Hail and tornadoes in Lincoln County, NC

Since January 2021, radar estimated hail somewhere in Lincoln County, NC on 21 days. The biggest estimate: 1.5 in or larger (ping-pong ball), on Thu, May 8, 2025. Hail was reported to the National Weather Service inside the county on 5 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

1.5+ in

Thu, May 8, 2025

Largest reported

1.75 in

Fri, May 6, 2022

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.

Radar-estimated hail on Thu, May 8, 2025 around the place, with the hail reported that day — Thu, May 8, 2025: radar-estimated hail around Lincoln County, NC, with the hail reported that day.

Hail on record since 1955

NOAA's Storm Events database lists 83 hail reports in Lincoln County, NC on 56 days, 4 of them 2 inches or larger. The largest: 2.5 in, near Lincolnton, on Sun, May 11, 2008.

By decade: 2000s: 46 · 2010s: 28 · 2020s: 9

Tornadoes since 1950

16 tornadoes have touched Lincoln County, NC since 1950, none of them rated F3/EF3 or stronger. They killed 0 and injured 11.

Strongest

Tue, Oct 26, 2010 · EF2 · 2.58 mi long, 200 yd wide · near Toluca · 11 injuries
Wed, Nov 15, 2006 · F2 · 1 mi long, 30 yd wide · near Denver
Mon, Oct 23, 2017 · EF1 · 1.5 mi long, 100 yd wide · near Toluca
Tue, Jul 13, 2010 · EF1 · 0.28 mi long, 100 yd wide · near Denver
Tue, Jul 13, 2010 · EF1 · 3.2 mi long, 650 yd wide · near Kidville

Most recent

Fri, Jul 10, 2026 · EF0 · 2.6 mi long, 150 yd wide · near Toluca
Sat, May 3, 2025 · EF0 · 1.32 mi long, 20 yd wide · near Lowesville
Thu, Feb 6, 2020 · EF0 · 0.45 mi long, 100 yd wide · near Elay
Fri, Apr 19, 2019 · EF0 · 6.06 mi long, 100 yd wide · near Laboratory
Mon, Oct 23, 2017 · EF1 · 1.5 mi long, 100 yd wide · near Toluca
Tue, Oct 26, 2010 · EF2 · 2.58 mi long, 200 yd wide · near Toluca · 11 injuries
Tue, Jul 13, 2010 · EF1 · 0.28 mi long, 100 yd wide · near Denver
Tue, Jul 13, 2010 · EF1 · 3.2 mi long, 650 yd wide · near Kidville
Sun, May 11, 2008 · EF0 · 0.1 mi long, 20 yd wide · near Cat Square
Sat, Apr 19, 2008 · EF1 · 4.26 mi long, 30 yd wide · near Johnstown

By decade: 2000s: 8 · 2010s: 5 · 2020s: 3

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

Every hail day since January 2021

Mon, Sep 21, 2026
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)
No hail reported in the county.
Thu, Aug 20, 2026
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)
No hail reported in the county.
Fri, Aug 14, 2026
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)
No hail reported in the county.
Tue, Aug 11, 2026
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)
No hail reported in the county.
Sat, Sep 6, 2025
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)
No hail reported in the county.
Fri, Aug 1, 2025
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)
No hail reported in the county.
Wed, Jul 9, 2025
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)
No hail reported in the county.
Tue, Jun 10, 2025
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1 in or larger (quarter)
No hail reported in the county.
Thu, May 8, 2025
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1.5 in or larger (ping-pong ball)
Reported in the county
- 1 in (4 SW Vale, NC)
Fri, Aug 2, 2024
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)
No hail reported in the county.
Wed, May 8, 2024
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1 in or larger (quarter)
No hail reported in the county.
Thu, Sep 7, 2023
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)
No hail reported in the county.
Sat, Aug 26, 2023
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)
No hail reported in the county.
Sat, Jun 3, 2023
Reported in the county
- 1 in (2 ESE Denver, NC)
Tue, May 16, 2023
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1.5 in or larger (ping-pong ball)
Reported in the county
- 1 in (2 NW HIGH SHOALS, NC)
Wed, Jul 13, 2022
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)
No hail reported in the county.
Wed, Jul 6, 2022
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1 in or larger (quarter)
No hail reported in the county.
Thu, Jun 16, 2022
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1.5 in or larger (ping-pong ball)
No hail reported in the county.
Thu, May 26, 2022
Reported in the county
- 1 in (2 WNW HIGH SHOALS, NC)
Fri, May 6, 2022
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1 in or larger (quarter)
Reported in the county
- 1.75 in (4 SE VALE, NC)
Wed, May 4, 2022
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)
No hail reported in the county.
Sat, Aug 14, 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.

Check your own address →Weather in Lincoln 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.