Hail and tornadoes in Johnston County, NC

Since January 2021, radar estimated hail somewhere in Johnston County, NC on 52 days. The biggest estimate: 2 in or larger (hen egg), on Sat, Sep 5, 2026. Hail was reported to the National Weather Service inside the county on 9 days.

Still loading: radar estimates go back to Wed, Oct 14, 2020, and the earlier years are being added.

Days with hail

since January 2021

1 inch or larger

days, estimated or reported

Largest radar estimate

2+ in

Sat, Sep 5, 2026

Largest reported

2 in

Sat, Sep 5, 2026

Radar estimates are NOAA's MESH: the largest hail the radar estimates aloft, on cells about 0.7 mile across, shown as the lower bound of a size band (“1.5+”). They often run larger than what reached the ground, and they aren't evidence of damage at any address.

Hail on record since 1955

NOAA's Storm Events database lists 111 hail reports in Johnston County, NC on 58 days, 1 of them 2 inches or larger. The largest: 2 in, near Benson, on Mon, Aug 18, 2003.

By decade: 2000s: 70 · 2010s: 32 · 2020s: 9

Tornadoes since 1950

19 tornadoes have touched Johnston County, NC since 1950, none of them rated F3/EF3 or stronger. They killed 1 and injured 69.

Strongest

Sat, Nov 15, 2008 · EF2 · 0.73 mi long, 150 yd wide · near Kenly · 1 death, 2 injuries
Sat, Apr 16, 2011 · EF2 · 14.54 mi long, 800 yd wide · near Benson · 67 injuries
Tue, Jul 23, 2019 · EF1 · 0.22 mi long, 100 yd wide · near Drug Store
Fri, Apr 19, 2019 · EF1 · 4.81 mi long, 125 yd wide · near Timothy
Sat, Apr 16, 2011 · EF1 · 8.59 mi long, 100 yd wide · near Pine Level

Most recent

Sun, May 4, 2025 · EF0 · 0.14 mi long, 30 yd wide · near Blackman Xrds
Thu, Sep 5, 2019 · EF0 · 0.12 mi long, 50 yd wide · near Smithfield
Tue, Jul 23, 2019 · EF1 · 0.22 mi long, 100 yd wide · near Drug Store
Fri, Apr 19, 2019 · EF1 · 4.81 mi long, 125 yd wide · near Timothy
Tue, Feb 26, 2013 · EF0 · 0.49 mi long, 75 yd wide · near Micro
Sat, Apr 16, 2011 · EF1 · 8.59 mi long, 100 yd wide · near Pine Level
Sat, Apr 16, 2011 · EF2 · 14.54 mi long, 800 yd wide · near Benson · 67 injuries
Tue, May 5, 2009 · EF1 · 6.93 mi long, 30 yd wide · near Emit
Tue, May 5, 2009 · EF0 · 0.44 mi long, 25 yd wide · near Micro
Fri, Mar 27, 2009 · EF0 · 0.29 mi long, 20 yd wide · near Coats Xrds

By decade: 2000s: 12 · 2010s: 6 · 2020s: 1

Still loading: NOAA's record goes back to 1950, and 2003 onward is in so far.

Every hail day since January 2021

Sat, Sep 5, 2026
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 2 in or larger (hen egg)
Reported in the county
- 2 in (4 S Flowers, NC)
- 1.75 in (3 SE Clayton, NC)
- 1 in (2 E Clayton, NC)
Fri, Sep 4, 2026
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1.5 in or larger (ping-pong ball)
Reported in the county
- 1 in (3 S Linwood, NC)
Tue, Aug 11, 2026
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1.5 in or larger (ping-pong ball)
Reported in the county
- 1 in (Princeton, NC)
Sun, Aug 9, 2026
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)
No hail reported in the county.
Mon, Jul 20, 2026
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)
No hail reported in the county.
Sun, Jul 19, 2026
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1 in or larger (quarter)
No hail reported in the county.
Sat, Jul 11, 2026
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)
No hail reported in the county.
Wed, Jul 8, 2026
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 2 in or larger (hen egg)
Reported in the county
- 1.25 in (3 ESE Clayton, NC)
Mon, Jul 6, 2026
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)
No hail reported in the county.
Sat, Jun 27, 2026
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)
No hail reported in the county.
Thu, Jun 11, 2026
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1 in or larger (quarter)
No hail reported in the county.
Sat, Nov 8, 2025
Reported in the county
- 1 in (3 WSW Coats Crossroads, NC)
Thu, Sep 25, 2025
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1.5 in or larger (ping-pong ball)
No hail reported in the county.
Sun, Jul 27, 2025
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)
No hail reported in the county.
Sat, Jul 19, 2025
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)
No hail reported in the county.
Fri, Jul 18, 2025
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1 in or larger (quarter)
No hail reported in the county.
Fri, Jun 27, 2025
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)
No hail reported in the county.
Wed, Jun 25, 2025
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)
No hail reported in the county.
Sun, Jun 15, 2025
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)
No hail reported in the county.
Thu, May 15, 2025
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)
No hail reported in the county.
Wed, May 14, 2025
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)
No hail reported in the county.
Thu, May 8, 2025
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)
No hail reported in the county.
Mon, May 5, 2025
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1 in or larger (quarter)
No hail reported in the county.
Fri, Apr 11, 2025
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)
No hail reported in the county.
Sun, Aug 11, 2024
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1 in or larger (quarter)
No hail reported in the county.
Tue, Jul 23, 2024
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)
No hail reported in the county.
Mon, May 27, 2024
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1 in or larger (quarter)
No hail reported in the county.
Tue, Aug 15, 2023
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1 in or larger (quarter)
No hail reported in the county.
Mon, Aug 7, 2023
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)
No hail reported in the county.
Fri, Jul 7, 2023
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1 in or larger (quarter)
No hail reported in the county.
Tue, May 9, 2023
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)
Reported in the county
- 1 in (1 ESE MICRO, NC)
Fri, Apr 28, 2023
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)
No hail reported in the county.
Wed, Aug 10, 2022
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1 in or larger (quarter)
No hail reported in the county.
Sat, Aug 6, 2022
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)
No hail reported in the county.
Sun, Jul 31, 2022
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)
No hail reported in the county.
Fri, Jul 15, 2022
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)
No hail reported in the county.
Thu, Jul 7, 2022
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)
No hail reported in the county.
Mon, May 23, 2022
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)
No hail reported in the county.
Sat, May 21, 2022
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1 in or larger (quarter)
No hail reported in the county.
Thu, May 19, 2022
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)
No hail reported in the county.
Mon, May 16, 2022
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1 in or larger (quarter)
No hail reported in the county.
Thu, Apr 7, 2022
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1 in or larger (quarter)
Reported in the county
- 1 in (4 SSE COATS CROSSROADS, NC)
Wed, Sep 8, 2021
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1 in or larger (quarter)
No hail reported in the county.
Fri, Aug 20, 2021
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)
No hail reported in the county.
Sun, Aug 1, 2021
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1 in or larger (quarter)
No hail reported in the county.
Wed, Jul 28, 2021
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1 in or larger (quarter)
No hail reported in the county.
Sat, Jul 17, 2021
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)
No hail reported in the county.
Sun, Jul 11, 2021
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1 in or larger (quarter)
No hail reported in the county.
Fri, Jul 9, 2021
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)
No hail reported in the county.
Thu, Jun 17, 2021
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)
No hail reported in the county.
Sat, May 29, 2021
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1.5 in or larger (ping-pong ball)
No hail reported in the county.
Fri, Apr 9, 2021
Reported in the county
- 1 in (1 SSW COATS CROSSROADS, NC)
Thu, Apr 8, 2021
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1 in or larger (quarter)
No hail reported in the county.
Sat, Mar 27, 2021
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)
Reported in the county
- 1 in (5 SE CLAYTON, NC)
- 1 in (KENLY, NC)
- 1 in (BENSON, NC)

Check your own address →Weather in Johnston County, NC now →Get warned before the next storm →

Radar estimates and reports are for anywhere inside the county's boundary. Radar estimates come from NOAA's MRMS estimated hail size (MESH), the largest hail the radar estimates aloft on a ~1 km grid. They often run larger than the hail that reached the ground, and they aren't an observation at any address. Reports are what people reported to the National Weather Service. Neither is proof of damage or an official record for an insurance claim. From NOAA's Storm Events Database (NCEI), which records tornadoes from 1950, hail and thunderstorm wind from 1955, and every kind of storm from 1996. A tornado that crossed county lines is counted in each county it touched. Recent months are added as NCEI publishes them, a few months behind. Damage is in the dollars of its year and is often an estimate.