Fort Smith Hail — Storm History & NOAA Data for Fort Smith, AR

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 141 hail storms within 25 miles of Fort Smith, AR. Of those, 102 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. 2026 was the most active year on record locally, with 41 documented hail events.

Check Hail History for a Specific Address in Fort Smith

Hail Severity Breakdown — Fort Smith Area (Last 5 Years)

Severity	Count	What it means for roofs
Catastrophic	1 event	Baseball+ size, structural roof damage likely
Destructive	16 events	Egg-size, expect mat fractures and gutter damage
Severe	16 events	Ping pong-size, granule loss and bruising common
Significant	69 events	Quarter-size, the standard insurance damage threshold
Moderate	39 events	Marble-size, possible cosmetic damage

Fort Smith Hail Storms by Year

Year	Reported Hail Events Within 25 mi
2026	41 events
2025	22 events
2024	19 events
2023	27 events
2022	32 events

2026 was the busiest hail year on record locally for Fort Smith, with 41 documented events inside the 25-mile radius. Storm activity in Fort Smith 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 Fort Smith Hail Storms

May 9, 2026 — Destructive hail (egg-sized) reported near 3 N Muldrow. This storm met the quarter-size insurance damage threshold and is a candidate date when filing a claim for Fort Smith-area properties.
May 9, 2026 — Significant hail (quarter-sized or larger) reported near Roland. This storm met the quarter-size insurance damage threshold and is a candidate date when filing a claim for Fort Smith-area properties.
May 9, 2026 — Significant hail (quarter-sized or larger) reported near Muldrow. This storm met the quarter-size insurance damage threshold and is a candidate date when filing a claim for Fort Smith-area properties.
May 9, 2026 — Significant hail (quarter-sized or larger) reported near 2 SW Van Buren. This storm met the quarter-size insurance damage threshold and is a candidate date when filing a claim for Fort Smith-area properties.
May 9, 2026 — Significant hail (quarter-sized or larger) reported near 1 S Fort Smith. This storm met the quarter-size insurance damage threshold and is a candidate date when filing a claim for Fort Smith-area properties.

Recent Hail Events Near Fort Smith

Date	Location	Severity	Size	NOAA Comments
2026-08-21	2 NE Bonanza, AR	Moderate	0.50"	Report from mPING: Half-inch (0.50 in.).
2026-05-09	3 N Muldrow, OK	Destructive	2.50"	Picture of hail damage to a vehicle relayed by broadcast media. Hail was estimated to be tennis ball size. Time approximated from KSRX radar.
2026-05-09	Roland, OK	Significant	1.00"	—
2026-05-09	Muldrow, OK	Significant	1.00"	Time estimated via radar.
2026-05-09	2 SW Van Buren, AR	Significant	1.00"	Relayed via spotter network.
2026-05-09	2 N Barling, AR	Moderate	0.75"	Report from mPING: Dime (0.75 in.). Time estimated from radar.
2026-05-09	1 S Fort Smith, AR	Significant	1.25"	—
2026-05-09	1 N Van Buren, AR	Significant	1.00"	Relayed via spotter network.
2026-05-09	1 N Barling, AR	Significant	1.00"	Report from mPING: Quarter (1.00 in.).
2026-05-09	Central City, AR	Moderate	0.88"	Numerous dime to nickel size hail reported to broadcast media from Barling to Central City. Time estimated from radar.
2026-05-09	1 E Fort Smith, AR	Severe	1.75"	—
2026-05-09	1 W Barling, AR	Significant	1.25"	Damage to vegetation reported. Time revised from radar estimate.
2026-05-09	1 SW Fort Smith, AR	Significant	1.00"	Report from mPING: Quarter (1.00 in.).
2026-05-08	MULDROW, OK	Destructive	2.50"	Hail up to tennis ball size damaged homes and vehicles.
2026-05-08	MULDROW, OK	Significant	1.00"	—
2026-05-08	ROLAND, OK	Significant	1.00"	—
2026-05-08	OAK PARK, AR	Significant	1.00"	—
2026-05-08	FT SMITH, AR	Significant	1.25"	Hail up to half dollar size damaged homes and vehicles.
2026-05-08	FT SMITH, AR	Significant	1.00"	—
2026-05-08	FT SMITH, AR	Severe	1.75"	Hail up to golf ball size damaged homes, businesses, and vehicles.

Wind Storm History — Fort Smith Area (Last 5 Years)

NOAA has recorded 149 high-wind events within 25 miles of Fort Smith, AR in the past five years. Of those, 149 reached severe-thunderstorm thresholds (58+ mph). The highest measured gust was 85 mph.

Severity	Count
Severe	124 events
Significant	25 events

Recent Wind Events Near Fort Smith

Date	Location	Gust (mph)	Severity	NOAA Comments
2026-09-07	3 E Mill Creek, AR	59	Significant	Peak gust observed at KFSM.
2026-06-22	PANAMA, OK	64	Severe	Strong thunderstorm wind blew down power lines in Panama.
2026-06-22	SHADY PT, OK	64	Severe	Strong thunderstorm wind blew down power lines in Shady Point.
2026-06-22	HUNTINGTON, AR	70	Severe	Strong thunderstorm wind blew down a tree.
2026-06-22	URSULA, AR	70	Severe	Strong thunderstorm wind blew down a tree onto Highway 252.
2026-06-18	FT SMITH, AR	70	Severe	Strong thunderstorm wind blew down a tree near the intersection of Waldron Road and Grand Avenue.
2026-05-19	MOUNTAINBURG, AR	60	Significant	Strong thunderstorm wind snapped large tree limbs.
2026-04-25	GREENWOOD, AR	64	Severe	Strong thunderstorm wind snapped large tree limbs, some of which fell onto power lines.
2026-04-15	URSULA, AR	70	Severe	Strong thunderstorm wind blew down a tree onto Highway 22 near Plantation Lane.
2026-04-15	BONANZA, AR	70	Severe	Strong thunderstorm wind blew down a tree onto Bear Hollow Road near Bear Hollow Heights.
2026-04-15	JENSON, AR	70	Severe	Strong thunderstorm wind blew down a tree onto Bear Hollow Road near Highway 45.
2026-04-15	CHARLESTON, AR	70	Severe	Strong thunderstorm wind blew down a tree onto power lines.
2026-04-15	JENSON, AR	70	Severe	Strong thunderstorm wind blew down a tree onto Highway 45.
2026-04-04	SALLISAW ARPT, OK	64	Severe	Strong thunderstorm wind snapped large tree limbs.
2026-04-04	MULDROW, OK	70	Severe	Strong thunderstorm wind damaged an outbuilding.
2026-04-04	MULDROW, OK	81	Severe	Strong thunderstorm wind uprooted a tree, snapped large tree limbs, and damaged the roof of a home in a broad area from south of Muldrow to Shady Grove.
2026-04-04	ROLAND, OK	75	Severe	Strong thunderstorm wind uprooted a tree.
2026-04-04	VAN BUREN, AR	70	Severe	Strong thunderstorm wind split a tree, and a large portion of it fell onto a house on Sylvan Hills Road.
2026-04-04	FIGURE FIVE, AR	70	Severe	Strong thunderstorm wind blew down a tree onto Richmond Road.
2026-04-04	OAK PARK, AR	70	Severe	Strong thunderstorm wind blew down a tree on Riverfront Drive near Williams Lane.

Frequently Asked Questions About Fort Smith Hail

When was the last major hail storm in Fort Smith, AR?

The most recent quarter-size-or-larger hail storm recorded by NOAA within 25 miles of Fort Smith was on May 9, 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 Fort Smith?

Fort Smith averages roughly 28 reported hail events per year within a 25-mile radius. Significant storms (quarter-size or larger) account for 102 of the 141 events recorded over the last five years.

How big does hail typically get in Fort Smith?

The largest documented hail near Fort Smith in the last five years was baseball-sized or larger. Most Fort Smith-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 AR?

Most homeowners insurance policies in AR 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 Fort Smith address?

Use the HailCheck address search to enter any street address in or near Fort Smith. 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 Fort Smith

If your property in or near Fort Smith 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 Fort Smith's Location Matters for Hail

Fort Smith sits inside the central United States hail belt, where warm Gulf moisture collides with cold continental air to produce supercell thunderstorms capable of dropping the hail documented above. Properties in this zone typically see at least one significant hail event every two to four years.