Heads up! Small hail spotted in these regions: Las Cruces, NM • El Paso, TX      ATTENTION! Damaging hail detected. Hail tracking is now active for this region: Champaign, IL      
HailGeeks
NOAA/NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER REPORTS + U.S. CENSUS DATA

Hail, Wind & Tornado Reports in and near Princeton, NJ

Public hail, wind, and tornado reports in and near Princeton, NJ from August 6, 1977 through June 15, 2026, sourced from NOAA/NWS Local Storm Reports and SPC storm report data.

Example: 08540 — search hail, wind and tornado public reports for any U.S. ZIP code 
Hail Reports
5
Wind Reports
29
Tornado Reports
1
Max Hail Size
1.75″
Source  NOAA SPC · NWS Local Storm Reports Coverage  Princeton, NJ · 1977–present Updated  Daily · last Jun 15, 2026

Latest NWS Hail Reports in and near Princeton, NJ

5 reports
Free hail report for your home →
0.75″ hail
Jul 28, 2012
8:20 PM EST-5
Hail report for Princeton, NJ
Mercer County · 71,470 Homes in County
Hail Report Description: A thunderstorm dropped penny size hail in Princeton Township.
NWS Hail Report Location: N Princeton, NJ
0.75″ hail
Jul 28, 2012
8:12 PM EST-5
Hail report for Princeton, NJ
Mercer County · 71,470 Homes in County
Hail Report Description: A thunderstorm dropped penny size hail in Lawrence Township.
NWS Hail Report Location: N Princeton, NJ
1.00″ hail
Jun 17, 2004
6:50 PM EST
Hail report for Princeton, NJ
Mercer County · 71,470 Homes in County
Hail Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Hail Report Location: Princeton, NJ
1.75″ hail
Oct 4, 2000
6:45 PM EST
Hail report for Princeton, NJ
Mercer County · 71,470 Homes in County
Hail Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Hail Report Location: Princeton, NJ
0.75″ hail
Jun 22, 1996
4:45 PM EST
Hail report for Princeton, NJ
Mercer County · 71,470 Homes in County
Hail Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Hail Report Location: Princeton, NJ
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.

Latest NWS Wind Reports in and near Princeton, NJ

29 reports
Free hail report + wind check →
UNK mph
Jun 15, 2026
3:25 AM UTC
Wind report for Princeton, NJ
Mercer County · 71,470 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: Downed Trees on NJ 27 Northbound North of US 206 (Princeton Twp)... All lanes closed. Time estimated from radar.
NWS Wind Report Location: 1 NE Princeton, NJ
UNK mph
Mar 18, 2026
3:43 AM UTC
Wind report for Princeton, NJ
Mercer County · 71,470 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: Several trees and wires down around Princeton. Time estimated from radar.
NWS Wind Report Location: 1 E Princeton, NJ
UNK mph
Mar 18, 2026
3:42 AM UTC
Wind report for Princeton, NJ
Mercer County · 71,470 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: NJ DOT - TOC South: Downed Tree/Wires on US 206 Northbound At Province Line Rd (Lawrence Twp)... All lanes closed. Time estimated from radar.
NWS Wind Report Location: 2 SW Princeton, NJ
UNK mph
Aug 7, 2023
11:37 PM UTC
Wind report for Princeton, NJ
Mercer County · 71,470 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: US206 closed between Province Line Road and Quaker Road due to downed trees and wires. Time estimated from radar.
NWS Wind Report Location: 2 WSW Princeton, NJ
UNK mph
Jun 3, 2021
11:36 PM UTC
Wind report for Princeton, NJ
Mercer County · 71,470 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: DOWNED TREE LIMBS AND WIRES NEAR LEIGH AVENUE. TIME ESTIMATED FROM RADAR.
NWS Wind Report Location: 1 SW North Princeton, NJ
UNK mph
Feb 7, 2020
3:56 PM UTC
Wind report for Princeton, NJ
Mercer County · 71,470 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: DOWNED TREES AND WIRES NEAR WINDROW DRIVE. TIME ESTIMATED FROM RADAR.
NWS Wind Report Location: 1 SSE Rocky Hill, NJ
UNK mph
Feb 7, 2020
3:54 PM UTC
Wind report for Princeton, NJ
Mercer County · 71,470 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: GREAT ROAD CLOSED BETWEEN STUART ROAD AND PRINCETON DAY SCHOOL FROM A POLE AND WIRES DOWN. TIME ESTIMATED FROM RADAR.
NWS Wind Report Location: 2 W North Princeton, NJ
UNK mph
Aug 7, 2019
8:45 PM UTC
Wind report for Princeton, NJ
Mercer County · 71,470 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: DOWNED TREE ON US-206 NORTHBOUND AT CR-533. ALSO SOME FLOODING ON THE ROADWAY. ALL LANES CLOSED AND DETOURED. TIME ESTIMATED FROM RADAR.
NWS Wind Report Location: 2 WSW Princeton, NJ
UNK mph
Aug 7, 2019
8:23 PM UTC
Wind report for Princeton, NJ
Mercer County · 71,470 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: REPORT OF DOWNED POWER LINES IN PRINCETON. TIME ESTIMATED FROM RADAR.
NWS Wind Report Location: Princeton, NJ
UNK mph
Jul 20, 2019
12:50 AM UTC
Wind report for Princeton, NJ
Mercer County · 71,470 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: TREE DOWN AND BLOCKING ALL LANES OF NJ-27 SOUTHBOUND SOUTH OF CR-605. TIME ESTIMATED FROM RADAR.
NWS Wind Report Location: 2 ENE North Princeton, NJ
UNK mph
Jul 2, 2019
11:26 PM UTC
Wind report for Princeton, NJ
Mercer County · 71,470 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: WIRES DOWN NEAR PRINCETON. TIME ESTIMATED FROM RADAR.
NWS Wind Report Location: 1 W North Princeton, NJ
UNK mph
May 29, 2019
9:44 PM UTC
Wind report for Princeton, NJ
Mercer County · 71,470 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: DOWNED UTILITY POLE AND WIRES ON NJ-27 IN BOTH DIRECTIONS AT CR 571 AND WASHINGTON ST. ALL LANES CLOSED.
NWS Wind Report Location: Princeton, NJ
UNK mph
Feb 25, 2016
4:15 AM UTC
Wind report for Princeton, NJ
Mercer County · 71,470 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: WIRES AND TREES DOWN...TIME ESTIMATED FROM RADAR
NWS Wind Report Location: Princeton, NJ
60 mph
Jul 7, 2012
5:50 PM EST-5
Wind report for Princeton, NJ
Mercer County · 71,470 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: A severe thunderstorm knocked down several trees in Princeton Township. One downed tree damaged a home. Farther to the west in the county, winds gusted to 55 mph at the Mercer County Airport at 645 p.m. EDT.
NWS Wind Report Location: N Princeton, NJ
60 mph
Jun 9, 2011
6:50 PM EST-5
Wind report for Princeton, NJ
Mercer County · 71,470 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: A severe thunderstorm knocked down trees, tree limbs and wires in Princeton Township. Cherry Valley Road was blocked between The Great Road and Province Line Road. Trees and wires were also knocked down on U.S. Route 206, Mercer Street, Crestview Road, Dempsey Avenue, Riverside Drive, Stuart Road, Terhune Road, Quaker Road and Cherry Hill Road. U.S. Route 206, Mercer Street, Cherry Valley and Stuart Roads were still closed the next morning. In Princeton Borough, about a dozen trees were knocked down. One vehicle in the Borough Hall parking lot was damaged by a fallen tree. About 500 homes and businesses lost power in Mercer County.
NWS Wind Report Location: .65 SW Princeton, NJ
Showing 15 of 29
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 Princeton, NJ

1 reports
UNK category
Sep 1, 2021
11:32 PM UTC
Tornado report for Princeton, NJ
Mercer County · 71,470 Homes in County
Tornado Report Description: A TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN ALONG EMMONS DRIVE ALONG ROUTE 1 IN PRINCETON... NJ AS A REMNANT SUPERCELL MOVED NORTHWARD AFTER PRODUCING THE MULLICA HILL AND BURLINGTON... NJ TORNADOES EARLIER WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON AS IDA`S REMNANTS MOVED THROUGH THE REGION. DAMAGE FIRST OCCURRED AS SEVERAL SMALL BRANCHES WERE BROUGHT DOWN ALONG THE WHOLE FOODS AND WENDYS PARKING LOTS ALONG ROUTE 1 IN FAR EASTERN PRINCETON TOWNSHIP... WITH A CONTINUED PATH OF MINOR BRANCH DAMAGE EXTENDING NORTHWARD ALONG FARBER ROAD... MEADOW DRIVE... AND CANAL POINTE BOULEVARD ADJACENT TO ROUTE 1. SEVERAL MEDIUM-SIZE TREES WERE ALSO UPROOTED WITH NUMEROUS SMALL BRANCHES HAVING BEEN BROUGHT DOWN ALONG THE WESTERN PERIPHERY OF THE MARKETFAIR SHOPPING PARKING LOT. FROM THERE... THE TORNADO CONTINUED NORTHWARD WITH MINOR TREE DAMAGE HAVING OCCURRED ALONG CARNEGIE CENTER BOULEVARD AS THE TORNADO MOVED NORTHWARD. SEVERAL SMALL BRANCHES WERE ALSO BROUGHT DOWN IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA ALONG HERITAGE BOULEVARD WITH ONE PINE TREE EVEN HAVING BEEN S
NWS Tornado Report Location: 2 W West Windsor Twp., NJ
Showing 1 of 1
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 Princeton, NJ on the Interactive Map

Report type
Hail
Wind
Tornado

Get a free hail report for your address

Address-level hail history. 100% free. No phone or email required.

Look up your address →

Browse ZIP Codes with NWS Storm Reports in Princeton

08540 41
Princeton, NJ Hail, wind & tornado reports
08542 6
Princeton, NJ Hail, wind & tornado reports
08528 1
Kingston, NJ Hail, wind & tornado reports
08558 21
Skillman, NJ Hail, wind & tornado reports
08648 45
Lawrenceville, NJ Hail, wind & tornado reports

NWS Storm Reports & Census Data

U.S. Census Data · City

Princeton, NJ area census snapshot

People & households
Population30,451
Households9,002
Housing units9,737
Income
Median household income$184,113
$100k+ households28.4%
$150k+ households11.3%
Housing stock
Single-family detached5,174
Attached single-family1,762
Small multifamily946
Large multifamily1,852
Mobile homes3
Housing mix
Single-family share53.1%
Attached-home share18.1%
Multifamily share28.7%
Mobile-home share0.0%
Ownership & occupancy
Owner-occupied5,043
Renter-occupied3,959
Vacant units735
Home value & age
Median home value$1,040,400
Owner homes $300k+95.1%
Owner homes $500k+91.7%
Owner homes $750k+77.9%
Median year built1965
Older-home share62.5%
Vehicle context
Households with cars7,714
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 Princeton have on record?

Our records show 5 hail, 29 wind, and 1 tornado reports in and near Princeton, NJ, compiled from NOAA SPC and NWS Local Storm Reports. The most recent was reported on June 15, 2026.

What is the largest hail ever reported in Princeton?

The largest hail size in these storm-report records in and near Princeton, NJ is 1.75″. It was reported near Princeton, NJ on October 4, 2000.

A storm report showed up near my home in Princeton — 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 Princeton and ask about a Remote Hail Inspection before anyone climbs on the roof.

I am buying a home in Princeton — 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 Princeton address before closing helps you ask informed questions about roof age, past repairs, and any prior claims.

I am selling a home in Princeton — 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 Princeton address?

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

Free Hail Report By Address

Check Your Address in Seconds

Free hail report for any address in the contiguous U.S.

Get a Free Hail Report

100% free. No phone or email required.