When Is Hail Season?

The general window

Across most of the country, hail season runs from early spring through late summer, roughly March through August, and peaks from April to June. That is when warm, moist air and cold fronts collide to build the strong thunderstorms that produce hail.

It shifts by region

In the southern plains, hail can start as early as March. Across the central plains and Midwest, the heart of the season is May through July. In the northern states and New England, it tends to come later in summer with fast pop-up storms.

Hail Alley

The corridor running from Texas up through Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, and Colorado, often called Hail Alley, sees the most frequent and largest hail in the country, sometimes several damaging storms in a single season.

What it means for you

If you live in a hail-prone area, spring and summer are when to stay alert and to check your vehicle after any strong storm. The damage is not always obvious, so a free inspection after a rough storm is the safe move.