Hail History

Hail history for Ottawa, Illinois

NOAA hail reports in and within about 5 km (3 miles) of Ottawa since 1990, with preliminary reports to November 3, 2026.

Readout · Ottawa

Last hail
May 23, 2020
0.88 in, nickel size
Hail days, last 5 years
0
since Nov 3, 2021 · 0 reports
Largest ever
4.00 in
grapefruit · Jul 13, 2004

21 reports on 19 days since 1990 · #108 of 378 Illinois places

Hail map · Ottawa

Ottawa Marseilles LaSalle Streator Earlville Mendota Morris Granville Mazon 20 mi
  • Under 1 in
  • 1–1.75 in
  • 1.75–2.5 in
  • 2.5–4 in
  • 4 in +
  • No size
21 most recent reports with a location; LaSalle County is shaded. Open street map

For homeowners

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What the record says about Ottawa

The latest hail report in and around Ottawa is from May 23, 2020, 0.88 in (nickel size). There has been no hail report here in the five years since November 3, 2021.

Over the 20 years 2006–2025, Ottawa 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 #108 of 378 Illinois cities and towns on this site for all-time reports. Ottawa accounts for 12% of the 176 reports filed in LaSalle County.

14% 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 July 13, 2004 near 6 NW Dixon.

Reports were down 70% in 2016–2025 (3) compared with 2006–2015 (10). The busiest year was 2003, with 3 reports on 2 days. Hail here peaks in July (29% of reports); 38% fall between April and June.

Reports a year 2006–2025 average

  • Ottawa 0.7
  • LaSalle County 5.0
  • Median Illinois town on this site 0.5

Hail days 2006–2025

  • Ottawa 12
  • LaSalle County 53
  • Median Illinois town on this site 8

Share 2 in or larger of sized reports

  • Ottawa 14%
  • LaSalle County 7%
  • Median Illinois town on this site 4%

Hail over time

0123 1990: 1 reports, largest 2.00 in 1990 1991: 1 reports, largest 0.75 in 1992: 1 reports, largest 1.75 in 1995 2000 2003: 3 reports, largest 1.75 in 2004: 1 reports, largest 4.00 in 2005: 1 reports, largest 1.00 in 2005 2006: 2 reports, largest 0.75 in 2007: 2 reports, largest 1.50 in 2008: 1 reports, largest 0.75 in 2010: 2 reports, largest 1.00 in 2010 2011: 2 reports, largest 1.00 in 2015: 1 reports, largest 1.75 in 2015 2016: 1 reports, largest 1.00 in 2017: 1 reports, largest 2.75 in 2020: 1 reports, largest 0.88 in 2020 2025
Reports per year, 1990–2026. Bar colour shows the largest hail that year. Reporting grew sharply after the mid-1990s, so early decades undercount.
0246 Jan February: 1 reports (5%) Feb March: 2 reports (10%) Mar April: 4 reports (19%) Apr May: 2 reports (10%) May June: 2 reports (10%) Jun July: 6 reports (29%) Jul August: 1 reports (5%) Aug September: 3 reports (14%) Sep Oct Nov Dec
All 21 reports by calendar month.
Reports per month, 2017–2026. Darker cells had more reports.
YearJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecTotal
2026 0
2025 0
2024 0
2023 0
2022 0
2021 0
2020 1 1
2019 0
2018 0
2017 1 1

Largest hail on record

Largest hail reports in Ottawa
Date Size Location County Damage Time · source
Jul 13, 2004 4.00 ingrapefruit 6 NW Dixon Lee — 10:40 local · NCEI
Feb 28, 2017 2.75 inbaseball Ottawa La Salle — 16:43 local · NCEI
Jun 13, 1990 2.00 inhen egg — La Salle — 19:00 local · NCEI
Jul 13, 2015 1.75 ingolf ball 0.7 NE Ottawa La Salle — 16:40 local · NCEI
Jul 6, 2003 1.75 ingolf ball Ottawa La Salle —1 injured 13:33 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

Most recent reports

Most recent hail reports in Ottawa
Date Size Location County Time · source
May 23, 2020 0.88 innickel 2 E Ottawa La Salle 13:05 local · NCEI
Feb 28, 2017 2.75 inbaseball Ottawa La Salle 16:43 local · NCEI
Jul 13, 2016 1.00 inquarter 1.07 SW Ottawa La Salle 17:00 local · NCEI
Jul 13, 2015 1.75 ingolf ball 0.7 NE Ottawa La Salle 16:40 local · NCEI
Sep 3, 2011 1.00 inquarter 1.29 WSW Ottawa Arpt La Salle 13:29 local · NCEI
May 13, 2011 0.88 innickel 5 WNW Marseilles La Salle 13:33 local · NCEI
Sep 21, 2010 0.88 innickel Ottawa La Salle 13:52 local · NCEI
Sep 21, 2010 1.00 inquarter 3 NW Ottawa La Salle 13:33 local · NCEI
Jul 19, 2008 0.75 inpenny 0.85 ENE Ottawa Arpt La Salle 23:50 local · NCEI
Apr 3, 2007 1.50 inping pong ball Ottawa La Salle 06:20 local · NCEI
Mar 31, 2007 0.75 inpenny 0.52 E Ottawa La Salle 19:39 local · NCEI
Aug 3, 2006 0.75 inpenny Ottawa La Salle 03:08 local · NCEI

Hail history near Ottawa

Questions about hail in Ottawa

How often does it hail in Ottawa, Illinois?

21 hail reports have been logged in and within about 5 km (3 miles) of Ottawa since 1990. Over the 20 years 2006–2025 that averages 0.7 reports a year. That ranks #108 of 378 Illinois places by number of reports.

When is hail season in Ottawa?

Most reports come in July, April, September. July alone accounts for 29% of all reports.

What is the largest hail recorded in Ottawa?

4.00 in (grapefruit size) on July 13, 2004 near 6 NW Dixon. 14% of reports here were 2 inches or larger.

When did it last hail in Ottawa?

The most recent report in this data is from May 23, 2020 (0.88 in). Final NOAA data runs to July 31, 2026; preliminary NWS reports run to November 3, 2026.

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

None: there has been no hail report in and within about 5 km (3 miles) of Ottawa since November 3, 2021. The last one was on May 23, 2020.

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.