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 67 hail storms within 25 miles of West Chester, PA. Of those, 33 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. 2022 was the most active year on record locally, with 21 documented hail events.
Check Hail History for a Specific Address in West Chester| Severity | Count | What it means for roofs |
|---|---|---|
| Severe | 2 events | Ping pong-size, granule loss and bruising common |
| Significant | 31 events | Quarter-size, the standard insurance damage threshold |
| Moderate | 29 events | Marble-size, possible cosmetic damage |
| Minor | 5 events | Pea-size, unlikely to damage modern shingles |
| Year | Reported Hail Events Within 25 mi |
|---|---|
| 2026 | 12 events |
| 2025 | 12 events |
| 2024 | 8 events |
| 2023 | 14 events |
| 2022 | 21 events |
2022 was the busiest hail year on record locally for West Chester, with 21 documented events inside the 25-mile radius. Storm activity in West Chester 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-08-20 | 2 N Plymouth Meeting, PA | Moderate | 0.75" | Report from mPING: Dime (0.75 in.). |
| 2026-08-20 | 1 N Plymouth Meeting, PA | Moderate | 0.75" | Report from mPING: Dime (0.75 in.). |
| 2026-07-27 | Chestnut Hill, PA | Moderate | 0.50" | 0.25 to 0.50 inch hail reported in Chestnut Hill. Winds estimated around 40 mph. |
| 2026-06-22 | East Greenwich Twp, NJ | Minor | 0.25" | Report of pea sized hail. Time estimated from radar. |
| 2026-06-22 | 1 N Upper Uwchlan Twp, PA | Significant | 1.00" | Report from mPING: Quarter (1.00 in.). |
| 2026-06-22 | LUDWIGS CORNER, PA | Significant | 1.00" | Quarter sized hail reported from mping. |
| 2026-05-20 | 1 WNW Wayne, PA | Significant | 1.00" | Time estimated from radar. Picture sent in from skywarn spotter. |
| 2026-05-20 | WAYNE, PA | Significant | 1.00" | Skywarn spotter sent a picture of quarter-sized hail. |
| 2026-05-10 | Kemblesville, PA | Minor | 0.25" | Trained spotter reported pea sized hail. Time estimated from radar. |
| 2026-03-03 | 1 NE Midvale, DE | Minor | 0.03" | ASOS station KILG Wilmington. |
| 2026-03-03 | 2 ESE Sanatoga, PA | Minor | 0.06" | ASOS station KPTW Pottstown. |
| 2026-03-03 | Stowe, PA | Minor | 0.05" | Updates previous report. |
| 2025-07-08 | STOWE, PA | Moderate | 0.75" | A report from Mping of 0.75 inch hail. Time estimated from radar. |
| 2025-07-08 | KULPTOWN, PA | Significant | 1.00" | Relayed via social media. Time included with report. |
| 2025-07-08 | POTTSTOWN, PA | Significant | 1.00" | Quarter-size hail in Pottstown. Video sent via social media. Time included with report. |
| 2025-05-03 | FAIR HILL, MD | Significant | 1.00" | Quarter size hail was reported near Fair Hill. |
| 2025-05-03 | PRIMOS, PA | Moderate | 0.88" | Nickel-sized hail was observed. |
| 2025-04-04 | GRACE PARK, PA | Significant | 1.25" | From a trained spotter who also estimated 65 mph wind gusts. Time given in report. |
| 2025-04-04 | RUTLEDGE, PA | Significant | 1.00" | Report from mping. Time estimated from radar. |
| 2025-04-04 | RUTLEDGE, PA | Moderate | 0.75" | A trained spotter reported dime and nickel sized hail. |
NOAA has recorded 417 high-wind events within 25 miles of West Chester, PA in the past five years. Of those, 415 reached severe-thunderstorm thresholds (58+ mph). The highest measured gust was 105 mph.
| Severity | Count |
|---|---|
| Destructive | 1 event |
| Severe | 16 events |
| Significant | 398 events |
| Moderate | 2 events |
| Date | Location | Gust (mph) | Severity | NOAA Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-09-02 | New Castle County Airpo, DE | 53 | Significant | KILG gusted to 53 mph. |
| 2026-09-02 | Hyde Park, DE | 60 | Significant | Spotter Network. Trained spotter reports 60 mph winds. |
| 2026-08-08 | 1 ENE Carneys Point Twp, NJ | 62 | Significant | measured from a handheld anemometer. |
| 2026-08-07 | 1 NE Midvale, DE | 43 | Moderate | ASOS station KILG Wilmington. |
| 2026-08-07 | 1 W Logan Twp., NJ | 45 | Moderate | Mesonet station NJ65 Logan Twp. |
| 2026-07-11 | Philadelphia Internatio, PA | 56 | Significant | ASOS station KPHL Philadelphia International Airport. |
| 2026-07-11 | Ardmore, PA | 55 | Significant | Trained spotter measured wind gust in Ardmore. Minor flooding of streets also reported. |
| 2026-07-11 | 1 SSW Haverford, PA | 60 | Significant | Trained spotter estimates wind gusts up to 60 mph in Ardmore, Haverford Township. Flooding on Haverford Road. |
| 2026-07-09 | 1 ENE Carneys Point Twp, NJ | 52 | Significant | Measured a wind gust of 52 mph on handheld anemometer. |
| 2026-07-05 | 1 WSW Valley Twp, PA | 58 | Significant | — |
| 2026-07-05 | 1 SE Valley Twp, PA | 58 | Significant | Westwood Mesonet gusted to 58 MPH. |
| 2026-07-05 | 2 E Londonderry Twp, PA | 59 | Significant | West Grove DEOS Mesonet. |
| 2026-07-05 | 1 NNE East Caln Twp, PA | 62 | Significant | Measured from anemometer. Reported from spotter network. |
| 2026-06-22 | UPLAND, PA | 58 | Significant | Multiple large tree branches snapped near the intersection of Newark Road and Clonmell Mill Road. A tree is also down on Newark road. Time estimated from radar. |
| 2026-06-22 | MARSHALLTON, PA | 58 | Significant | Multiple reports of wires down along Clayton Road. Time estimated from radar. |
| 2026-06-22 | CHESTER, PA | 58 | Significant | Several trees downed across Chester. Time estimated by radar. |
| 2026-06-22 | ALDHAM, PA | 58 | Significant | Trees and wires down reported around Charlestown Township. Time estimated by radar. |
| 2026-06-22 | BETZWOOD, PA | 58 | Significant | Multiple trees uprooted with large branches also snapped. Time estimated from radar. |
| 2026-06-22 | HOWELLVILLE, PA | 58 | Significant | Delayed report. Multiple trees down near Welsh Valley Rd and Yellow Springs Rd. Time estimated from radar. |
| 2026-06-22 | MIQUON, PA | 58 | Significant | Downed tree on I-76 westbound 2.5 miles east of Exit 332. Time given in report. |
The most recent quarter-size-or-larger hail storm recorded by NOAA within 25 miles of West Chester was on June 22, 2026. HailCheck refreshes from the NOAA Storm Events database daily, so newer events appear here as they are reported.
West Chester averages roughly 13 reported hail events per year within a 25-mile radius. Significant storms (quarter-size or larger) account for 33 of the 67 events recorded over the last five years.
The largest documented hail near West Chester in the last five years was ping pong ball-sized. Most West Chester-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 PA 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 West Chester. 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 West Chester 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 ValidationWest Chester 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.