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 34 hail storms within 25 miles of South Bel Air, MD. 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 ping pong ball-sized, which can fracture shingle mat and dent metal flashing on contact. 2025 was the most active year on record locally, with 12 documented hail events.
Check Hail History for a Specific Address in South Bel Air| Severity | Count | What it means for roofs |
|---|---|---|
| Severe | 14 events | Ping pong-size, granule loss and bruising common |
| Significant | 17 events | Quarter-size, the standard insurance damage threshold |
| Moderate | 3 events | Marble-size, possible cosmetic damage |
| Year | Reported Hail Events Within 25 mi |
|---|---|
| 2026 | 5 events |
| 2025 | 12 events |
| 2024 | 4 events |
| 2023 | 11 events |
| 2022 | 2 events |
2025 was the busiest hail year on record locally for South Bel Air, with 12 documented events inside the 25-mile radius. Storm activity in South Bel Air 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-07-28 | 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. |
| 2026-07-06 | 1 N Perryville, MD | Moderate | 0.75" | Report from mPING: Dime (0.75 in.). |
| 2026-06-15 | 3 SE Brogue, PA | Moderate | 0.88" | — |
| 2025-09-06 | GLENWOOD, MD | Significant | 1.00" | Quarter size hail was reported near Bel Air. |
| 2025-09-06 | EMMORTON, MD | Severe | 1.50" | Ping pong ball size hail was reported south of Bel Air. |
| 2025-08-17 | KILBY CORNER, MD | Significant | 1.00" | Hail around quarter size was reported along US-222 Rock Springs Road. |
| 2025-06-29 | DUNDALK, MD | Significant | 1.00" | Quarter size hail was reported near Dundalk. |
| 2025-05-03 | TIMONIUM, MD | Severe | 1.75" | Golf ball size hail was reported near Timonium. |
| 2025-05-03 | GREEN SPG JCT, MD | Significant | 1.00" | Quarter size hail was reported near Mcdonogh. |
| 2025-05-03 | BENSON, MD | Severe | 1.75" | Golf ball size hail was reported near Pleasant Hills. |
| 2025-05-03 | GLENWOOD, MD | Severe | 1.50" | Ping pong ball size hail was reported near Bel Air. |
| 2025-05-03 | WOODLAWN, MD | Severe | 1.50" | Ping pong ball size hail was reported in Woodlawn. |
| 2025-05-03 | WOODLAWN, MD | Significant | 1.00" | Quarter size hail was reported east-northeast of Woodlawn. |
| 2025-05-03 | GLENWOOD, MD | Significant | 1.25" | Half dollar size hail was reported near Bel Air. |
| 2025-05-03 | BLUEBALL, MD | Severe | 1.50" | Ping pong ball size hail was reported near Pleasant Hill. |
| 2024-07-29 | WHITE MARSH, MD | Significant | 1.00" | There were multiple reports of quarter size hail around I-95 at White Marsh. |
| 2024-04-15 | HUNGERFORD, PA | Severe | 1.50" | A severe thunderstorm produced ping-pong ball sized hail northeast of New Freedom. |
| 2024-04-15 | CHARLESTOWN, MD | Significant | 1.00" | Quarter size hail was reported in Charlestown. |
NOAA has recorded 353 high-wind events within 25 miles of South Bel Air, MD in the past five years. Of those, 353 reached severe-thunderstorm thresholds (58+ mph). The highest measured gust was 90 mph.
| Severity | Count |
|---|---|
| Severe | 77 events |
| Significant | 276 events |
| Date | Location | Gust (mph) | Severity | NOAA Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-08-08 | 2 SSE Port Deposit, MD | 58 | Significant | A wind gust of 50 knots (58 MPH) was measured by a mesonet on I-95 Millard E. Tydings Memorial Bridge. |
| 2026-08-08 | 1 NNE Havre De Grace, MD | 59 | Significant | A wind gust of 51 knots (59 MPH) was measured by a mesonet on eastbound US-40 Hatem Bridge. |
| 2026-08-08 | 1 NNE Havre De Grace, MD | 63 | Significant | A wind gust of 55 knots (63 MPH) was measured by a mesonet on westbound US-40 Hatem Bridge. |
| 2026-07-18 | Tolchester Beach NOS, MD | 65 | Severe | Wind gusts of up to 56 knots (65 MPH) were measured by the Tolchester Beach NOS sensor (TCBM2) between 4:30 and 4:42 PM. |
| 2026-07-18 | 5 N Rock Hall, MD | 59 | Significant | Tolchester Beach mesonet. |
| 2026-07-06 | 4 S Middle River, MD | 58 | Significant | — |
| 2026-07-05 | 1 SE Port Deposit, MD | 60 | Significant | — |
| 2026-06-14 | WAKEFIELD, PA | 49 | Significant | A strong thunderstorm producing wind gusts estimated at 50 mph knocked wires down near Wakefield. |
| 2026-06-14 | HIGHROCK, PA | 60 | Significant | A severe thunderstorm producing wind gusts estimated at 60 mph knocked wires down on Muddy Creek Forks Road. |
| 2026-06-14 | PYLESVILLE, MD | 60 | Significant | Multiple trees blew down in the vicinity of Wheeler School Road and Saint Mary's Road. Multiple trees blew down near and along Wheeler School Road. |
| 2026-06-14 | LAUREL, PA | 90 | Severe | An NWS damage survey found that a microburst occurred in Brogue on the evening of June 14th, 2026. Maximum winds were estimated to be between 80 and 90 mph and damage was concentrated along Forry Road in Chanceford Township. Around 10 trees were snapped, one of which fell onto a parked car. One home also sustained damage to roof shingles. |
| 2026-06-11 | SPARROWS PT, MD | 60 | Significant | A tree blew down at Kent Street and Sidney Avenue. |
| 2026-06-11 | ST GEORGES, MD | 60 | Significant | Multiple trees blew down in the Reisterstown area. |
| 2026-06-11 | HEREFORD, MD | 60 | Significant | Trees blew down in the Hereford area. |
| 2026-06-06 | WOODENSBURG, MD | 60 | Significant | Multiple trees blew down north of Reisterstown. |
| 2026-06-06 | FOREST HILL, MD | 60 | Significant | Numerous trees blew down across Forrest Hill. |
| 2026-05-20 | SPARROWS PT, MD | 66 | Severe | A wind gust of 57 knots (66 MPH) was measured by a mesonet in downtown Baltimore (KMDBALTI493). |
| 2026-05-20 | BARE HILLS, MD | 60 | Significant | Multiple trees blew down including one that impacted a house and a car in northwest Baltimore. |
| 2026-05-20 | 1 WNW Fells Point, MD | 66 | Severe | A wind gust of 57 knots (66 MPH) was measured by a personal weather station in downtown Baltimore (KMDBALTI493). Several trees blew down throughout the city. |
| 2026-05-20 | PARKTON, MD | 60 | Significant | Trees blew down on MD-45 York Road near the interchange with I-83. |
The most recent quarter-size-or-larger hail storm recorded by NOAA within 25 miles of South Bel Air was on July 28, 2026. HailCheck refreshes from the NOAA Storm Events database daily, so newer events appear here as they are reported.
South Bel Air averages roughly 7 reported hail events per year within a 25-mile radius. Significant storms (quarter-size or larger) account for 31 of the 34 events recorded over the last five years.
The largest documented hail near South Bel Air in the last five years was ping pong ball-sized. Most South Bel Air-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 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.
Use the HailCheck address search to enter any street address in or near South Bel Air. 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 South Bel Air 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 ValidationSouth Bel Air 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.