Delaware hail history
IndependentNot affiliated with NOAA or the National Weather Service.
Delaware had hail reported on 26 days from 2016 to 2025, about 3 a year, and on 108 days since 1955. The largest hailstone on record in the state is 2.50″ (May 22, 2014). Sussex County had the most hail days of any county from 2016 to 2025 (12).
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center storm reports. Data through November 6, 2026. Methodology
Source: National Storms (nationalstorms.com), CC BY 4.0, data from NOAA Storm Prediction Center storm reports.
Report counts rose over the decades as more people and spotters reported storms, so compare recent years with each other rather than with the 1960s.
Delaware cities with the most hail days, 2016–2025
| City | Hail days 2016–25 | 1″+ hail days | Largest hail | Last hail |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elsmere | 7 | 4 | 1.00″ | Sep 8, 2023 |
| Wilmington | 6 | 5 | 1.75″ | Sep 8, 2023 |
| Newark | 4 | 2 | 1.75″ | Jun 26, 2023 |
| New Castle | 3 | 3 | 1.75″ | Jun 16, 2023 |
| Cheswold | 3 | 1 | 1.75″ | Apr 16, 2022 |
| Dover | 3 | 1 | 1.75″ | Apr 15, 2023 |
| Harrington | 3 | 2 | 1.75″ | Apr 1, 2023 |
| Smyrna | 2 | 1 | 1.50″ | Apr 16, 2022 |
| Clayton | 2 | 1 | 1.50″ | Apr 16, 2022 |
| Laurel | 2 | 1 | 1.75″ | May 16, 2022 |
| Millsboro | 2 | 2 | 1.75″ | May 16, 2025 |
| Milton | 2 | 1 | 1.75″ | Sep 8, 2023 |
| Seaford | 2 | 2 | 1.75″ | Apr 21, 2021 |
| Camden | 2 | 1 | 1.75″ | Apr 15, 2023 |
| Bridgeville | 2 | 1 | 1.75″ | Jun 2, 2022 |
| Selbyville | 2 | 2 | 2.00″ | Jun 8, 2023 |
| Ocean View | 2 | 1 | 1.00″ | Jun 8, 2023 |
| Middletown | 1 | 1 | 1.00″ | Jul 12, 2022 |
| Georgetown | 1 | 0 | 1.75″ | May 2, 2016 |
| Townsend | 1 | 1 | 1.00″ | Jul 12, 2022 |
Biggest hail days in Delaware since 2016
| Day | Largest hail | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| May 16, 2022 | 2.25″ | 4 |
| May 16, 2025 | 1.75″ | 1 |
| May 28, 2019 | 1.50″ | 4 |
| August 19, 2019 | 1.25″ | 1 |
| June 2, 2019 | 1.00″ | 5 |
| June 29, 2019 | 1.00″ | 3 |
| August 1, 2019 | 1.00″ | 3 |
| September 8, 2023 | 1.00″ | 3 |
| April 21, 2021 | 1.00″ | 2 |
| June 16, 2023 | 1.00″ | 2 |
| April 2, 2016 | 1.00″ | 1 |
| May 12, 2018 | 1.00″ | 1 |
The largest hail and the biggest storm days since 1955, with radar swaths since 2019: Biggest hail storms in Delaware history
Delaware counties
| County | Hail days 2016–25 | All-time hail reports | Largest hail | Last hail |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sussex County | 12 | 47 | 2.25″ | May 16, 2025 |
| New Castle County | 10 | 75 | 2.50″ | Sep 8, 2023 |
| Kent County | 9 | 36 | 1.75″ | Apr 15, 2023 |
Places with fewer than 5 hail days on record are listed without a link and kept out of search engines.
When hail falls in Delaware, by month and week: Delaware hail season
Download every Delaware hail, tornado and wind report as CSV, by year: Delaware storm report downloads
All Delaware cities
Cheswold Clayton Dover Elsmere Georgetown Harrington Laurel Middletown Millsboro Milton New Castle Newark Smyrna Townsend Wilmington
Guides: How to check if it hailed at your address · Hail size chart and roof damage