Although not usually to the magnitude of what is experienced out in the Plains, West Virginia has still seen its fair share of large hail, which has resulted in significant damage over the years. The very event that got me interested in weather was a hail-producing event that occurred on August 30th, 2006, when baseball-sized hail occurred in Kanawha County (described below).
The largest hailstone that has been recorded in West Virginia history took place on July 9th, 1980 in McDowell County near Welch. On that evening, hail with a diameter of 4.5 inches occurred - that's the equivalent of softballs falling out of the sky! More recently, on May 23rd, 2019, 4.25" diameter (slightly larger than grapefruit) fell from a supercell that crossed into northeastern Kanawha County in the Blue Creek/New Hope areas. These and many other events are detailed below. The National Weather Service out of Milwaukee, WI produced this neat graphic showing the size of hail versus objects:
Large Hail Events in West Virginia (2.5" Diameter or Greater) Since 1950
- August 7th, 2023 - 2.5" hail
- May 23rd, 2019 - 4.25" hail -> SECOND LARGEST IN STATE HISTORY
- April 8th, 2019 - 3" hail
- May 14th, 2018 - 2.5" hail
- June 21st, 2016 - 3.25" hail
- April 28th, 2016 - 2.5" hail
- April 9th, 2015 - 2.75" hail
- October 7th, 2014 - 2.5" hail
- August 30th, 2006 - 2.5" hail
- July 18th, 2006 - 2.5" hail
- May 26th, 2002 - 2.75" hail
- June 5th, 2001 - 2.5" hail
- April 23rd, 1999 - 2.75" hail
- June 16th, 1998 - 3" hail
- June 2nd, 1998 - 2.5" hail
- September 25th, 1994 - 2.75" hail
- July 9th, 1980 - 4.5" hail - STATE RECORD
- June 7th, 1980 - 3" hail
- June 3rd, 1980 - 2.75" hail
- June 6th, 1977 - 2.75" hail
- April 21st, 1976 - 2.75" hail
- May 19th, 1967 - 4" hail
- July 23rd, 1962 - 3" hail
