Bell County, Texas: hail history 2014–2026
The National Weather Service logged 145 hail reports in Bell County between January 2014 and June 2026. On 43 days the largest stone was an inch or bigger, the size NWS calls severe. The biggest was 5.68 inches, about the size of a softball, reported on April 12, 2022 near Salado. April is the peak month (48% of reports).
- 145hail reports, 2014–2026
- 43days with hail of 1 in or more
- 19days with hail of 1.75 in or more (golf ball)
- 5.68 inlargest stone reported
Has severe hail hit Bell County since my roof was put on?
Our record covers 2014–2026 only. A roof older than 2014 has also been through hail we do not show here. A day counts when at least one report of 1 inch or larger was filed in the county, so it does not mean your own roof was hit; an inspection is the only way to know.
Year by year
| Year | Reports | Days 1 in+ | Days 1.75 in+ | Largest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 20 | 3 | 2 | 4.25 in |
| 2015 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 in |
| 2016 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 2 in |
| 2017 | 12 | 4 | 2 | 1.75 in |
| 2018 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 1 in |
| 2019 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 2 in |
| 2020 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 2.5 in |
| 2021 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1.75 in |
| 2022 | 36 | 3 | 3 | 5.68 in |
| 2023 | 16 | 8 | 4 | 1.75 in |
| 2024 | 18 | 7 | 3 | 2.75 in |
| 2025 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 1.5 in |
| 2026 (Jan–Jun) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1.5 in |
When hail hits: reports by month
| Jan | 0 |
|---|---|
| Feb | 0 |
| Mar | 24 |
| Apr | 69 |
| May | 31 |
| Jun | 8 |
| Jul | 0 |
| Aug | 1 |
| Sep | 1 |
| Oct | 4 |
| Nov | 7 |
| Dec | 0 |
April alone has 48% of the 145 reports. Book an inspection before the first month with reports so crews still have dates.
Where hail of 1 inch or more was reported in Bell County
- 1 to 1.74 in
- 1.75 to 2.74 in (golf ball to tennis ball)
- 2.75 in and up (baseball)
121 reports of 1 inch or larger have coordinates. Each dot is a place a spotter, a trained observer or the public reported hail, not a measured storm path.
Sources: NOAA Storm Events (report locations) · US Census cartographic boundary (county outline, public domain)The ten biggest hail days
| Date | Largest hail | Reports | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 12, 2022 | 5.68 in, a softball | 24 | Salado · $2 million damage reported |
| March 28, 2014 | 4.25 in, a grapefruit | 10 | Belton |
| April 9, 2024 | 2.75 in, a baseball | 4 | Salado |
| May 24, 2020 | 2.5 in, a tennis ball | 3 | Smith |
| May 12, 2024 | 2 in, a hen egg | 7 | Temple |
| April 28, 2016 | 2 in, a hen egg | 6 | Stillhouse Lake |
| June 16, 2019 | 2 in, a hen egg | 6 | Salado |
| November 11, 2022 | 2 in, a hen egg | 6 | Little River - Academy |
| March 26, 2017 | 1.75 in, a golf ball | 8 | Nolanville |
| May 8, 2014 | 1.75 in, a golf ball | 5 | Belton |
“Strong thunderstorm winds and softball-sized hail blew out the windows in several houses in the Dawson Ranch subdivision near Belton High School.”
National Weather Service report, March 28, 2014
“Emergency manager reported baseball sized hail fell in Salado.”
National Weather Service report, April 9, 2024
“A trained spotter sent in a picture of measured oblong shaped hailstones on the south side of Temple.”
National Weather Service report, May 24, 2020
Tornadoes in Bell County
NOAA lists 9 tornadoes in the county in 2014–2026; the 8 strongest are below. Tornadoes tear off whole roof sections, which is a different repair from hail bruising.
| Date | Rating | Path length | Width | Near |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 12, 2022 | EF3 | 13.01 mi | 770 yd | Youngsport · 0 deaths, 23 injured |
| May 22, 2024 | EF2 | 2.78 mi | 420 yd | (Tpl)Temple Muni Arp · 0 deaths, 30 injured |
| April 28, 2023 | EF1 | 14.84 mi | 1400 yd | Hood Afb · 0 deaths, 2 injured |
| March 21, 2022 | EF1 | 5.97 mi | 40 yd | Bartlett |
| May 22, 2024 | EF1 | 2.2 mi | 100 yd | Heidenheimer |
| April 12, 2022 | EF0 | 3.73 mi | 120 yd | Seaton |
| May 16, 2021 | EF0 | 1.95 mi | 50 yd | Pendleton |
| March 21, 2022 | EF0 | 1.61 mi | 100 yd | Prairie Dell |
Strongest thunderstorm gusts
| Date | Gust | Near |
|---|---|---|
| May 22, 2024 | 100 mph | Midway |
| May 22, 2024 | 81 mph | Temple |
| May 26, 2025 | 81 mph | Holland |
| April 28, 2023 | 76 mph | Bland |
| April 2, 2023 | 75 mph | Sommers Mill |
| May 22, 2024 | 75 mph | Tennessee Vly |
Gust speeds are measured or estimated; reports in knots are converted to mph.
What to do with this
- Find the year your roof went on (closing papers, permit, a past invoice). Use the box above to see how many severe hail days it has lived through.
- After any day on the table, photograph the roof and keep the date: insurers ask for it.
- Get a free inspection from a local roofer: Killeen, Temple.
Bell County cities we cover
Other Texas counties
- Potter County (226 reports)
- Tom Green County (218 reports)
- Midland County (170 reports)
- Harris County (169 reports)
- Ector County (167 reports)
- Taylor County (158 reports)
All counties: hail history hub · live hail map. Data: NOAA Storm Events Database, 2014–2026, county level, public domain. The 2026 row is partial: NOAA's file ran to June 2026 when we loaded it on 2026-10-06. Reports are filed by spotters, trained observers and the public; one storm can produce many reports. Not a forecast, not legal advice.