Go Back
  • For Business
  • |
  • Warnings
  • Data Suite
  • Newsletters
  • Advertising
  • Superior Accuracy™
Boston, Philly hit 100, NYC breaks record from 1888 amid heat wave. Get the latest Chevron right
Find out when the heat will end where you live Chevron right

Ashburn, VA

75°F
Location Chevron down
Location News Videos
Use Current Location
Recent

Ashburn

Virginia

75°
No results found.
Try searching for a city, zip code or point of interest.
settings
Ashburn, VA Weather
Today WinterCast Local {stormName} Tracker Hourly Daily Radar MinuteCast Monthly Air Quality Health & Activities

Around the Globe

Hurricane Tracker

Severe Weather

Radar & Maps

News

News & Features

Astronomy

Business

Climate

Health

Recreation

Sports

Travel

For Business

Warnings

Data Suite

Newsletters

Advertising

Superior Accuracy™

Video

Winter Center

AccuWeather Early Hurricane Center Top Stories Trending Today Astronomy Heat Climate Health Recreation In Memoriam Case Studies Blogs & Webinars
Heat Advisory

News / Weather News

What are your chances of being killed by hail in the US?

By Ashley Williams, AccuWeather staff writer

Copied

Large hail bounced off this home as it battered Cocoa,Florida, on March 27.

Hailstorms are notorious for inflicting costly damage upon property and crops every year in the United States. Annually, the destruction from these frozen rain pellets that travel dozens of miles per hour through the atmosphere results in $1 billion in damage, according to the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Hail also poses a safety threat to both humans and animals. NOAA estimates that 24 people in the U.S. are injured each year, with some injuries significant enough to land them in the hospital.

On May 5, 1995, severe storms brewing over the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex in Texas produced damaging winds, heavy rain and extremely large hail, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).

Hail - AP Photo

Mindy Rump holds golf ball-sized hail stones for a photographer following a severe thunderstorm in Blair, Nebraska, Tuesday, June 3, 2014. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)

The storms, which remain some of the costliest in history, also impacted an outdoor festival called Mayfest, where over 10,000 people were caught out in the open with little to no shelter from the hail. More than 400 people were hurt after being pelted with hail up to the size of a softball, which is about 4 inches.

Although no one was killed, about 60 people were seriously injured.

“What injuries we do see are to people who are out in the open, like farmers, golfers, landscapers – anyone that’s doing outside work that doesn’t have any means to find shelter right away in a storm,” said AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Dan Kottlowski.

However, how likely is it that a hailstorm can actually kill you?

The odds are low, but it can happen, experts say.

The World Meteorological Organization reported that the highest mortality associated with a hailstorm happened near Moradabad, India, on April 30, 1888. The deadly storm killed 246 people with pieces of hail as large as “goose eggs, oranges and cricket balls.”

In the U.S., hailstorms resulting in loss of human life are quite rare. “Hail has to be really large to cause serious injury to people, or even death,” Kottlowski said.

NOAA keeps records of hail and other severe weather fatalities each year. Since 2000, only four people have been killed by hail. One of these deaths happened in 2005, another in 2008 and two more in 2000.

RELATED:

What determines hail size?
Preparing for severe weather: How to protect your car from thousands of dollars in hail damage
Why are hailstorms most common in spring?
What is the difference between freezing rain, sleet, snow, hail and graupel?

A 19-year-old man, Jose Carlos Oseguera, was one of the victims killed in 2000, when a softball-sized hailstone struck him in the head in Lake Worth Village, Texas, on March 28.

Hail can occur during any thunderstorm, but larger hail seems to occur more often during warmer months because the heat that builds the thunderstorms up higher in the air also strengthens the storms.

“The strength of the thunderstorm and how tall the thunderstorm is determines the size of the hail, and the bigger the thunderstorm, the bigger the hail is,” Kottlowski said.

If you're ever caught outdoors during a hailstorm, the U.S. Forest Service advises to seek shelter immediately, and to find something to protect your head if you're not able to shield your entire body from being pelted.

If you're driving, it's recommended that you pull over safely to the side of the road away from any trees, and if possible, pull into a sturdy garage or other shelter to minimize damage to your vehicle. Your car can also protect you from hail, so staying inside of it is your best bet against being harmed.

<hr>

For more safety and preparedness tips, visit AccuWeather.com/Ready.

AccuWeather ready logo
Report a Typo

Weather News

Weather Forecasts

Surge in downpours, thunderstorms coming to southeast US

Jun. 24, 2025
Weather News

4 women knocked unconscious after lightning strike in Florida

Jun. 24, 2025
Recreation

3 hikers found dead after jumping into cold water near Lake Tahoe

Jun. 24, 2025
Show more Show less Chevron down

Topics

AccuWeather Early

Hurricane Center

Top Stories

Trending Today

Astronomy

Heat

Climate

Health

Recreation

In Memoriam

Case Studies

Blogs & Webinars

Top Stories

Weather Forecasts

Heat dome to break down as downpours and thunderstorms erupt

6 minutes ago

Hurricane

Tropical Storm Andrea forms in Atlantic, 1st storm of hurricane season

1 hour ago

Weather News

Philly, Boston hit 100, NYC breaks record from 1888 amid heat wave

10 hours ago

Weather News

Coast Guard ends search after 8 killed in Lake Tahoe boat capsizing

19 hours ago

Severe Weather

'Ring of fire' thunderstorms to ride rim massive heat dome

20 minutes ago

More Stories

Featured Stories

Weather News

Summer that was hot 'gritty nightmare' inspired Pulitzer-winning novel

1 day ago

Astronomy

Strange signals from Antarctic ice seem to defy laws of physics

1 day ago

Climate

Your AI prompts could have a hidden environmental cost

1 day ago

Weather News

The greatest hot-weather drink you’ve probably never heard of

1 day ago

Weather News

World’s most liveable city for 2025 revealed

17 hours ago

AccuWeather Weather News What are your chances of being killed by hail in the US?
Company
Proven Superior Accuracy About AccuWeather Digital Advertising Careers Press Contact Us
Products & Services
For Business For Partners For Advertising AccuWeather APIs AccuWeather Connect RealFeel® and RealFeel Shade™ Personal Weather Stations
Apps & Downloads
iPhone App Android App See all Apps & Downloads
Subscription Services
AccuWeather Premium AccuWeather Professional
More
AccuWeather Ready Business Health Hurricane Leisure and Recreation Severe Weather Space and Astronomy Sports Travel Weather News Winter Center
Company
Proven Superior Accuracy About AccuWeather Digital Advertising Careers Press Contact Us
Products & Services
For Business For Partners For Advertising AccuWeather APIs AccuWeather Connect RealFeel® and RealFeel Shade™ Personal Weather Stations
Apps & Downloads
iPhone App Android App See all Apps & Downloads
Subscription Services
AccuWeather Premium AccuWeather Professional
More
AccuWeather Ready Business Health Hurricane Leisure and Recreation Severe Weather Space and Astronomy Sports Travel Weather News Winter Center
© 2025 AccuWeather, Inc. "AccuWeather" and sun design are registered trademarks of AccuWeather, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Cookie Policy | About Your Privacy Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information

...

...

...