Oklahoma: hail history 2014–2026

Oklahoma sits at #6 of 44 states we track on hail density: 98.1 reports per 1,000 square miles, 6,563 reports in 72 counties. The state's largest stone, 6 inches (a softball), fell in Pontotoc County on March 14, 2024. Top three: Oklahoma County (427), Cleveland County (365), Tulsa County (340). No single county dominates.

Year by year

Hail reports in Oklahoma, by year
YearReportsLargest
2014 264 3 in
2015 472 4.25 in
2016 419 4 in
2017 633 4.25 in
2018 275 3.26 in
2019 479 3.2 in
2020 614 4 in
2021 258 3.61 in
2022 324 4.5 in
2023 735 4 in
2024 749 6 in
2025 832 4.5 in
2026 (Jan–Jun) 509 3.75 in

2025 was the busiest year (832 reports) and 2021 the quietest (258). Oklahoma averaged 585 reports a year from 2020 to 2025, 38% above the 424 of 2014 to 2019. 2026 stands at 509 through June, already past the full-year average of 504. NOAA puts reported hail damage at $28 million over the period.

Oklahoma: reports by month

Hail reports in Oklahoma by month 34 Jan 54 Feb 755 Mar 1662 Apr 2355 May 713 Jun 217 Jul 212 Aug 205 Sep 239 Oct 90 Nov 27 Dec
Hail reports in Oklahoma by month
Jan34
Feb54
Mar755
Apr1662
May2355
Jun713
Jul217
Aug212
Sep205
Oct239
Nov90
Dec27

May dominates the calendar: 2,355 of 6,563 reports, 36%. March to May alone bring 73%. 1,199 of 6,563 reports fell outside April to September.

A car windshield shattered in a round spiderweb pattern where one large hailstone struck it
Example photo, not from Oklahoma. Photo: FEMA.

The biggest hail days in Oklahoma

DateSizeCountyReports
March 14, 20246 in, a softballPontotoc County13
May 18, 20254.5 in, a softballEllis County13
May 15, 20224.5 in, a softballOkfuskee County4
April 30, 20244.4 in, a grapefruitBlaine County3
March 25, 20154.25 in, a grapefruitTulsa County16
May 11, 20174.25 in, a grapefruitLogan County10
May 27, 20174.25 in, a grapefruitOkfuskee County5
May 17, 20254 in, a grapefruitOklahoma County21

Oklahoma counties, most hail reports first

CountyReportsDensityDays 1 in+Max
Oklahoma County427594.7754 in
Cleveland County365654.1593.41 in
Tulsa County340579.2554.25 in
Comanche County230212.2764 in

68 more counties to come.

Homes in Oklahoma

Median build year in Oklahoma: 1980. 75.0% of 1,763,036 homes predate 2000. Houses permitted since 2014: 127,324, or 72.2 per 1,000 homes. Busiest year: 2021.

Share of homes in Oklahoma by decade built 7.1% pre-1940 4.8% 1940s 9.5% 1950s 10.9% 1960s 18.0% 1970s 13.9% 1980s 10.7% 1990s 13.1% 2000s 10.7% 2010s 1.2% 2020+
Share of homes in Oklahoma by decade built
pre-19407.1%
1940s4.8%
1950s9.5%
1960s10.9%
1970s18.0%
1980s13.9%
1990s10.7%
2000s13.1%
2010s10.7%
2020+1.2%
Oklahoma: ACS, 2019 to 2023.
Building permits, Oklahoma
YearHousesAll units
201410,23514,179
20159,57111,545
20169,17012,092
20179,41911,092
20189,36110,502
201910,39312,152
202012,10013,733
202113,31514,733
202210,92613,876
202310,32513,405
202410,92813,669
202511,58115,513
Oklahoma: BPS, 2014 to 2025.

Next steps for Oklahoma

Method · States · Hail map