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NOAA/NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER STORM REPORTS

Hail, Wind & Tornado Reports in 1981

Public hail, wind, and tornado reports across the United States in 1981 from January 22, 1981 through December 31, 1981, 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 18, 2026.
Hail Reports
1,494
Wind Reports
2,192
Tornado Reports
830
Max Hail Size
5.00″
Source  NOAA SPC · NWS Local Storm Reports Coverage  United States · 1981 · 1981–present Updated  Daily · last Dec 31, 1981

NWS Hail Reports in 1981

30 reports
Free hail report for your home →
1.75″ hail
Dec 31, 1981
3:30 PM CST
Hail report for 1981
Putnam County · 18,201 Homes in County
Hail Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Hail Report Location: Not provided, FL
1.00″ hail
Nov 8, 1981
5:30 PM CST
Hail report for 1981
Johnson County · 47,525 Homes in County
Hail Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Hail Report Location: Not provided, TX
0.75″ hail
Nov 8, 1981
4:50 PM CST
Hail report for 1981
Tarrant County · 542,416 Homes in County
Hail Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Hail Report Location: Not provided, TX
1.00″ hail
Nov 5, 1981
2:00 PM CST
Hail report for 1981
Cabell County · 30,086 Homes in County
Hail Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Hail Report Location: Not provided, WV
0.75″ hail
Oct 27, 1981
3:00 PM CST
Hail report for 1981
Rockingham County · 25,804 Homes in County
Hail Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Hail Report Location: Not provided, VA
0.75″ hail
Oct 25, 1981
7:30 PM CST
Hail report for 1981
Newton County · 2,981 Homes in County
Hail Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Hail Report Location: Not provided, TX
0.75″ hail
Oct 25, 1981
7:10 PM CST
Hail report for 1981
Jasper County · 7,844 Homes in County
Hail Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Hail Report Location: Not provided, TX
0.75″ hail
Oct 25, 1981
6:50 PM CST
Hail report for 1981
Tyler County · 6,910 Homes in County
Hail Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Hail Report Location: Not provided, TX
0.75″ hail
Oct 25, 1981
6:40 PM CST
Hail report for 1981
Hardin County · 17,159 Homes in County
Hail Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Hail Report Location: Not provided, TX
1.75″ hail
Oct 17, 1981
4:15 PM CST
Hail report for 1981
Monroe County · 2,745 Homes in County
Hail Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Hail Report Location: Not provided, AR
1.00″ hail
Oct 15, 1981
2:15 PM CST
Hail report for 1981
Eddy County · 19,305 Homes in County
Hail Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Hail Report Location: Not provided, NM
1.50″ hail
Oct 5, 1981
12:14 PM CST
Hail report for 1981
Green County · 12,574 Homes in County
Hail Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Hail Report Location: Not provided, WI
1.75″ hail
Oct 5, 1981
10:30 AM CST
Hail report for 1981
Jones County · 7,163 Homes in County
Hail Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Hail Report Location: Not provided, IA
1.75″ hail
Oct 5, 1981
10:20 AM CST
Hail report for 1981
Linn County · 68,380 Homes in County
Hail Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Hail Report Location: Not provided, IA
1.75″ hail
Oct 3, 1981
7:55 PM CST
Hail report for 1981
Oklahoma County · 247,374 Homes in County
Hail Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Hail Report Location: Not provided, OK
Showing 15 of 30
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 1981

30 reports
Free hail report + wind check →
UNK mph
Dec 31, 1981
3:00 PM CST
Wind report for 1981
Duval County · 266,197 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Wind Report Location: Not provided, FL
UNK mph
Dec 31, 1981
1:10 PM CST
Wind report for 1981
Emanuel County · 5,772 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Wind Report Location: Not provided, GA
UNK mph
Dec 23, 1981
6:00 PM CST
Wind report for 1981
McCracken County · 20,982 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Wind Report Location: Not provided, KY
UNK mph
Dec 22, 1981
4:40 PM CST
Wind report for 1981
Greene County · 13,687 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Wind Report Location: Not provided, AR
UNK mph
Dec 22, 1981
3:05 PM CST
Wind report for 1981
Fulton County · 4,499 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Wind Report Location: Not provided, AR
58 mph
Dec 15, 1981
9:57 AM CST
Wind report for 1981
Polk County · 203,501 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Wind Report Location: Not provided, FL
81 mph
Nov 30, 1981
5:30 AM CST
Wind report for 1981
Dallas County · 548,642 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Wind Report Location: Not provided, TX
UNK mph
Nov 30, 1981
5:30 AM CST
Wind report for 1981
Hunt County · 28,538 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Wind Report Location: Not provided, TX
UNK mph
Nov 30, 1981
5:30 AM CST
Wind report for 1981
Fannin County · 11,473 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Wind Report Location: Not provided, TX
UNK mph
Nov 30, 1981
4:45 AM CST
Wind report for 1981
Tarrant County · 542,416 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Wind Report Location: Not provided, TX
UNK mph
Nov 30, 1981
4:15 AM CST
Wind report for 1981
Tarrant County · 542,416 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Wind Report Location: Not provided, TX
58 mph
Nov 26, 1981
1:20 PM CST
Wind report for 1981
Madison County · 93,884 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Wind Report Location: Not provided, IL
61 mph
Nov 26, 1981
12:33 PM CST
Wind report for 1981
St. Louis city · 75,506 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Wind Report Location: Not provided, MO
98 mph
Nov 20, 1981
7:25 AM CST
Wind report for 1981
Titus County · 8,305 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Wind Report Location: Not provided, TX
UNK mph
Nov 19, 1981
10:15 PM CST
Wind report for 1981
Carroll County · 34,127 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Wind Report Location: Not provided, GA
Showing 15 of 30
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 1981

30 reports
F2 category
Dec 15, 1981
8:25 AM CST
Tornado report for 1981
Pinellas County · 249,730 Homes in County
Tornado Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Tornado Report Location: Not provided, FL
F1 category
Nov 19, 1981
11:15 PM CST
Tornado report for 1981
Clayton County · 75,021 Homes in County
Tornado Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Tornado Report Location: Not provided, GA
F1 category
Nov 19, 1981
6:30 PM CST
Tornado report for 1981
Kenton County · 49,511 Homes in County
Tornado Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Tornado Report Location: Not provided, KY
F1 category
Nov 19, 1981
5:45 PM CST
Tornado report for 1981
Ripley County · 9,896 Homes in County
Tornado Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Tornado Report Location: Not provided, IN
F1 category
Nov 13, 1981
12:50 AM CST
Tornado report for 1981
Bell County · 97,380 Homes in County
Tornado Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Tornado Report Location: Not provided, TX
F0 category
Nov 8, 1981
5:30 PM CST
Tornado report for 1981
Johnson County · 47,525 Homes in County
Tornado Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Tornado Report Location: Not provided, TX
F1 category
Nov 8, 1981
5:22 PM CST
Tornado report for 1981
Johnson County · 47,525 Homes in County
Tornado Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Tornado Report Location: Not provided, TX
F0 category
Nov 3, 1981
11:30 AM CST
Tornado report for 1981
Garfield County · 21,942 Homes in County
Tornado Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Tornado Report Location: Not provided, OK
F2 category
Oct 26, 1981
6:00 PM CST
Tornado report for 1981
Warren County · 31,963 Homes in County
Tornado Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Tornado Report Location: Not provided, NJ
F2 category
Oct 25, 1981
4:30 PM CST
Tornado report for 1981
Calhoun County · 3,414 Homes in County
Tornado Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Tornado Report Location: Not provided, FL
F1 category
Oct 22, 1981
11:40 AM CST
Tornado report for 1981
Goliad County · 2,779 Homes in County
Tornado Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Tornado Report Location: Not provided, TX
F0 category
Oct 18, 1981
9:53 PM CST
Tornado report for 1981
Victoria County · 25,742 Homes in County
Tornado Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Tornado Report Location: Not provided, TX
F0 category
Oct 17, 1981
10:50 PM CST
Tornado report for 1981
Marshall County · 16,140 Homes in County
Tornado Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Tornado Report Location: Not provided, IN
F1 category
Oct 17, 1981
8:40 PM CST
Tornado report for 1981
Lake County · 154,584 Homes in County
Tornado Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Tornado Report Location: Not provided, IN
F2 category
Oct 17, 1981
7:00 PM CST
Tornado report for 1981
Hardeman County · 8,049 Homes in County
Tornado Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Tornado Report Location: Not provided, TN
Showing 15 of 30
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 1981 on the Interactive Map

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Hail
Wind
Tornado

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Browse NWS Storm Reports by Month in 1981

December 1981 8
Hail, wind & tornado reports
November 1981 31
Hail, wind & tornado reports
October 1981 96
Hail, wind & tornado reports
September 1981 121
Hail, wind & tornado reports
August 1981 372
Hail, wind & tornado reports
July 1981 839
Hail, wind & tornado reports
June 1981 1,097
Hail, wind & tornado reports
May 1981 873
Hail, wind & tornado reports
April 1981 758
Hail, wind & tornado reports
March 1981 209
Hail, wind & tornado reports
February 1981 110
Hail, wind & tornado reports
January 1981 2
Hail, wind & tornado reports

Get a Remote Hail Inspection

Not sure if hail may have affected your home in 1981? 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 1981?

Our records show 1,494 hail, 2,192 wind, and 830 tornado reports in 1981, compiled from NOAA SPC and NWS Local Storm Reports. The most recent was reported on December 31, 1981.

What was the largest hail reported in 1981?

The largest hail size in these storm-report records in 1981 is 5.00″, reported near Roosevelt, OK.

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 1981 — 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 1981 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 1981?

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 1981 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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