Hail history for Rock Falls, Illinois
NOAA hail reports in and within about 5 km (3 miles) of Rock Falls since 1972, with preliminary reports to November 3, 2026.
Readout · Rock Falls
- Last hail
- Apr 2, 2026
- 1.50 in, ping pong ball size
- Hail days, last 5 years
- 3
- since Nov 3, 2021 · 4 reports
- Largest ever
- 1.75 in
- golf ball · Sep 17, 1972
14 reports on 13 days since 1972 · #210 of 378 Illinois places
Hail map · Rock Falls
- Under 1 in
- 1–1.75 in
- 1.75–2.5 in
- 2.5–4 in
- 4 in +
- No size
For homeowners
Roof damage after hail? Get a free inspection
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 Rock Falls is from April 2, 2026. A local roofer can check and document it at no cost.
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What the record says about Rock Falls
The latest hail report in and around Rock Falls is from April 2, 2026, 1.50 in (ping pong ball size). Since November 3, 2021 there have been 3 separate hail days; the biggest stones in that time were 1.50 in on April 2, 2026.
Over the 20 years 2006–2025, Rock Falls logged 9 reports on 8 hail days, about 0.5 reports a year. That is 10% less than the median Illinois town on this site (0.5 a year) and ranks #210 of 378 Illinois cities and towns on this site for all-time reports. Rock Falls accounts for 9% of the 164 reports filed in Whiteside County.
0% 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 1.75 in (golf ball) on September 17, 1972.
Reports were up 25% in 2016–2025 (5) compared with 2006–2015 (4). The busiest year was 2024, with 3 reports on 2 days. Hail here peaks in May (29% of reports); 43% fall between April and June.
Reports a year 2006–2025 average
- Rock Falls 0.5
- Whiteside County 4.7
- Median Illinois town on this site 0.5
Hail days 2006–2025
- Rock Falls 8
- Whiteside County 52
- Median Illinois town on this site 8
Share 2 in or larger of sized reports
- Rock Falls 0%
- Whiteside County 1%
- 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 | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||
| 2025 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 2024 | 2 | 1 | 3 | ||||||||||
| 2023 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 2022 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 2021 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 2020 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 2019 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 2018 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 2017 | 1 | 1 |
Hail days since Nov 3, 2021
| Date | Reports | Largest | Storm page |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 2, 2026 | 1 | 1.50 in | — |
| Mar 4, 2024 | 1 | 1.00 in | — |
| Feb 27, 2024 | 2 | 0.88 in | — |
Largest hail on record
| Date | Size | Location | County | Time · source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 17, 1972 | 1.75 ingolf ball | — | Whiteside | 14:12 local · NCEI |
| Apr 2, 2026 | 1.50 inping pong ball | 2.48 SW Sterling Arpt | Whiteside | 17:20 local · NCEI |
| Mar 4, 2024 | 1.00 inquarter | 1.03 W Rock Falls | Whiteside | 16:05 local · NCEI |
| Jun 17, 2017 | 1.00 inquarter | 0.52 E Rock Falls | Whiteside | 17:51 local · NCEI |
| May 22, 2011 | 1.00 inquarter | 0.52 E Rock Falls | Whiteside | 15:42 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 7 50%
- 1–2 in 7 50%
- 2 in + 0 0%
Most recent reports
| Date | Size | Location | County | Damage | Time · source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 2, 2026 | 1.50 inping pong ball | 2.48 SW Sterling Arpt | Whiteside | — | 17:20 local · NCEI |
| Mar 4, 2024 | 1.00 inquarter | 1.03 W Rock Falls | Whiteside | — | 16:05 local · NCEI |
| Feb 27, 2024 | 0.88 innickel | 2.07 SW Sterling Arpt | Whiteside | — | 17:33 local · NCEI |
| Feb 27, 2024 | 0.88 innickel | 2.07 SW Sterling Arpt | Whiteside | — | 17:23 local · NCEI |
| Jun 17, 2017 | 1.00 inquarter | 0.52 E Rock Falls | Whiteside | — | 17:51 local · NCEI |
| May 28, 2016 | 0.75 inpenny | 1.55 W Rock Falls | Whiteside | — | 17:15 local · NCEI |
| May 22, 2011 | 1.00 inquarter | 0.52 E Rock Falls | Whiteside | — | 15:42 local · NCEI |
| Jul 10, 2008 | 0.75 inpenny | 0.52 W Sterling Arpt | Whiteside | — | 20:00 local · NCEI |
| May 25, 2008 | 0.88 innickel | 0.52 E Rock Falls | Whiteside | — | 10:27 local · NCEI |
| Oct 2, 2006 | 1.00 inquarter | 0.52 W Rock Falls | Whiteside | — | 20:05 local · NCEI |
| Jul 27, 2003 | 0.75 inpenny | Rock Falls | Whiteside | $20K | 10:40 local · NCEI |
| Jul 11, 2003 | 1.00 inquarter | 1 E Rock Falls | Whiteside | $20K | 17:40 local · NCEI |
Hail history near Rock Falls
Questions about hail in Rock Falls
How often does it hail in Rock Falls, Illinois?
14 hail reports have been logged in and within about 5 km (3 miles) of Rock Falls since 1972. Over the 20 years 2006–2025 that averages 0.5 reports a year. That ranks #210 of 378 Illinois places by number of reports.
When is hail season in Rock Falls?
Most reports come in May, July, February. May alone accounts for 29% of all reports.
What is the largest hail recorded in Rock Falls?
1.75 in (golf ball size) on September 17, 1972. 0% of reports here were 2 inches or larger.
When did it last hail in Rock Falls?
The most recent report in this data is from April 2, 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 Rock Falls had in the last five years?
3 separate days with hail reports since November 3, 2021, adding up to 4 reports. The most recent was April 2, 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.