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 33 hail storms within 25 miles of Rochester, NY. Of those, 19 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 11 documented hail events.
Check Hail History for a Specific Address in Rochester| Severity | Count | What it means for roofs |
|---|---|---|
| Destructive | 1 event | Egg-size, expect mat fractures and gutter damage |
| Severe | 4 events | Ping pong-size, granule loss and bruising common |
| Significant | 14 events | Quarter-size, the standard insurance damage threshold |
| Moderate | 6 events | Marble-size, possible cosmetic damage |
| Minor | 8 events | Pea-size, unlikely to damage modern shingles |
| Year | Reported Hail Events Within 25 mi |
|---|---|
| 2026 | 9 events |
| 2025 | 11 events |
| 2024 | 5 events |
| 2023 | 3 events |
| 2022 | 5 events |
2025 was the busiest hail year on record locally for Rochester, with 11 documented events inside the 25-mile radius. Storm activity in Rochester 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-07-18 | Victor, NY | Significant | 1.25" | — |
| 2026-03-06 | 2 E Stafford, NY | Minor | 0.13" | — |
| 2026-03-06 | 2 NE Stafford, NY | Minor | 0.09" | — |
| 2026-03-06 | 2 NE Stafford, NY | Minor | 0.02" | — |
| 2026-03-06 | 3 SSE Gates-North Gates, NY | Minor | 0.07" | ASOS station KROC Rochester Airport. |
| 2026-03-06 | 2 W Henrietta, NY | Minor | 0.10" | Reported in West Henrietta Delayed report. |
| 2026-03-06 | Rochester Airport, NY | Minor | 0.15" | Average ice thickness measured on nearby trees. |
| 2026-03-06 | Ontario, NY | Minor | 0.25" | — |
| 2026-03-06 | 3 NE Webster, NY | Minor | 0.02" | — |
| 2025-11-03 | PITTSFORD, NY | Significant | 1.00" | Time estimated by radar. |
| 2025-07-03 | LAKEVILLE HANNAS ARP, NY | Significant | 1.00" | Quarter sized hail reported on Conesus Lake via trained spotter. |
| 2025-05-17 | SCOTTSVILLE, NY | Significant | 1.00" | — |
| 2025-05-17 | WEST HENRIETTA, NY | Moderate | 0.75" | Public report from MPing. |
| 2025-05-17 | WEST HENRIETTA, NY | Significant | 1.00" | Twitter report, size estimated from photo. |
| 2025-04-29 | AVON, NY | Moderate | 0.75" | — |
| 2025-04-29 | EAST AVON, NY | Moderate | 0.75" | — |
| 2025-04-29 | LIMA, NY | Significant | 1.00" | — |
| 2025-04-29 | HONEOYE FALLS ARPT, NY | Significant | 1.25" | Photo on social media of half dollar sized hail in Honeoye Falls. |
| 2025-04-29 | AVON, NY | Moderate | 0.75" | — |
| 2025-04-29 | SHORTSVILLE, NY | Moderate | 0.75" | — |
NOAA has recorded 150 high-wind events within 25 miles of Rochester, NY in the past five years. Of those, 150 reached severe-thunderstorm thresholds (58+ mph). The highest measured gust was 100 mph.
| Severity | Count |
|---|---|
| Destructive | 3 events |
| Significant | 147 events |
| Date | Location | Gust (mph) | Severity | NOAA Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-09-02 | 3 NE Irondequoit, NY | 54 | Significant | Mesonet station XIQB Irondequoit Bay. |
| 2026-06-18 | PALMYRA, NY | 58 | Significant | Multiple reports of trees and wires down across the Town of Palmyra. |
| 2026-06-11 | HONEOYE FALLS ARPT, NY | 58 | Significant | Multiple reports of trees and wires down across the town. |
| 2026-06-11 | RUSH, NY | 58 | Significant | A tree down blocking roadway. |
| 2026-06-11 | MURRAY, NY | 58 | Significant | Multiple reports of trees and wires down across the town. |
| 2026-06-11 | MENDON, NY | 58 | Significant | Multiple reports of trees and wires down across the town. |
| 2026-05-09 | HONEOYE FALLS ARPT, NY | 58 | Significant | Tree was downed. |
| 2026-05-09 | BYRON, NY | 58 | Significant | Trees and wires downed in Byron. |
| 2026-01-09 | YORK, NY | 58 | Significant | Trees and powerlines downed in York. |
| 2026-01-09 | CALEDONIA, NY | 58 | Significant | Trees and powerlines downed in Caledonia. |
| 2026-01-09 | VICTOR, NY | 58 | Significant | Trees fell on powerlines in Victor. |
| 2026-01-09 | MACEDON LAKESTONE AR, NY | 58 | Significant | Tree downed on Farmington Road. |
| 2026-01-09 | NORTH FARMINGTON, NY | 58 | Significant | Tree down blocking Rausler Road. |
| 2026-01-09 | NORTH FARMINGTON, NY | 58 | Significant | Tree down blocking Hook Road. |
| 2025-11-03 | VICTOR, NY | 58 | Significant | Report of a few trees and powerlines downed across northern Victor. |
| 2025-08-24 | BRISTOL, NY | 58 | Significant | Tree downed and partially blocking Oakmount Road. |
| 2025-08-24 | EAST BLOOMFIELD, NY | 58 | Significant | Report of half of a tree and wires downed across State Route 444. |
| 2025-08-24 | HOLCOMB CREEKSIDE AR, NY | 58 | Significant | Tree downed blocking half of the road. |
| 2025-08-24 | CANANDAIGUA FLD, NY | 58 | Significant | Tree downed onto roadway. |
| 2025-05-17 | PADDELFORD, NY | 58 | Significant | Tree downed, blocking most of Risser Road. |
The most recent quarter-size-or-larger hail storm recorded by NOAA within 25 miles of Rochester was on July 18, 2026. HailCheck refreshes from the NOAA Storm Events database daily, so newer events appear here as they are reported.
Rochester averages roughly 7 reported hail events per year within a 25-mile radius. Significant storms (quarter-size or larger) account for 19 of the 33 events recorded over the last five years.
The largest documented hail near Rochester in the last five years was egg-sized. Most Rochester-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 NY 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 Rochester. 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 Rochester 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 ValidationRochester 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.