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NOAA/NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER STORM REPORTS

Hail, Wind & Tornado Reports in January 1979

Public hail, wind, and tornado reports across the United States in January 1979 from January 1, 1979 through January 31, 1979, sourced from NOAA/NWS Local Storm Reports and SPC storm report data.

Pick any date to see hail, wind and tornado public reports for that day — e.g. September 19, 2026.
Hail Reports
5
Wind Reports
20
Tornado Reports
16
Max Hail Size
2.00″
Source  NOAA SPC · NWS Local Storm Reports Coverage  United States · January 1979 · 1979–present Updated  Daily · last Jan 31, 1979

NWS Hail Reports in January 1979

5 reports
Free hail report for your home →
1.50″ hail
Jan 31, 1979
6:00 PM CST
Hail report for January 1979
Los Angeles County · 1,726,365 Homes in County
Hail Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Hail Report Location: Not provided, CA
1.25″ hail
Jan 31, 1979
5:30 PM CST
Hail report for January 1979
Los Angeles County · 1,726,365 Homes in County
Hail Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Hail Report Location: Not provided, CA
2.00″ hail
Jan 31, 1979
5:30 PM CST
Hail report for January 1979
Orange County · 563,953 Homes in County
Hail Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Hail Report Location: Not provided, CA
1.25″ hail
Jan 31, 1979
5:00 PM CST
Hail report for January 1979
Orange County · 563,953 Homes in County
Hail Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Hail Report Location: Not provided, CA
0.75″ hail
Jan 25, 1979
6:25 PM CST
Hail report for January 1979
Maricopa County · 1,189,056 Homes in County
Hail Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Hail Report Location: Not provided, AZ
Showing 5 of 5
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.

NWS Wind Reports in January 1979

20 reports
Free hail report + wind check →
73 mph
Jan 31, 1979
5:00 PM CST
Wind report for January 1979
Orange County · 563,953 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Wind Report Location: Not provided, CA
UNK mph
Jan 25, 1979
6:40 PM CST
Wind report for January 1979
Maricopa County · 1,189,056 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Wind Report Location: Not provided, AZ
UNK mph
Jan 24, 1979
2:15 AM CST
Wind report for January 1979
Polk County · 203,501 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Wind Report Location: Not provided, FL
61 mph
Jan 23, 1979
3:03 PM CST
Wind report for January 1979
Plaquemines Parish · 5,112 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Wind Report Location: Not provided, LA
UNK mph
Jan 23, 1979
1:45 PM CST
Wind report for January 1979
St. James Parish · 6,487 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Wind Report Location: Not provided, LA
UNK mph
Jan 21, 1979
12:30 PM CST
Wind report for January 1979
Sussex County · 96,595 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Wind Report Location: Not provided, DE
UNK mph
Jan 21, 1979
11:15 AM CST
Wind report for January 1979
Levy County · 10,621 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Wind Report Location: Not provided, FL
UNK mph
Jan 21, 1979
12:30 AM CST
Wind report for January 1979
Amelia County · 4,551 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Wind Report Location: Not provided, VA
UNK mph
Jan 20, 1979
8:40 PM CST
Wind report for January 1979
Tuscaloosa County · 62,512 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Wind Report Location: Not provided, AL
UNK mph
Jan 20, 1979
5:30 PM CST
Wind report for January 1979
Copiah County · 7,960 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Wind Report Location: Not provided, MS
UNK mph
Jan 20, 1979
4:20 AM CST
Wind report for January 1979
Jefferson Davis Parish · 10,342 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Wind Report Location: Not provided, LA
UNK mph
Jan 19, 1979
9:00 PM CST
Wind report for January 1979
Sabine Parish · 6,914 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Wind Report Location: Not provided, LA
UNK mph
Jan 19, 1979
6:30 PM CST
Wind report for January 1979
Claiborne Parish · 4,551 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Wind Report Location: Not provided, LA
UNK mph
Jan 19, 1979
6:30 PM CST
Wind report for January 1979
Assumption Parish · 6,197 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Wind Report Location: Not provided, LA
UNK mph
Jan 19, 1979
3:30 PM CST
Wind report for January 1979
Dallas County · 548,642 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Wind Report Location: Not provided, TX
Showing 15 of 20
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.

NWS Tornado Reports in January 1979

16 reports
F1 category
Jan 31, 1979
1:30 PM CST
Tornado report for January 1979
Orange County · 563,953 Homes in County
Tornado Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Tornado Report Location: Not provided, CA
UNK category
Jan 31, 1979
12:45 PM CST
Tornado report for January 1979
Los Angeles County · 1,726,365 Homes in County
Tornado Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Tornado Report Location: Not provided, CA
UNK category
Jan 24, 1979
4:55 AM CST
Tornado report for January 1979
Martin County · 44,486 Homes in County
Tornado Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Tornado Report Location: Not provided, FL
UNK category
Jan 24, 1979
4:00 AM CST
Tornado report for January 1979
Highlands County · 35,680 Homes in County
Tornado Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Tornado Report Location: Not provided, FL
UNK category
Jan 24, 1979
3:53 AM CST
Tornado report for January 1979
Lee County · 235,829 Homes in County
Tornado Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Tornado Report Location: Not provided, FL
UNK category
Jan 24, 1979
3:16 AM CST
Tornado report for January 1979
DeSoto County · 7,452 Homes in County
Tornado Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Tornado Report Location: Not provided, FL
UNK category
Jan 24, 1979
2:30 AM CST
Tornado report for January 1979
Volusia County · 180,109 Homes in County
Tornado Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Tornado Report Location: Not provided, FL
UNK category
Jan 24, 1979
1:00 AM CST
Tornado report for January 1979
Manatee County · 115,585 Homes in County
Tornado Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Tornado Report Location: Not provided, FL
UNK category
Jan 21, 1979
2:10 AM CST
Tornado report for January 1979
Brevard County · 194,058 Homes in County
Tornado Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Tornado Report Location: Not provided, FL
F1 category
Jan 20, 1979
2:10 AM CST
Tornado report for January 1979
Wharton County · 13,121 Homes in County
Tornado Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Tornado Report Location: Not provided, TX
F0 category
Jan 18, 1979
7:02 AM CST
Tornado report for January 1979
San Diego County · 623,917 Homes in County
Tornado Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Tornado Report Location: Not provided, CA
F2 category
Jan 13, 1979
4:10 AM CST
Tornado report for January 1979
Palm Beach County · 326,284 Homes in County
Tornado Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Tornado Report Location: Not provided, FL
UNK category
Jan 12, 1979
4:20 PM CST
Tornado report for January 1979
Brevard County · 194,058 Homes in County
Tornado Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Tornado Report Location: Not provided, FL
UNK category
Jan 12, 1979
2:34 PM CST
Tornado report for January 1979
Okeechobee County · 9,565 Homes in County
Tornado Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Tornado Report Location: Not provided, FL
UNK category
Jan 2, 1979
3:00 PM CST
Tornado report for January 1979
Palm Beach County · 326,284 Homes in County
Tornado Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Tornado Report Location: Not provided, FL
Showing 15 of 16
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 January 1979 on the Interactive Map

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Hail
Wind
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Browse NWS Storm Reports by Day in January 1979

January 31, 1979 7
Hail, wind & tornado reports
January 25, 1979 2
Hail, wind & tornado reports
January 24, 1979 7
Hail, wind & tornado reports
January 23, 1979 2
Hail, wind & tornado reports
January 21, 1979 4
Hail, wind & tornado reports
January 20, 1979 4
Hail, wind & tornado reports
January 19, 1979 6
Hail, wind & tornado reports
January 18, 1979 3
Hail, wind & tornado reports
January 13, 1979 1
Hail, wind & tornado reports
January 12, 1979 2
Hail, wind & tornado reports
January 2, 1979 2
Hail, wind & tornado reports
January 1, 1979 1
Hail, wind & tornado reports

Get a Remote Hail Inspection

Not sure if hail may have affected your home in January 1979? Ask a local pro for a Remote Hail Inspection. They can review hail activity for your property and help you decide whether an in-person roof or exterior inspection makes sense.

Frequently asked questions

for homeowners, buyers & sellers
How many storm reports were recorded in January 1979?

Our records show 5 hail, 20 wind, and 16 tornado reports in January 1979, compiled from NOAA SPC and NWS Local Storm Reports. The most recent was reported on January 31, 1979.

What was the largest hail reported in January 1979?

The largest hail size in these storm-report records in January 1979 is 2.00″, reported near Santa Ana, CA.

Some reports show UNK instead of a wind speed or tornado rating — what does that mean?

Wind reports come three ways: measured from an instrument, estimated from the damage observed, or UNK when no speed was recorded. Tornadoes show UNK until the National Weather Service finishes a damage survey and assigns an EF rating. UNK simply means that value was not available when the report was filed.

A report appeared near my home in January 1979 — is my roof damaged?

Not necessarily. A storm report shows that hail, wind, or a tornado was observed nearby, not that any specific home was hit. To find out whether your property was affected, check an address-level hail report, and if it looks significant, ask a local pro about a Remote Hail Inspection before scheduling roof work.

I am buying or selling a home — how do these in January 1979 reports help?

If a storm passed through, a roof or exterior may have damage that is hard to see, or a recent repair may trace back to it. Buyers can ask better questions before closing, and sellers can document the home condition up front — both starting from the property address rather than a whole region.

How do I check what happened at a specific address in January 1979?

Use the address search to pull a free address-level hail report for any property — 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 January 1979 across the United States, sourced from NOAA SPC and NWS Local Storm Reports. They show where hail, wind, or tornado activity was reported, 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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