSE Arnold, MD 58 Significant —
2026-06-12 PAROLE, MD 60 Significant A tree blew down in 400 block along Halsey Road.
2026-06-12 CROWNSVILLE, MD 70 Severe Numerous trees blew down along Generals Highway.
2026-06-12 ARNOLD, MD 60 Significant A tree blew down on Riverside Road and Winchester Road.
2026-06-12 ARNOLD, MD 58 Significant A wind gust of 50 knots (58 MPH) was measured by a mesonet near Arnold.
2026-06-11 BLADENSBURG, MD 60 Significant A large tree blew down in the front yard of a residence on 59th Avenue.
2026-06-11 CAROLE HIGHLANDS, MD 64 Severe Numerous trees blew down in Prince George's County.
2026-06-11 KENSINGTON ESTATES, MD 60 Significant Large tree limbs blew down in Kensington.
2026-06-11 LAYHILL, MD 60 Significant A tree fell onto a person along the Matthew Henson Trail resulting in a fatality.
2026-06-11 CONAWAYS, MD 60 Significant Multiple trees blew down near Odenton.
2026-06-11 GAMBER, MD 60 Significant A tree blew down at London Bridge Road.

Frequently Asked Questions About Ellicott City Hail

When was the last major hail storm in Ellicott City, MD?

The most recent quarter-size-or-larger hail storm recorded by NOAA within 25 miles of Ellicott City was on July 28, 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 Ellicott City?

Ellicott City averages roughly 8 reported hail events per year within a 25-mile radius. Significant storms (quarter-size or larger) account for 36 of the 39 events recorded over the last five years.

How big does hail typically get in Ellicott City?

The largest documented hail near Ellicott City in the last five years was egg-sized. Most Ellicott City-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 MD?

Most homeowners insurance policies in MD 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 Ellicott City address?

Use the HailCheck address search to enter any street address in or near Ellicott City. 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 Ellicott City

If your property in or near Ellicott City 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 Ellicott City's Location Matters for Hail

Ellicott City 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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