Hail Reports in Cary, North Carolina — Last 90 Days

Hail near Cary in the last 90 days

• 1.75 inLargest hail in 90 days (golf-ball size)
• 1Hail day near Cary
• 4SPC reports
• September 5, 2026Most recent event

Around Cary, the NOAA Storm Prediction Center logged 4 hail reports within 25 miles between September 5 and September 5, 2026, spread over 1 storm day. That day brought stones of 1″ or more, and 0 of the 4 Cary reports with coordinates fell within 10 miles of the city center. In a typical year Cary sees about 3 hail-producing storms.

Cary's storm-climate context

Cary occupies the Piedmont region of North Carolina where the record high of 101 F has been reached in summer months, and the record low of 6 F hit in January. Average annual snowfall is only 3.2 inches, but the area is vulnerable to ice storms that add sudden load to roofs and crack brittle shingles. Hurricane Fran struck in 1996 and caused significant damage across the region, a reminder that tropical systems can drive high wind speeds and rain infiltration far inland. High summer heat and humidity accelerate shingle aging and promote algae growth on north-facing roof surfaces.

Cary's 174,721 residents (2020 Census) make it North Carolina's seventh most populous municipality, with a median home value above $400,000 that supports strong re-roofing budgets. SAS Institute employs 4,024 workers, MetLife 3,100, and Verizon Business 2,000, anchoring a high-income professional base. Homeownership stands near 67 percent, keeping the residential roofing market robust in one of the fastest-growing corridors of the Southeast.

How close the hail came

Of the 4 Cary reports, the closest landed 19.7 miles from the city center on September 5, 2026 (1.50″ at 3 ENE Knightdale). The worst Cary day was September 5, 2026: 4 reports, largest 1.75″. Near Cary, 1 of 1 hail day reached 1″ or larger.

Distances are straight-line from the city center to each SPC report point; reports without coordinates are left out of the table.

Hail events near Cary by date

The Cary tables above list preliminary Local Storm Reports from the NOAA Storm Prediction Center. Sizes are reported hailstone diameters; times are UTC. Reports can be added or corrected for about a day after each event. A quiet log does not mean no hail: small or unreported events happen. The closest report in this window landed 19.7 miles from Cary's center.

On the Cary map, circle positions are the NOAA SPC report coordinates; tap a circle for the date and hail size.

Hail size: < 1″ 1–1.75″ ≥ 2″ not recorded

How severe was it? The NWS yardstick, applied to Cary's reports

Hail history in Cary: the long picture

County-level NOAA records for the county behind Cary, 2014–June 2026. Each figure shows its source. Storms after the archive ends are not in these numbers. Ranks count from 1, the highest.

Cary against the 209 cities we cover

• #59of 209Days with hail 1 in or larger in Cary: middle
• #68of 209Days with hail 1.75 in or larger (golf ball) in Cary: middle
• #1of 209Days with 58+ mph thunderstorm wind in Cary: top quarter
• #113of 209Tornadoes in Cary: middle
• #21of 209Reported storm property damage in Cary: top quarter
• #206of 209Share of homes built before 1980 in Cary: bottom quarter

NOAA's archive for the county behind Cary lists 101 hail events since 2017, about 11 a year in Cary's county. Its most severe stone measured 2.75″. Set against that baseline, the 1 hail day near Cary in the 90-day window above runs below the long-term average rate. Check your own Cary address on the hail risk lookup.

Compared to the North Carolina county median of 14 hail events since 2017, Cary's county runs 7.2× above average.

Three ways a storm reaches a roof

In the archive for Cary's county, 2020 was the busiest hail year (34 recorded events); the largest stone on record, 2.75″, fell in 2019. A Cary roof older than 2019 with no documented inspection has probably taken at least one unexamined hit.

In a market with repeat hail, impact-resistant Class 4 shingles often pay for themselves through insurer premium discounts — worth discussing with a Cary roofer if a recent event tips you into a replacement.

Wake County fact sheet for Cary homeowners

Housing age, federal disaster declarations and your state's claim deadlines in one place. All three come from public records, county level.

What to do if your roof was in the hail path

1. Stay off the roof and read the yard instead. The closest report in the last 90 days sits 19.7 miles from the Cary city center (3 ENE Knightdale, September 5, 2026). Check Cary downspouts for granule piles and gutters, vents and screens for dents.
2. Document everything before any repair. For Cary the worst day is September 5, 2026 with 4 reports and a top stone of 1.75 in. Dated photos, a coin beside a hailstone and this NOAA log tie your loss to one storm day.
3. Get a free inspection instead of guessing. The single hail day near Cary reached 1 inch or more, yet from the ground a Cary roof can look fine while bruising and granule loss sit on it. Only a roofer's written scope shows whether there is a claim.
4. File on the policy's clock. Last hail day near Cary: 50 days ago. Check the policy for your reporting window and file soon, while the log dates are fresh.
5. Bring the written scope to the adjuster. Hand over the scope in writing: an adjuster working a Cary claim then has the contractor's numbers. Step-by-step: the roof insurance claim guide.

Verified roofing contractors in Cary

Contractors PickARoofer has already verified in Cary. A badge on a Cary contractor means we confirmed an active license or registration in a public registry. Ask any Cary roofer for a current certificate of insurance before signing.

See all roofing contractors in Cary →

Hail in Cary — questions homeowners ask

Check your own ZIP in Cary

The county figures above average over everything inside the county line. For a score tied to your Cary address, run your ZIP through the hail risk lookup — Cary ZIP codes include 27513, 27518, 27519, 27520, 27521.

Cary neighborhoods — hail exposure varies by area

Hail paths track with storm cell movement, not city limits. If you're in Cary Towne Center District, The Village at Creedmoor, Harmony Crossing, Brier Creek or Cary Mills, check your specific street against the report locations above — distance from Cary's center is listed for each report.

More resources

• Roofing contractors in Cary
• Storm damage repair in Cary
• Roof repair in Cary
• Roof inspection in Cary
• Insurance claim guide
• Roof replacement costs in Cary
• Emergency roof repair
• All recent hail reports
• Hail risk lookup

Sources: NOAA Storm Prediction Center Local Storm Reports (last 90 days, preliminary) and the NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (county of the city, 2014–June 2026); U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (housing). The Storm Events archive used here ends in 2025, so storms between that date and the start of the 90-day log are not shown. How we collect data. Are you a roofer in Cary? See how requests reach contractors.