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 37 hail storms within 25 miles of Ruston, LA. Of those, 31 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 13 documented hail events.
Check Hail History for a Specific Address in Ruston| Severity | Count | What it means for roofs |
|---|---|---|
| Destructive | 2 events | Egg-size, expect mat fractures and gutter damage |
| Severe | 9 events | Ping pong-size, granule loss and bruising common |
| Significant | 20 events | Quarter-size, the standard insurance damage threshold |
| Moderate | 6 events | Marble-size, possible cosmetic damage |
| Year | Reported Hail Events Within 25 mi |
|---|---|
| 2026 | 8 events |
| 2025 | 13 events |
| 2024 | 2 events |
| 2023 | 10 events |
| 2022 | 4 events |
2025 was the busiest hail year on record locally for Ruston, with 13 documented events inside the 25-mile radius. Storm activity in Ruston 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-29 | CALHOUN, LA | Significant | 1.00" | Quarter size hail reported in Calhoun. |
| 2026-04-29 | 8 SSE Downsville, LA | Significant | 1.00" | Law Enforecement reports quarter size hail around Calhoun. |
| 2026-04-26 | CHAUTAUQUA SPGS, LA | Moderate | 0.75" | Penny size hail reported just north of Ruston, via Mping. |
| 2026-04-26 | CHAUTAUQUA SPGS, LA | Significant | 1.00" | Quarter size hail reported just north of Interstate 20 between Grambling and Ruston. |
| 2026-04-26 | CROSSROADS, LA | Severe | 1.50" | Hail dollar to ping pong ball size hail reported just west of the Antioch community near the intersection of Highway 544 and Highway 151. |
| 2026-04-26 | 2 NNE Grambling, LA | Significant | 1.00" | Estimated hail of at least quarter size a little north of Interstate 20 between Grambling and Ruston. |
| 2026-04-26 | 2 NW Ruston, LA | Moderate | 0.75" | Report from mPING: Dime (0.75 in.). |
| 2026-04-26 | 6 NE Arcadia, LA | Severe | 1.50" | Hail of at least half dollar to ping pong size just west of the Antioch community, near the intersection of LA-544 & LA-151. |
| 2025-09-17 | DOUGLAS, LA | Moderate | 0.75" | A photo of dime to penny size hail that fell in the Douglas community was posted to social media. |
| 2025-05-02 | CHENIERE, LA | Significant | 1.00" | Quarter size hail fell at the intersection of Highway 546 and New Natchitoches Road. |
| 2025-05-02 | DOWNSVILLE, LA | Severe | 1.50" | A report of ping pong ball size hail that fell in Downsville was posted to social media. |
| 2025-04-22 | EUREKA, LA | Severe | 1.75" | Golfball size hail fell northwest of the Cheniere-Drew community in Northwest Ouachita Parish. |
| 2025-03-23 | BIENVILLE, LA | Significant | 1.00" | Quarter size hail reported in Bienville. |
| 2025-03-23 | BERNICE, LA | Severe | 1.75" | Golf ball size hail reported just southeast of Bernice. |
| 2025-03-23 | OAK GROVE, LA | Significant | 1.00" | Quarter size hail reported along Highway 80 between Arcadia and Simsboro. |
| 2025-03-23 | BERNICE, LA | Significant | 1.25" | Quarter to half dollar size hail reported just west of Bernice. |
| 2025-03-23 | POINT, LA | Severe | 1.75" | Golf ball size hail reported on Highway 552 in the Point community. |
| 2025-03-23 | POINT, LA | Significant | 1.00" | Quarter size hail reported in the Point community. |
| 2025-03-23 | FARMERVILLE, LA | Significant | 1.00" | Quarter size hail reported on Highway 143 in Rocky Branch north of the National Wildlife Refuge. |
| 2025-03-23 | DOWNSVILLE, LA | Significant | 1.00" | Quarter size hail reported along Highway 15 between Chelsea Lane and Moseleys Bluff Road. |
NOAA has recorded 109 high-wind events within 25 miles of Ruston, LA in the past five years. Of those, 109 reached severe-thunderstorm thresholds (58+ mph). The highest measured gust was 96 mph.
| Severity | Count |
|---|---|
| Severe | 42 events |
| Significant | 67 events |
| Date | Location | Gust (mph) | Severity | NOAA Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-29 | FARMERVILLE ARPT, LA | 60 | Significant | Tree downed at the intersection of Highway 2 and Skyline Drive. |
| 2026-04-26 | FARMERVILLE, LA | 60 | Significant | Large tree downed just north of Farmerville. |
| 2026-03-15 | EROS, LA | 60 | Significant | Trees downed near Eros in the vicinity of Highway 144 and Highway 158. |
| 2026-03-15 | GIBSLAND, LA | 60 | Significant | Trees and power lines downed throughout the town of Gibsland. |
| 2026-03-15 | ARCADIA, LA | 60 | Significant | Trees and power lines downed throughout the town of Arcadia. |
| 2025-10-18 | GIBSLAND, LA | 70 | Severe | Trees and power lines were downed in Gibsland. |
| 2025-10-18 | VIENNA, LA | 70 | Severe | Numerous trees and power lines were downed and blocking Highway 146 near the intersection of Woods Road near Vienna. |
| 2025-10-18 | VIENNA, LA | 70 | Severe | Trees were downed on Simmons Road near Highway 146 just southwest of Vienna. |
| 2025-10-18 | BARNET SPGS, LA | 70 | Severe | Trees were downed onto Tech Farm Road near the intersection of Highway 3061 south of Ruston. |
| 2025-10-18 | DUBACH, LA | 64 | Severe | Trees were blown down in Dubach. |
| 2025-10-18 | DOWNSVILLE, LA | 70 | Severe | Trees were blown down in Downsville. |
| 2025-09-16 | SIBLEY, LA | 60 | Significant | A tree was downed near a home in the Choudrant/Sibley area in Eastern Lincoln Parish. |
| 2025-08-28 | LISBON, LA | 60 | Significant | Trees downed at the intersection of Highway 2 and Highway 518. |
| 2025-08-20 | SIMSBORO, LA | 60 | Significant | Tree downed onto a house. |
| 2025-08-17 | CARLTON, LA | 60 | Significant | A tree was downed near Calhoun. |
| 2025-08-17 | FARMERVILLE ARPT, LA | 60 | Significant | Trees down across Highway 2 East at Stewart Road. |
| 2025-07-31 | TULIP, LA | 70 | Severe | Multiple trees and power lines were downed throughout Claiborne Parish, including near and north of the Athens area. |
| 2025-07-29 | CALHOUN, LA | 60 | Significant | A tree was blown down along Highway 151 in Calhoun. |
| 2025-07-29 | CARLTON, LA | 60 | Significant | A tree was blown down along Highway 837 north of Calhoun. |
| 2025-06-11 | DOWNSVILLE, LA | 60 | Significant | Several trees downed in and around the Downsville community. |
The most recent quarter-size-or-larger hail storm recorded by NOAA within 25 miles of Ruston was on April 29, 2026. HailCheck refreshes from the NOAA Storm Events database daily, so newer events appear here as they are reported.
Ruston averages roughly 7 reported hail events per year within a 25-mile radius. Significant storms (quarter-size or larger) account for 31 of the 37 events recorded over the last five years.
The largest documented hail near Ruston in the last five years was egg-sized. Most Ruston-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 LA 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 Ruston. 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 Ruston 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 ValidationRuston 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.