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 25 hail storms within 25 miles of San Benito, TX. Of those, 21 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. 2023 was the most active year on record locally, with 16 documented hail events.
Check Hail History for a Specific Address in San Benito| Severity | Count | What it means for roofs |
|---|---|---|
| Destructive | 4 events | Egg-size, expect mat fractures and gutter damage |
| Severe | 3 events | Ping pong-size, granule loss and bruising common |
| Significant | 14 events | Quarter-size, the standard insurance damage threshold |
| Moderate | 4 events | Marble-size, possible cosmetic damage |
| Year | Reported Hail Events Within 25 mi |
|---|---|
| 2026 | 2 events |
| 2025 | 7 events |
| 2023 | 16 events |
2023 was the busiest hail year on record locally for San Benito, with 16 documented events inside the 25-mile radius. Storm activity in San Benito 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-05-09 | PALMETAL, TX | Moderate | 0.75" | The public reported hail up to 0.75 inches in diameter 2 miles south of Harlingen. |
| 2026-05-09 | 2 S Harlingen, TX | Moderate | 0.75" | Public reported hail up to 0.75 of an inch 2 miles south of Harlingen at 10:21 AM. |
| 2025-11-01 | (BRO)BROWNSVILLE ARP, TX | Significant | 1.00" | Public reported quarter size hail 5 miles east of Brownsville, TX. |
| 2025-11-01 | (BRO)BROWNSVILLE ARP, TX | Significant | 1.25" | NWS Brownsville observed and measured hail of 1.25 inches at the weather office just northeast of Brownsville/South Padre Island International Airport. |
| 2025-11-01 | LOS FRESNOS, TX | Significant | 1.00" | Public reported hail of 1 inch in diameter one mile east of Los Fresnos, TX. |
| 2025-11-01 | MONTE GRANDE, TX | Significant | 1.25" | The public reported estimated hail size of 1.25 inches in Arroyo City, TX. |
| 2025-05-08 | WESLACO, TX | Significant | 1.00" | Broadcast media shared a resident report of estimated 1 inch hail in Weslaco. Time estimated based on radar data. |
| 2025-05-08 | RETAMPEGO, TX | Severe | 1.50" | A member of the public reported 1.5 inch hail via Facebook, about 1 mile east of Progreso near the international border. |
| 2025-05-08 | WESLACO MID VLY ARPT, TX | Significant | 1.00" | Broadcast media shared a video from a resident with estimated quarter size hail at the intersection of Mile 9 and 1015 north of Weslaco. |
| 2023-06-05 | MONTE GRANDE, TX | Destructive | 2.00" | Member of the public shared a picture of a hail stone estimated to be around 2 inches. Timing based on radar. |
| 2023-06-05 | SAN BENITO, TX | Significant | 1.00" | Member of the public shared a picture of quarter size hail in the San Benito area. Timing based report given by the public and radar. |
| 2023-06-05 | LAURELES, TX | Moderate | 0.88" | An NWS employee reported hail of penny to nickel size around 3:33PM CDT northeast of Los Fresnos. |
| 2023-06-04 | VILLA NUEVA, TX | Severe | 1.75" | Member of the public shared pictures of three hail stones all larger than a quarter. They were estimated to be about the size of a golf ball. Time estimated by radar. |
| 2023-06-04 | MAUDLIN ARPT, TX | Severe | 1.75" | Member of the public shared pictures of three hail stones all larger than a quarter. They were estimated to be about the size of a golf ball. Time estimated by radar. |
| 2023-06-04 | EVAN, TX | Moderate | 0.88" | A member of the public reported pea and nickel sized hail at the Brownsville Flea Market around 8:11 PM. Time estimated by the time of the report and radar. |
| 2023-06-04 | VILLA NUEVA, TX | Significant | 1.25" | Trained spotter called to report half dollar sized hail at Riverbend Resort in Brownsville, TX. |
| 2023-06-04 | OLMITO, TX | Significant | 1.00" | A member of the public reported quarter sized hail at 8:07 PM in north Brownsville through social media. |
| 2023-06-04 | VILLA CAVAZOS, TX | Destructive | 2.00" | Member of the public shared a picture of hail with an estimated size of 2 inches from the corner of FM1421 and FM1732 in Cameron County. Time estimated by radar. |
| 2023-06-04 | SAN BENITO MUNI ARPT, TX | Destructive | 2.00" | A member of the public shared a picture of a hail stone around 2 inches in diameter. Time estimated by the report and radar. |
| 2023-04-21 | ADAMS GARDENS, TX | Significant | 1.00" | A HAM radio operator reported nickel (0.88) to quarter (1.0) sized hail on the north side of La Feria. |
NOAA has recorded 59 high-wind events within 25 miles of San Benito, TX in the past five years. Of those, 59 reached severe-thunderstorm thresholds (58+ mph). The highest measured gust was 85 mph.
| Severity | Count |
|---|---|
| Severe | 29 events |
| Significant | 30 events |
| Date | Location | Gust (mph) | Severity | NOAA Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-05-27 | 5 ENE Bayview, TX | 61 | Significant | At 9:32 AM, ASOS/AWOS site at Port Isabel-Cameron County Airport measured a wind gust of 61 mph associated with a thunderstorm. |
| 2026-05-27 | PORT ISABEL ARPT, TX | 61 | Significant | AWOS site at Port Isabel-Cameron County Airport measured a wind gusts of 61 mph. |
| 2026-05-20 | 5 ENE Bayview, TX | 64 | Severe | Port Isabel-Cameron Country Airport measured a wind gust of 64 mph associated with a thunderstorm at 7:26 AM. |
| 2026-05-20 | PORT ISABEL ARPT, TX | 64 | Severe | Port Isabel-Cameron County Airport measured a wind gust of 64 mph. |
| 2026-05-11 | 3 NE Harlingen, TX | 52 | Significant | ASOS at Valley International Airport measured a wind gust associated with a thunderstorm of 52 mph. |
| 2026-05-11 | 4 NE Bayview, TX | 51 | Significant | ASOS site at Port Isabel-Cameron County Airport measured a wind gust of 51 mph associated with a thunderstorm. |
| 2026-05-11 | 11 NNE Bayview, TX | 51 | Significant | TCOON site at Realitos Peninsula recorded a wind gust of 51 mph associated with a thunderstorm. The site also recorded wind gusts of 38 mph at 3:30 AM, 46 mph at 3:42 AM, and 47 mph at 3:48 AM. |
| 2026-05-09 | RUSSELLTON, TX | 82 | Severe | The mesonet station TWB79 Russell Farms measured a wind gusts of 71 knots or 82 mph. |
| 2026-05-09 | 5 N Rancho Viejo, TX | 82 | Severe | Mesonet station TWB79 Russell Farms. |
| 2026-05-09 | PALMETAL, TX | 81 | Severe | Just after 1000 AM CDT May 9, 2026, a strong microburst descended in central Cameron County from a small but potent line of thunderstorms and produced damage along a west-northwest to east-southeast oriented line starting from Harlingen, TX through Laureles, TX. Overall damage was observed to traffic lights, several homes, powerlines, poles, fences, crops, and trees. At least a dozen homes had |various degrees of damage. The worst damage was to a poorly constructed |single wide type structure in Green Valley Farms, where two persons were injured, including an elderly woman who sought shelter underneath the structure and had broken ribs. Another trailer-style residence on Country Boy Road, east of Green Valley Farms, had its roof ripped off, and debris fell onto a teenaged resident's head, requiring hospitalization.||At least five more recreational vehicles/mobile homes - with wheels and unanchored - were damaged. Hundreds of medium to large tree limbs were blown |down. Several signs including one billboard and two restaurant signs were blown down along the track. Power poles and lines were blown down in the same direction (west-northwest to east-southeast). The NWS Damage Survey reported an estimated path length of nearly 13 miles, and an average path width of 2 miles. Detailed notable wind damage reports from the damage survey were as follows:||*1011 AM CDT: Partial roof removal from a greenhouse at Lowe's, and a leaning power pole on the property (east Harlingen)...estimated wind 69 mph.|*1019 AM CDT: Old wooden billboard blown off its pole at intersection of US Highway 77 business and the frontage road. Wind speed estimated at 75 mph. 2.3 miles south-southeast of San Benito.|Wind speed estimated at approximately 75-80 feet AGL (24 meters)|*1021 AM CDT: Poorly constructed roof was ripped off and ended up collapsing, then part ended up behind the structure. Young resident (16 year old girl) was struck by falling debris and injured, requiring hospitalization. 4 miles east-southeast of downtown San Benito (just east of Green Valley Farms)...estimated wind 70 mph.|*1024 AM CDT: Poorly built and unanchored older single wide trailer style home blown away from location and demolished. In background, much of another single-wide was destroyed after roof was ripped off. Eighteen persons were in the structures; two were injured. One elderly woman had broken ribs after sheltering under the home; another had unknown lesser injuries. Several had minor cuts and bruises. Poor construction and full exposure to the wind, commensurate with nearby damage, suggested 75-80 mph wind in Green Valley Farms (4 miles east-southeast of San Benito)|*1025 AM CDT: Very poorly affixed roof was partially ripped off a single-wide, with rusted sheet metal. Wind speed estimated to be close to 70-75 mph per nearby damage (4.5 miles east-southeast of San Benito).|*1026 AM CDT: A dozen wooden telephone poles snapped, likely due to a domino effect. Medium to large limbs of every tree at residence near intersection of Adams and San Jose Road were damaged. Speed here was likely 80 mph (among highest of surveyed area). 4.4 miles east of San Benito. |*1030 AM CDT: Uprooted large and old tree, snapped near the base (uprooted). Many other large limbs down in the neighborhood in west Laureles. Estimated wind speed was 80 mph.|*1033 AM CDT: Damage to mobile home/RV, downed powerlines, and damage to nearby trees on east side of Laureles. Wind speed estimated at 75 mph at this location.||Final damages are unknown, but based on survey results, $500,000 is a fair assessment as of this writing. |
| 2026-05-09 | LAGUNA VISTA, TX | 69 | Severe | The mesonet station DW 1996 Laguna Vista measured a wind gusts of 60 knots or 69 mph. |
| 2026-05-09 | Laguna Vista, TX | 69 | Severe | Mesonet station DW1996 Laguna Vista. |
| 2025-11-01 | RANCHO VIEJO, TX | 67 | Severe | A retired NWS Employee reported a tree and a large branch down. |
| 2025-06-12 | WESLACO MID VLY ARPT, TX | 67 | Severe | Weslaco Emergency Management reported a residence trailer rolled over during strong winds just north of the expressway near Mile 10 and Mile 4 1/2 West with no injuries. |
| 2025-06-12 | WESLACO MID VLY ARPT, TX | 58 | Significant | Weslaco Mid-Valley Airport (AWOS) recorded a peak wind gust of 58 mph. |
| 2025-05-30 | EVAN, TX | 55 | Significant | A public report of mixed small and large tree (limbs) occurred in north Brownsville near Cameron Park. |
| 2025-03-28 | SANTA ROSA, TX | 60 | Significant | The Cameron County Office of Emergency Management reported a small shed blown down by strong thunderstorms winds in Santa Rosa. |
| 2024-05-13 | OLMITO, TX | 60 | Significant | At least 3 power poles were reported down along and east of I-69E between Rancho Viejo and Olmito. |
| 2024-05-13 | BAYVIEW, TX | 59 | Significant | Bayview recorded a peak wind gust of 59 mph. |
| 2023-09-16 | (HRL)RIO GRANDE ARPT, TX | 74 | Severe | The Valley International Airport ASOS in Harlingen recorded two wind gusts in excess of 70 mph the afternoon of September 16th in association with a downburst. The first gust over 70 mph occurred at 4:08PM CDT with a wind direction from the northwest. The second gust of 74 mph happened 11 minutes later from the east-southeast, indicating the downburst moved southeast over the ASOS. There were a few reports of a few downed tree limbs and a fence that was partially blown down. |
The most recent quarter-size-or-larger hail storm recorded by NOAA within 25 miles of San Benito was on November 1, 2025. HailCheck refreshes from the NOAA Storm Events database daily, so newer events appear here as they are reported.
San Benito averages roughly 5 reported hail events per year within a 25-mile radius. Significant storms (quarter-size or larger) account for 21 of the 25 events recorded over the last five years.
The largest documented hail near San Benito in the last five years was egg-sized. Most San Benito-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 TX 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 San Benito. 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 San Benito 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 ValidationSan Benito 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.