Hail History

Hail history for Chicago, Illinois

NOAA hail reports in and within about 5 km (3 miles) of Chicago since 1956, with preliminary reports to November 3, 2026.

Readout · Chicago

Last hail
Jul 27, 2026
1.50 in, ping pong ball size
Hail days, last 5 years
9
since Nov 3, 2021 · 18 reports
Largest ever
2.75 in
baseball · Jun 30, 2011

113 reports on 70 days since 1956 · #2 of 378 Illinois places

Hail map · Chicago

Chicago Bedford Park Oak Lawn Alsip Oak Brook Skokie Evanston Niles Villa Park 10 mi
  • Under 1 in
  • 1–1.75 in
  • 1.75–2.5 in
  • 2.5–4 in
  • 4 in +
  • No size
113 most recent reports with a location; Cook County is shaded. Open street map

For homeowners

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Hail bruises shingles and cracks seals in ways you can't see from the ground, and most insurers set a claim deadline after the storm. The latest hail report in Chicago is from July 27, 2026. A local roofer can check and document it at no cost.

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What the record says about Chicago

The latest hail report in and around Chicago is from July 27, 2026, 1.50 in (ping pong ball size). Since November 3, 2021 there have been 9 separate hail days; the biggest stones in that time were 2.00 in on March 10, 2026.

Over the 20 years 2006–2025, Chicago logged 68 reports on 38 hail days, about 3.4 reports a year. That is 6.8 times the median Illinois town on this site (0.5 a year) and ranks #2 of 378 Illinois cities and towns on this site for all-time reports. Chicago accounts for 17% of the 660 reports filed in Cook County.

7% 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 2.75 in (baseball) on June 30, 2011 near 1.04 NNW Brighton Park.

Reports were down 42% in 2016–2025 (25) compared with 2006–2015 (43). The busiest year was 2011, with 12 reports on 3 days. Hail here peaks in June (33% of reports); 58% fall between April and June.

Reports a year 2006–2025 average

  • Chicago 3.4
  • Cook County 20.1
  • Median Illinois town on this site 0.5

Hail days 2006–2025

  • Chicago 38
  • Cook County 121
  • Median Illinois town on this site 8

Share 2 in or larger of sized reports

  • Chicago 7%
  • Cook County 4%
  • Median Illinois town on this site 4%

Hail over time

051015 1956: 1 reports, largest 0.75 in 1959: 1 reports, largest 0.75 in 1960 1963: 1 reports, largest 0.75 in 1965: 2 reports, largest 1.75 in 1966: 1 reports, largest 1.75 in 1970 1974: 2 reports, largest 1.25 in 1975: 2 reports, largest 1.75 in 1980 1983: 1 reports, largest 1.00 in 1988: 2 reports, largest 1.75 in 1989: 1 reports, largest 1.00 in 1990 1991: 1 reports, largest 1.00 in 1996: 1 reports, largest 1.75 in 1997: 1 reports, largest 1.00 in 2000: 1 reports, largest 1.75 in 2000 2001: 2 reports, largest 0.88 in 2003: 11 reports, largest 2.50 in 2004: 5 reports, largest 1.00 in 2005: 1 reports, largest 0.75 in 2006: 6 reports, largest 1.00 in 2007: 2 reports, largest 0.75 in 2008: 3 reports, largest 1.00 in 2009: 5 reports, largest 1.50 in 2010: 1 reports, largest 1.00 in 2010 2011: 12 reports, largest 2.75 in 2012: 4 reports, largest 1.75 in 2013: 6 reports, largest 1.00 in 2014: 1 reports, largest 1.00 in 2015: 3 reports, largest 1.00 in 2016: 3 reports, largest 1.00 in 2018: 1 reports, largest 1.00 in 2019: 11 reports, largest 1.50 in 2020 2022: 1 reports, largest 1.00 in 2023: 5 reports, largest 1.50 in 2024: 3 reports, largest 1.00 in 2025: 1 reports, largest 1.00 in 2026: 8 reports, largest 2.00 in
Reports per year, 1956–2026. Bar colour shows the largest hail that year. Reporting grew sharply after the mid-1990s, so early decades undercount.
010203040 Jan Feb March: 11 reports (10%) Mar April: 15 reports (13%) Apr May: 14 reports (12%) May June: 37 reports (33%) Jun July: 16 reports (14%) Jul August: 12 reports (11%) Aug September: 1 reports (1%) Sep October: 5 reports (4%) Oct November: 2 reports (2%) Nov Dec
All 113 reports by calendar month.
Reports per month, 2017–2026. Darker cells had more reports.
YearJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecTotal
2026 62 8
2025 1 1
2024 21 3
2023 41 5
2022 1 1
2021 0
2020 0
2019 110 11
2018 1 1
2017 0

Hail days since Nov 3, 2021

DateReportsLargestStorm page
Jul 27, 2026 2 1.50 in —
Mar 30, 2026 2 1.00 in —
Mar 10, 2026 4 2.00 in —
May 15, 2025 1 1.00 in —
Aug 5, 2024 1 1.00 in —
May 7, 2024 2 1.00 in —
Jun 29, 2023 1 1.00 in —
Apr 4, 2023 4 1.50 in —
Jul 22, 2022 1 1.00 in —

Largest hail on record

Largest hail reports in Chicago
Date Size Location County Damage Time · source
Jun 30, 2011 2.75 inbaseball 1.04 NNW Brighton Park Cook $750K 20:35 local · NCEI
Jul 17, 2003 2.50 intennis ball Fox Lake Lake — 15:45 local · NCEI
Mar 10, 2026 2.00 inhen egg 0.71 S La Grange Cook — 16:55 local · NCEI
Jun 30, 2011 2.00 inhen egg 1.01 NNW Corwith Cook — 20:33 local · NCEI
Jun 30, 2011 2.00 inhen egg 1.88 S Austin Cook — 20:33 local · NCEI

Size of every report

Most recent reports

Most recent hail reports in Chicago
Date Size Location County Time · source
Jul 27, 2026 1.50 inping pong ball 0.53 W Grand Crossing Cook 12:17 local · NCEI
Jul 27, 2026 1.00 inquarter 0.55 W Northerly Island Cook 12:00 local · NCEI
Mar 30, 2026 1.00 inquarter 0.51 E Cicero Cook 22:23 local · NCEI
Mar 30, 2026 1.00 inquarter Elsdon Cook 22:18 local · NCEI
Mar 10, 2026 1.00 inquarter 0.86 SE West Town Cook 17:22 local · NCEI
Mar 10, 2026 1.00 inquarter 0.69 N Garfield Park Cook 17:21 local · NCEI
Mar 10, 2026 1.25 inhalf dollar 0.86 SW Northerly Island Cook 17:20 local · NCEI
Mar 10, 2026 2.00 inhen egg 0.71 S La Grange Cook 16:55 local · NCEI
May 15, 2025 1.00 inquarter 0.51 E Ravenswood Cook 19:03 local · NCEI
Aug 5, 2024 1.00 inquarter Edgewater Cook 06:07 local · NCEI
May 7, 2024 1.00 inquarter 0.86 SE Beverly View Cook 13:31 local · NCEI
May 7, 2024 1.00 inquarter 0.86 SE Beverly Cook 12:53 local · NCEI

Hail history near Chicago

Questions about hail in Chicago

How often does it hail in Chicago, Illinois?

113 hail reports have been logged in and within about 5 km (3 miles) of Chicago since 1956. Over the 20 years 2006–2025 that averages 3.4 reports a year. That ranks #2 of 378 Illinois places by number of reports.

When is hail season in Chicago?

Most reports come in June, July, April. June alone accounts for 33% of all reports.

What is the largest hail recorded in Chicago?

2.75 in (baseball size) on June 30, 2011 near 1.04 NNW Brighton Park. 7% of reports here were 2 inches or larger.

When did it last hail in Chicago?

The most recent report in this data is from July 27, 2026 (1.50 in). Final NOAA data runs to July 31, 2026; preliminary NWS reports run to November 3, 2026.

How many hail storms has Chicago had in the last five years?

9 separate days with hail reports since November 3, 2021, adding up to 18 reports. The most recent was July 27, 2026.

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.