Hail history for Des Plaines, Illinois
NOAA hail reports in and within about 5 km (3 miles) of Des Plaines since 1957, with preliminary reports to November 3, 2026.
Readout · Des Plaines
- Last hail
- Aug 16, 2025
- 1.25 in, half dollar size
- Hail days, last 5 years
- 3
- since Nov 3, 2021 · 5 reports
- Largest ever
- 2.75 in
- baseball · Apr 5, 2010
30 reports on 22 days since 1957 · #50 of 378 Illinois places
Hail map · Des Plaines
- 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 Des Plaines
The latest hail report in and around Des Plaines is from August 16, 2025, 1.25 in (half dollar size). Since November 3, 2021 there have been 3 separate hail days; the biggest stones in that time were 1.25 in on August 16, 2025.
Over the 20 years 2006–2025, Des Plaines logged 16 reports on 11 hail days, about 0.8 reports a year. That is 60% more than the median Illinois town on this site (0.5 a year) and ranks #50 of 378 Illinois cities and towns on this site for all-time reports. Des Plaines accounts for 5% of the 660 reports filed in Cook County.
3% 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 April 5, 2010 near 0.39 E Cumberland.
Reports were down 55% in 2016–2025 (5) compared with 2006–2015 (11). The busiest year was 2003, with 5 reports on 3 days. Hail here peaks in August (27% of reports); 47% fall between April and June.
Reports a year 2006–2025 average
- Des Plaines 0.8
- Cook County 20.1
- Median Illinois town on this site 0.5
Hail days 2006–2025
- Des Plaines 11
- Cook County 121
- Median Illinois town on this site 8
Share 2 in or larger of sized reports
- Des Plaines 3%
- Cook 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 | 3 | 3 | |||||||||||
| 2024 | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||
| 2023 | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||
| 2022 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 2021 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 2020 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 2019 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 2018 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 2017 | 0 |
Hail days since Nov 3, 2021
| Date | Reports | Largest | Storm page |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 16, 2025 | 3 | 1.25 in | — |
| Aug 27, 2024 | 1 | 1.00 in | — |
| Apr 4, 2023 | 1 | 1.00 in | — |
Largest hail on record
| Date | Size | Location | County | Damage | Time · source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 5, 2010 | 2.75 inbaseball | 0.39 E Cumberland | Cook | $5K | 21:52 local · NCEI |
| May 17, 2006 | 1.75 ingolf ball | Des Plaines | Cook | — | 16:04 local · NCEI |
| Jul 12, 1957 | 1.50 inping pong ball | — | Cook | — | 17:00 local · NCEI |
| Aug 16, 2025 | 1.25 inhalf dollar | 1.38 N Des Plaines | Cook | — | 15:44 local · NCEI |
| Apr 5, 2010 | 1.25 inhalf dollar | Park Ridge | Cook | — | 21:50 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 12 40%
- 1–2 in 17 57%
- 2 in + 1 3%
Most recent reports
| Date | Size | Location | County | Damage | Time · source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 16, 2025 | 1.25 inhalf dollar | 1.38 N Des Plaines | Cook | — | 15:44 local · NCEI |
| Aug 16, 2025 | 1.00 inquarter | 1.47 SSE Mt Prospect | Cook | — | 15:39 local · NCEI |
| Aug 16, 2025 | 1.00 inquarter | 0.51 W Des Plaines | Cook | — | 15:38 local · NCEI |
| Aug 27, 2024 | 1.00 inquarter | 1.47 SSE Mt Prospect | Cook | — | 18:38 local · NCEI |
| Apr 4, 2023 | 1.00 inquarter | 2.58 NE Elk Grove Village | Cook | — | 12:58 local · NCEI |
| May 3, 2012 | 1.00 inquarter | Des Plaines | Cook | — | 18:12 local · NCEI |
| May 22, 2011 | 1.00 inquarter | 0.21 NNE Golden Acres | Cook | — | 14:07 local · NCEI |
| Apr 5, 2010 | 2.75 inbaseball | 0.39 E Cumberland | Cook | $5K | 21:52 local · NCEI |
| Apr 5, 2010 | 1.25 inhalf dollar | Park Ridge | Cook | — | 21:50 local · NCEI |
| Apr 5, 2010 | 1.00 inquarter | Des Plaines | Cook | — | 21:35 local · NCEI |
| Jun 19, 2009 | 1.00 inquarter | Des Plaines | Cook | — | 11:40 local · NCEI |
| Jun 27, 2007 | 0.88 innickel | Park Ridge | Cook | — | 15:14 local · NCEI |
Hail history near Des Plaines
- Niles 8 km · 16
- Glenview 8 km · 14
- Arlington Heights 10 km · 20
- Skokie 13 km · 24
- Schaumburg 15 km · 29
- Palatine 15 km · 27
- Buffalo Grove 15 km · 10
- Evanston 17 km · 22
Questions about hail in Des Plaines
How often does it hail in Des Plaines, Illinois?
30 hail reports have been logged in and within about 5 km (3 miles) of Des Plaines since 1957. Over the 20 years 2006–2025 that averages 0.8 reports a year. That ranks #50 of 378 Illinois places by number of reports.
When is hail season in Des Plaines?
Most reports come in August, April, July. August alone accounts for 27% of all reports.
What is the largest hail recorded in Des Plaines?
2.75 in (baseball size) on April 5, 2010 near 0.39 E Cumberland. 3% of reports here were 2 inches or larger.
When did it last hail in Des Plaines?
The most recent report in this data is from August 16, 2025 (1.25 in). Final NOAA data runs to July 31, 2026; preliminary NWS reports run to November 3, 2026.
How many hail storms has Des Plaines had in the last five years?
3 separate days with hail reports since November 3, 2021, adding up to 5 reports. The most recent was August 16, 2025.
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.