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NOAA/NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER REPORTS + U.S. CENSUS DATA

Hail, Wind & Tornado Reports in and near ZIP 08861

Public hail, wind, and tornado reports in and near ZIP 08861 from June 30, 1998 through August 7, 2026, sourced from NOAA/NWS Local Storm Reports and SPC storm report data.

Example: 08861 — search hail, wind and tornado public reports for any U.S. ZIP code 
Hail Reports
2
Wind Reports
10
Tornado Reports
0
Max Hail Size
1.25″
Source  NOAA SPC · NWS Local Storm Reports Coverage  ZIP 08861 · 1998–present Updated  Daily · last Aug 7, 2026

Latest NWS Hail Reports in and near ZIP 08861

2 reports
Free hail report for your home →
1.25″ hail
Nov 13, 2021
6:52 PM UTC
Hail report for ZIP 08861
Middlesex County · 166,704 Homes in County
Hail Report Description: HAIL UP TO HALF DOLLAR SIZE.
NWS Hail Report Location: Hopelawn, NJ
1.00″ hail
Jul 6, 2020
7:20 PM UTC
Hail report for ZIP 08861
Middlesex County · 166,704 Homes in County
Hail Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Hail Report Location: 1 W Perth Amboy, NJ
Showing 2 of 2
Hail Damage Risk for Your Home +

Hail reports describe hail by diameter, often comparing stone size to familiar objects like peas, quarters, golf balls, and softballs. Use this guide as a starting point for possible hail damage to your roof, siding, gutters, vents, windows, and exterior. Actual hail damage depends on hail hardness, density, wind speed, impact angle, roof age, shingle condition, roof pitch, roofing material, installation quality, and prior storm damage.

Pea
0.25″
Low

Usually too small to cause hail damage to most sound asphalt roofs, siding, or gutters.

Mothball
0.50″
Sub-Severe Watch

Below the NWS severe-hail threshold, but not always harmless. Repeated small hail can scuff surfaces, wear aging shingles, and loosen protective granules over time.

Penny
0.75″
Minor / Watch

Below the NWS severe-hail threshold, but roof hail damage is still possible on older, brittle, poorly installed, or previously damaged shingles. May also mark screens, vents, gutters, and soft metal.

Nickel
0.88″
Minor / Watch

Still below the severe-hail threshold, but large enough to leave visible marks on soft metal and add wear to older or hail-weakened roof shingles.

Quarter
1.00″
Watch

The NWS severe-hail threshold. Quarter-size hail can bruise shingles, dent soft metal, and create roof hail damage worth checking.

Half Dollar
1.25″
Watch

More likely to dent gutters, vents, flashing, and siding. Hail damage risk rises quickly on older roofs or hail-weakened shingles.

Ping Pong / Walnut
1.50″
Likely

Hail damage becomes more likely, including bruised shingles, granule loss, dented siding, and damaged roof vents.

Golf Ball
1.75″
Likely

Often causes roof hail damage, cracked shingles, dented gutters, damaged flashing, and siding impacts. A roof inspection is recommended.

Hen Egg
2.00″
Serious

Can crack or puncture shingles, expose mat, dent siding, and cause widespread hail damage across the roof and exterior.

Tennis Ball
2.50″
Serious

Can cause heavy roof hail damage, punctured siding, broken skylights, damaged vents, and widespread exterior damage.

Baseball
2.75″
Major

Major hail damage is likely, including severe roof impacts, damaged siding, broken windows, and possible major roof repairs.

Tea Cup / Large Apple
3.00″
Major

Can cause heavy hail damage across the roof, siding, gutters, windows, and exterior. Significant repairs are often needed.

Softball
4.00″
Extreme

Destructive hail damage. Can severely damage roofing materials, siding, windows, gutters, vents, vehicles, and exterior surfaces.

Grapefruit
4.50″
Extreme

Catastrophic hail damage risk for roofs, windows, vehicles, siding, gutters, and exterior surfaces.

Source: NOAA / National Weather Service hail size references are used for hail-size comparisons and the 1.00″ severe-hail threshold. Damage descriptions are general homeowner guidance, not official NOAA/NWS damage ratings. Sub-severe hail under 1.00″ is below the severe threshold, but that does not mean “no roof damage.” Penny- to nickel-size hail can still contribute to granule loss, cosmetic surface marks, and added wear, especially on older, brittle, poorly installed, or previously damaged roofs.

Latest NWS Wind Reports in and near ZIP 08861

10 reports
Free hail report + wind check →
47 mph
Aug 7, 2026
9:57 PM UTC
Wind report for ZIP 08861
Middlesex County · 166,704 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: Mesonet station XPER Perth Amboy.
NWS Wind Report Location: 1 Wsw Perth Amboy, NJ
70 mph
Jul 3, 2026
11:59 PM UTC
Wind report for ZIP 08861
Middlesex County · 166,704 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: Perth Amboy mesonet gusted to 61 kt.
NWS Wind Report Location: Perth Amboy, NJ
58 mph
May 20, 2026
10:22 PM UTC
Wind report for ZIP 08861
Middlesex County · 166,704 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: Mesonet station XPER Perth Amboy.
NWS Wind Report Location: 1 WSW Perth Amboy, NJ
66 mph
Jan 17, 2022
7:30 AM UTC
Wind report for ZIP 08861
Middlesex County · 166,704 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: VIA SOCIAL MEDIA.
NWS Wind Report Location: Hopelawn, NJ
UNK mph
Sep 14, 2021
2:00 AM UTC
Wind report for ZIP 08861
Middlesex County · 166,704 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: TREE FELL THROUGH THE ROOF OF A HOUSE IN HOPELAWN. TIME ESTIMATED FROM RADAR.
NWS Wind Report Location: Hopelawn, NJ
UNK mph
Aug 2, 2017
4:42 PM UTC
Wind report for ZIP 08861
Middlesex County · 166,704 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: TREE BRANCHES AND POWER LINES DOWN
NWS Wind Report Location: Perth Amboy, NJ
60 mph
Jul 18, 2012
4:01 PM EST-5
Wind report for ZIP 08861
Middlesex County · 166,704 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: A severe thunderstorm produced estimated with gusts of 60 mph in Perth Amboy.
NWS Wind Report Location: .94 S Perth Amboy, NJ
81 mph
Sep 16, 2010
4:17 PM EST-5
Wind report for ZIP 08861
Middlesex County · 166,704 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: A wet microburst associated with a severe thunderstorm caused considerable tree and some wind damage in Perth Amboy. The estimated maximum wind speed was about 80 mph and struck the historic district in the southeast part of Perth Amboy the hardest. About 15 to 20 homes and buildings were damaged. One family on Paterson Street had to be relocated because the roof over the front door of their home became detached. A state of emergency was declared and only emergency responders were permitted to travel through the southeast part of the city. It was lifted on the 18th when most streets were passable again. There was a measured wind gust of 73 mph within Perth Amboy. A funnel cloud also passed across the city, but did not touch down. Damage from the microburst occurred in an area bounded by 2nd Street to the west, Smith Street to the north, and the waterfront on the east and south. The most concentrated damage occurred on Water, Market and High Streets. Snapped trees and tree branches were the prevalent damage type, but roof and chimney damage also occurred in several locations. A couple of cars were also damaged by downed trees. No homes experienced significant structural damage, but several garages were badly damaged by either the winds themselves or collaterally from flying and/or falling debris. One minor injury due to flying debris occurred along First Street. The worst damage was located in a two-block area bounded by Second Street, Gordon Street, Madison Avenue and Lewis Street. Several large trees and numerous power lines were blown down, and structural damage occurred to several garages. Numerous houses in this area suffered roof damage, mainly in the form of lost shingles and damaged or destroyed chimneys. Several homes had sections of roofs torn away. A roof was also torn from one industrial building along Second Street, portions of which were transported several blocks away. Extensive tree damage also occurred in and near Bayview Park. Personnel from the city of Perth Amboy and the city of Woodbridge worked through the night to clean up the storm debris.
NWS Wind Report Location: .92 SSW Perth Amboy, NJ
60 mph
Aug 11, 2004
2:27 PM EST
Wind report for ZIP 08861
Middlesex County · 166,704 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Wind Report Location: Perth Amboy, NJ
58 mph
Jun 30, 1998
6:31 PM EST
Wind report for ZIP 08861
Middlesex County · 166,704 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Wind Report Location: Perth Amboy, NJ
Showing 10 of 10
Wind Damage Risk for Your Home +

Storm reports list thunderstorm wind gusts in mph. The NWS marks storms as severe at 58+ mph, but wind damage to your home depends on roof age, shingle condition, installation, exposure, nearby trees, and prior hail or wind damage.

Below Severe
Under 58 mph
Minor

Usually little damage to a sound roof, but loose shingles, flashing, or debris may shift.

Severe
58–74 mph
Watch

Can loosen shingles, lift flashing, break limbs, and damage gutters, siding, fences, or trim.

Damaging
75–90 mph
Serious

Can peel shingles, damage vents, tear siding, rip gutters, and expose weak roof areas.

Extreme
90+ mph
Major

Can cause major roof covering loss, tree damage, broken windows, and structural damage.

Source: NOAA / National Weather Service storm reports. Gusts may be measured or estimated; actual wind damage varies by roof condition, exposure, and prior hail or wind damage.

Latest NWS Tornado Reports in and near ZIP 08861

0 reports

No tornado reports were found for this selection.

Showing 0 of 0
Tornado Damage Risk for Your Home +

After a tornado, the National Weather Service assigns an EF rating from EF0 to EF5 based on surveyed damage. The rating estimates wind speed from what the tornado damaged, so actual damage can vary by construction quality, roof age, garage doors, windows, trees, debris, and how close the home was to the tornado path.

EF0
65–85 mph
Light

Can peel shingles, damage gutters or siding, break tree limbs, and toss loose outdoor items.

EF1
86–110 mph
Moderate

Can strip roof covering, damage exterior doors, break windows, snap trees, and cause heavier siding or gutter damage.

EF2
111–135 mph
Serious

Can tear off large sections of roofing, break or uproot trees, destroy weaker structures, and cause major exterior damage.

EF3–EF5
136+ mph
Severe

Can remove roofs and walls, destroy large portions of homes, toss vehicles, and cause severe to total destruction near the path.

Source: NOAA / National Weather Service. EF ratings are assigned after a post-storm damage survey and are based on observed damage, not a direct measurement at every home.

NWS Hail, Wind and Tornado Reports in and near ZIP 08861 on the Interactive Map

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NWS Storm Reports & Census Data

U.S. Census Data · ZIP Code

ZIP 08861 area census snapshot

People & households
Population58,264
Households20,367
Housing units21,032
Income
Median household income$60,464
$100k+ households33.8%
$150k+ households13.7%
Housing stock
Single-family detached6,722
Attached single-family1,636
Small multifamily8,329
Large multifamily4,227
Mobile homes118
Housing mix
Single-family share32.0%
Attached-home share7.8%
Multifamily share59.7%
Mobile-home share0.6%
Ownership & occupancy
Owner-occupied7,136
Renter-occupied13,231
Vacant units665
Home value & age
Median home value$340,900
Owner homes $300k+62.9%
Owner homes $500k+14.3%
Owner homes $750k+1.9%
Median year built1957
Older-home share72.8%
Vehicle context
Households with cars16,422
Free hail maps

This snapshot is for local area context only and describes the selected state, county, city, or ZIP area — not a specific home or property. For ZIP-level estimated hail impact, use Free Hail Maps to generate a hail report with key impact details for that ZIP.

Frequently asked questions

for homeowners, buyers & sellers
How many hail, wind, and tornado reports does ZIP 08861 have on record?

Our records show 2 hail, 10 wind, and 0 tornado reports in and near ZIP 08861, compiled from NOAA SPC and NWS Local Storm Reports. The most recent was reported on August 7, 2026.

What is the largest hail ever reported in ZIP 08861?

The largest hail size in these storm-report records in and near ZIP 08861 is 1.25″. It was reported near Hopelawn, NJ on November 13, 2021.

A storm report showed up near my home in ZIP 08861 — does that mean my roof is damaged?

Not necessarily. A storm report only means hail, wind, or a tornado was observed nearby; it does not confirm damage at any specific address, and conditions change from block to block. Check an address-level hail report first, and if it looks significant, find a local pro that serves ZIP 08861 and ask about a Remote Hail Inspection before anyone climbs on the roof.

I am buying a home in ZIP 08861 — why should I look at its storm history?

Recent hail or wind can leave a roof or exterior with damage that is easy to miss during a walkthrough, and a recent roof replacement is sometimes an insurance job after a storm. Reviewing the storm history for a ZIP 08861 address before closing helps you ask informed questions about roof age, past repairs, and any prior claims.

I am selling a home in ZIP 08861 — how does this help me?

Knowing the storm history for your address lets you answer buyer questions with confidence, document repairs you have already made, and decide whether a pre-listing roof check is worthwhile. A clear hail history removes a common sticking point during negotiations.

How do I check hail history for a specific ZIP 08861 address?

Use the address search to pull a free address-level hail report for any property in ZIP 08861 — no phone number or email required. It shows recent hail activity for that address so you know whether a closer roof or exterior review makes sense.

Where does this storm report data come from, and what are its limits?

Storm reports on this page are public reports from storm events in and around ZIP 08861, sourced from NOAA SPC and NWS Local Storm Reports. They show where hail, wind, or tornado activity was reported in ZIP 08861, but they do not confirm damage at any specific property. Report locations, sizes, and times may be approximate and can vary from what an individual home experienced. For property-specific hail history, use an address-level hail report or contact a participating local professional for a remote hail inspection. Pros inclusion is not an endorsement, and contacting a professional does not confirm damage at any property.

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