A decade-long streak remains unbroken: Texas has experienced more major hail events than any other state, a trend that has intensified both in frequency and severity, overwhelming homeowners, insurers, and contractors alike.

Prevalence and Increasing Frequency

According to data compiled by the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) from the National Weather Service’s Storm Prediction Center, Texas led the nation with 783 major hail events (hailstones greater than 1 inch in diameter) in 2015.

That figure climbed to a record 1,123 in 2023 before falling back to 878 in 2024 — an overall 12% increase since 2015 and a pronounced spike during the past three years.  

Nationwide, major hail events peaked at 6,962 in 2023 before dipping to 5,373 in 2024, underscoring the exceptional hail activity in Texas relative to the rest of the country.

State‑Specific Impact

Although hail can strike anywhere in the Lone Star State, the highest concentration of “severe hail days” occurs in West Texas and the Panhandle, according to the IBHS study.  A recent analysis of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) records shows Potter County, home to Amarillo, led with 131 severe hail days since 2000, followed closely by Tarrant County, where Fort Worth is located, with 126 and Lubbock County with 122.  

“The higher frequency of hail in West Texas and the Panhandle is attributed to higher elevation, which keeps the freezing level closer to the ground, and drier air that promotes thunderstorm updrafts,” the Houston Chronicle reported. 

The Gulf Coast, on the other hand, including regions like Cameron and Galveston counties, averages fewer than 25 severe hail days. This gift is, thanks in part to what scientists say is warm, moist maritime air that inhibits hail formation.

Major urban centers have also felt the impact. The Dallas‑Fort Worth metroplex saw dozens of events with softball‑sized hail, while Austin and San Antonio have each endured multiple multi‑million‑dollar storms.  

In May 2024 alone, golf‑ball to softball‑sized hail pummeled north and east Texas, causing more than $2.3 billion in property damage and prompting thousands of insurance claims, according to the National Centers for Environmental Information, an arm of NOAA.  

Sectoral Implications

Roofing Contractors: According to Business Insider, storms nationally account for roughly 30% of annual roofing demand, and destruction from hail has driven material shortages and price spikes.  Analysts note that an unusually destructive hail season, combined with low inventories resulting from prior repairs, has driven up prices for shingles and synthetic underlayments.  

Insurers:  Rising hail claims have prompted many carriers to adjust premiums, impose stricter underwriting standards, and, in some cases, curtail coverage in high‑risk counties.  “Suburban sprawl in sunbelt cities such as Dallas and Austin, combined with rising construction costs, is driving underwriting losses and forcing insurers to scale back,” Reuters reported, noting that insured losses from severe convective storms reached $70 billion in 2023. The uncertainty in hail prediction has led to more frequent rate hikes and nonrenewals in central and north Texas.

Homeowners: Property owners in Texas have faced mounting financial burdens. In 2023, hailstorms caused an estimated $46 billion in damage to cars, roofs, and crops across the U.S., according to the IBHS report. In March 2024, the Associated Press reported on a rare 7-inch hailstone, the size of a pineapple, that was recovered near Vigo Park, setting a likely state record and underscoring the potential for catastrophic roof and window damage.  

To mitigate future losses, homeowners are increasingly investing in impact-resistant shingles, metal roofing, and proactive maintenance programs.

Data and Expert Analysis

The decade’s quantitative data reveal a clear upward trajectory in both the number and severity of hail events in Texas. 

From a low of 508 events in 2018 to a high of 1,123 in 2023, the variability underscores the state’s vulnerability to atmospheric instability.  Structural engineers specializing in weather resilience highlight the need for enhanced building codes.  

“We’re seeing more frequent installation of Class 4 impact‑rated roofing materials,” Said Ahmad, a Denver roofing business owner whose company has worked extensively in Texas, said. “Clients are willing to pay more up front to avoid repeated claims and higher insurance premiums.”

Meteorologists and climatologists point to a combination of factors fueling this trend: increased atmospheric moisture, elevated freezing levels and stronger storm updrafts.  

“Dynamic‑downscaling studies suggest a more prolonged hail season in the central U.S.,” reported Yale Climate Connections, projecting that spring and summer hailstorms will lengthen and intensify in hail‑prone regions such as the Texas Panhandle and High Plains.

Future Projections

Looking ahead, climate models indicate a complex response.  While near‑surface severe hail days may decrease slightly in some southern Plains regions under high‑emission scenarios, the frequency of the largest hailstones (greater than 2 inches) is projected to increase by up to 75% by century’s end, driven by stronger updrafts and deeper storm cells.  

Experts warn that Texas — already ground zero for U.S. hail — will likely see more intense outbreaks of large‑hail events, particularly in its panhandle and North Texas corridors.

Contractors, insurers and homeowners will be forced to prioritize resilience, rely on enhanced risk models and gird themselves for a time when storms endangering Texas roofs could intensify and occur more frequently