Hail history for Salem, Illinois
NOAA hail reports in and within about 5 km (3 miles) of Salem since 1958, with preliminary reports to November 3, 2026.
Readout · Salem
- Last hail
- Mar 30, 2025
- 1.75 in, golf ball size
- Hail days, last 5 years
- 1
- since Nov 3, 2021 · 1 report
- Largest ever
- 2.75 in
- baseball · May 3, 1996
21 reports on 21 days since 1958 · #109 of 378 Illinois places
Hail map · Salem
- 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 Salem is from March 30, 2025. A local roofer can check and document it at no cost.
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What the record says about Salem
The latest hail report in and around Salem is from March 30, 2025, 1.75 in (golf ball size). Since November 3, 2021 there has been one hail day; the biggest stones in that time were 1.75 in on March 30, 2025.
Over the 20 years 2006–2025, Salem logged 10 reports on 10 hail days, about 0.5 reports a year. That is about the same as the median Illinois town on this site (0.5 a year) and ranks #109 of 378 Illinois cities and towns on this site for all-time reports. Salem accounts for 20% of the 103 reports filed in Marion County.
10% 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 May 3, 1996 near Salem.
Reports were down 75% in 2016–2025 (2) compared with 2006–2015 (8). The busiest year was 2011, with 3 reports on 3 days. Hail here peaks in May (24% of reports); 48% fall between April and June.
Reports a year 2006–2025 average
- Salem 0.5
- Marion County 2.6
- Median Illinois town on this site 0.5
Hail days 2006–2025
- Salem 10
- Marion County 34
- Median Illinois town on this site 8
Share 2 in or larger of sized reports
- Salem 10%
- Marion County 6%
- 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 | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||
| 2024 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 2023 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 2022 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 2021 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 2020 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 2019 | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||
| 2018 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 2017 | 0 |
Hail days since Nov 3, 2021
| Date | Reports | Largest | Storm page |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 30, 2025 | 1 | 1.75 in | — |
Largest hail on record
| Date | Size | Location | County | Damage | Time · source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 3, 1996 | 2.75 inbaseball | Salem | Marion | — | 17:28 local · NCEI |
| Apr 19, 1996 | 2.75 inbaseball | Salem | Marion | — | 18:30 local · NCEI |
| Mar 30, 2025 | 1.75 ingolf ball | 3.45 N Cartter | Marion | — | 14:36 local · NCEI |
| Feb 27, 1999 | 1.75 ingolf ball | Salem | Marion | $100K | 14:10 local · NCEI |
| May 25, 1996 | 1.75 ingolf ball | Salem | Marion | — | 20:00 local · NCEI |
Size of every report
- Under 1 in 3 15%
- 1–2 in 15 75%
- 2 in + 2 10%
- No size 1
Most recent reports
| Date | Size | Location | County | Time · source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 30, 2025 | 1.75 ingolf ball | 3.45 N Cartter | Marion | 14:36 local · NCEI |
| Aug 6, 2019 | 1.00 inquarter | 1 NW Salem | Marion | 15:25 local · NCEI |
| Apr 8, 2015 | 1.00 inquarter | 0.3 WNW Texas Corner | Marion | 12:13 local · NCEI |
| Jul 7, 2014 | 1.00 inquarter | Selmaville | Marion | 14:22 local · NCEI |
| Nov 17, 2013 | 1.50 inping pong ball | Salem | Marion | 12:30 local · NCEI |
| Mar 30, 2012 | 1.00 inquarter | 2 NW Selmaville | Marion | 16:11 local · NCEI |
| Jul 12, 2011 | 0.88 innickel | 0.42 S Tonti | Marion | 17:49 local · NCEI |
| Jun 10, 2011 | 1.00 inquarter | Salem | Marion | 16:05 local · NCEI |
| May 23, 2011 | 1.00 inquarter | 2.04 SSE Salem | Marion | 12:30 local · NCEI |
| May 25, 2008 | 0.88 innickel | Salem | Marion | 22:35 local · NCEI |
| May 9, 2000 | 0.75 inpenny | Salem | Marion | 13:37 local · NCEI |
| Jun 4, 1999 | 1.00 inquarter | Salem | Marion | 18:15 local · NCEI |
Hail history near Salem
Questions about hail in Salem
How often does it hail in Salem, Illinois?
21 hail reports have been logged in and within about 5 km (3 miles) of Salem since 1958. Over the 20 years 2006–2025 that averages 0.5 reports a year. That ranks #109 of 378 Illinois places by number of reports.
When is hail season in Salem?
Most reports come in May, July, April. May alone accounts for 24% of all reports.
What is the largest hail recorded in Salem?
2.75 in (baseball size) on May 3, 1996 near Salem. 10% of reports here were 2 inches or larger.
When did it last hail in Salem?
The most recent report in this data is from March 30, 2025 (1.75 in). Final NOAA data runs to July 31, 2026; preliminary NWS reports run to November 3, 2026.
How many hail storms has Salem had in the last five years?
1 separate days with hail reports since November 3, 2021, adding up to 1 reports. The most recent was March 30, 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.