Hail history for Chester, Illinois
NOAA hail reports in and within about 5 km (3 miles) of Chester since 1971, with preliminary reports to November 3, 2026.
Readout · Chester
- Last hail
- Feb 10, 2024
- 1.00 in, quarter size
- Hail days, last 5 years
- 2
- since Nov 3, 2021 · 2 reports
- Largest ever
- 4.00 in
- grapefruit · Mar 20, 1976
23 reports on 22 days since 1971 · #92 of 378 Illinois places
Hail map · Chester
- Under 1 in
- 1–1.75 in
- 1.75–2.5 in
- 2.5–4 in
- 4 in +
- No size
For homeowners
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What the record says about Chester
The latest hail report in and around Chester is from February 10, 2024, 1.00 in (quarter size). Since November 3, 2021 there have been 2 separate hail days; the biggest stones in that time were 1.75 in on April 30, 2022.
Over the 20 years 2006–2025, Chester logged 13 reports on 12 hail days, about 0.7 reports a year. That is 30% more than the median Illinois town on this site (0.5 a year) and ranks #92 of 378 Illinois cities and towns on this site for all-time reports. Chester accounts for 13% of the 174 reports filed in Randolph County.
9% of reports with a size were 2 inches (hen egg) or larger, against 4% for the median Illinois town on this site. The largest hail on record here is 4.00 in (grapefruit) on March 20, 1976.
Reports were down 82% in 2016–2025 (2) compared with 2006–2015 (11). The busiest year was 2006, with 5 reports on 4 days. Hail here peaks in May (30% of reports); 57% fall between April and June.
Reports a year 2006–2025 average
- Chester 0.7
- Randolph County 4.8
- Median Illinois town on this site 0.5
Hail days 2006–2025
- Chester 12
- Randolph County 48
- Median Illinois town on this site 8
Share 2 in or larger of sized reports
- Chester 9%
- Randolph County 4%
- Median Illinois town on this site 4%
Hail over time
| Year | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 2025 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 2024 | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||
| 2023 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 2022 | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||
| 2021 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 2020 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 2019 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 2018 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 2017 | 0 |
Hail days since Nov 3, 2021
| Date | Reports | Largest | Storm page |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 10, 2024 | 1 | 1.00 in | — |
| Apr 30, 2022 | 1 | 1.75 in | — |
Largest hail on record
| Date | Size | Location | County | Time · source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 20, 1976 | 4.00 ingrapefruit | — | Randolph | 14:55 local · NCEI |
| Apr 27, 1971 | 2.75 inbaseball | — | — | 14:45 local · NCEI |
| Apr 30, 2022 | 1.75 ingolf ball | 1.12 ESE Chester | Randolph | 16:18 local · NCEI |
| Feb 10, 2024 | 1.00 inquarter | 2.27 ESE Chester | Randolph | 12:20 local · NCEI |
| May 20, 2013 | 1.00 inquarter | Chester | Randolph | 23:06 local · NCEI |
Sizes filed before 1996 are often rough estimates (round numbers like 7.00 or 8.00 in) without an exact spot; they are shown as NOAA filed them.
Size of every report
- Under 1 in 14 61%
- 1–2 in 7 30%
- 2 in + 2 9%
Most recent reports
| Date | Size | Location | County | Time · source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 10, 2024 | 1.00 inquarter | 2.27 ESE Chester | Randolph | 12:20 local · NCEI |
| Apr 30, 2022 | 1.75 ingolf ball | 1.12 ESE Chester | Randolph | 16:18 local · NCEI |
| May 9, 2014 | 0.88 innickel | Chester | Randolph | 13:33 local · NCEI |
| May 20, 2013 | 1.00 inquarter | Chester | Randolph | 23:06 local · NCEI |
| Jul 1, 2012 | 1.00 inquarter | 0.64 SE Menard | Randolph | 16:44 local · NCEI |
| Apr 7, 2010 | 1.00 inquarter | 2.29 ENE Menard | Randolph | 14:18 local · NCEI |
| Jan 29, 2008 | 0.88 innickel | Chester | Randolph | 15:15 local · NCEI |
| Apr 3, 2007 | 0.75 inpenny | Chester | Randolph | 14:15 local · NCEI |
| May 24, 2006 | 0.88 innickel | Chester | Randolph | 18:17 local · NCEI |
| May 3, 2006 | 0.88 innickel | Chester | Randolph | 12:52 local · NCEI |
| May 3, 2006 | 0.75 inpenny | Chester | Randolph | 12:48 local · NCEI |
| Apr 7, 2006 | 1.00 inquarter | Chester | Randolph | 12:27 local · NCEI |
Hail history near Chester
- Ellis Grove 12 km · 12
- Steeleville 17 km · 10
- Evansville 20 km · 22
- Sparta 25 km · 27
- Cutler 26 km · 10
- Ruma 27 km · 11
- Baldwin 29 km · 11
- Prairie du Rocher 29 km · 11
Questions about hail in Chester
How often does it hail in Chester, Illinois?
23 hail reports have been logged in and within about 5 km (3 miles) of Chester since 1971. Over the 20 years 2006–2025 that averages 0.7 reports a year. That ranks #92 of 378 Illinois places by number of reports.
When is hail season in Chester?
Most reports come in May, April, March. May alone accounts for 30% of all reports.
What is the largest hail recorded in Chester?
4.00 in (grapefruit size) on March 20, 1976. 9% of reports here were 2 inches or larger.
When did it last hail in Chester?
The most recent report in this data is from February 10, 2024 (1.00 in). Final NOAA data runs to July 31, 2026; preliminary NWS reports run to November 3, 2026.
How many hail storms has Chester had in the last five years?
2 separate days with hail reports since November 3, 2021, adding up to 2 reports. The most recent was February 10, 2024.
Where does this hail data come from?
Hail reports come from the NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, which the National Weather Service compiles from spotter, public, law enforcement and media reports. Recent days use preliminary NWS Local Storm Reports via the Iowa Environmental Mesonet until NOAA publishes final data. Only reported hail is counted, so areas with fewer people tend to have fewer reports.