Hail History

Hail history for Sparta, Illinois

NOAA hail reports in and within about 5 km (3 miles) of Sparta since 1969, with preliminary reports to November 3, 2026.

Readout · Sparta

Last hail
May 3, 2010
1.00 in, quarter size
Hail days, last 5 years
0
since Nov 3, 2021 · 0 reports
Largest ever
2.75 in
baseball · May 6, 2003

27 reports on 23 days since 1969 · #70 of 378 Illinois places

Hail map · Sparta

Sparta Baldwin Steeleville Evansville Cutler Ellis Grove Ruma 10 mi
  • Under 1 in
  • 1–1.75 in
  • 1.75–2.5 in
  • 2.5–4 in
  • 4 in +
  • No size
27 most recent reports with a location; Randolph 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 Sparta is from May 3, 2010. A local roofer can check and document it at no cost.

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What the record says about Sparta

The latest hail report in and around Sparta is from May 3, 2010, 1.00 in (quarter size). There has been no hail report here in the five years since November 3, 2021.

Over the 20 years 2006–2025, Sparta logged 6 reports on 6 hail days, about 0.3 reports a year. That is 40% less than the median Illinois town on this site (0.5 a year) and ranks #70 of 378 Illinois cities and towns on this site for all-time reports. Sparta accounts for 16% of the 174 reports filed in Randolph County.

4% 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 6, 2003 near Sparta.

The busiest year was 2003, with 6 reports on 4 days. Hail here peaks in May (33% of reports); 70% fall between April and June.

Reports a year 2006–2025 average

  • Sparta 0.3
  • Randolph County 4.8
  • Median Illinois town on this site 0.5

Hail days 2006–2025

  • Sparta 6
  • Randolph County 48
  • Median Illinois town on this site 8

Share 2 in or larger of sized reports

  • Sparta 4%
  • Randolph County 4%
  • Median Illinois town on this site 4%

Hail over time

0246 1969: 1 reports, largest 0.75 in 1970 1973: 1 reports, largest 0.75 in 1980 1990 1992: 1 reports, largest 1.00 in 1996: 2 reports, largest 0.75 in 1997: 3 reports, largest 1.00 in 1998: 1 reports, largest 0.75 in 1999: 1 reports, largest 0.88 in 2000 2001: 1 reports, largest 0.88 in 2002: 4 reports, largest 1.00 in 2003: 6 reports, largest 2.75 in 2006: 3 reports, largest 0.75 in 2008: 2 reports, largest 1.00 in 2010: 1 reports, largest 1.00 in 2010 2020
Reports per year, 1969–2026. Bar colour shows the largest hail that year. Reporting grew sharply after the mid-1990s, so early decades undercount.
0369 Jan February: 1 reports (4%) Feb March: 5 reports (19%) Mar April: 7 reports (26%) Apr May: 9 reports (33%) May June: 3 reports (11%) Jun Jul August: 1 reports (4%) Aug September: 1 reports (4%) Sep Oct Nov Dec
All 27 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 0
2019 0
2018 0
2017 0

Largest hail on record

Largest hail reports in Sparta
Date Size Location County Time · source
May 6, 2003 2.75 inbaseball Sparta Randolph 19:50 local · NCEI
May 6, 2003 1.75 ingolf ball Sparta Randolph 19:40 local · NCEI
May 3, 2010 1.00 inquarter Eden Randolph 14:33 local · NCEI
May 25, 2008 1.00 inquarter Sparta Randolph 16:00 local · NCEI
Apr 4, 2003 1.00 inquarter Sparta Randolph 17:35 local · NCEI

Size of every report

Most recent reports

Most recent hail reports in Sparta
Date Size Location County Time · source
May 3, 2010 1.00 inquarter Eden Randolph 14:33 local · NCEI
May 25, 2008 1.00 inquarter Sparta Randolph 16:00 local · NCEI
Mar 26, 2008 0.75 inpenny Sparta Randolph 16:05 local · NCEI
May 1, 2006 0.75 inpenny 4 W Sparta Randolph 22:00 local · NCEI
Apr 7, 2006 0.75 inpenny 2 N Sparta Randolph 12:25 local · NCEI
Mar 11, 2006 0.75 inpenny Sparta Randolph 23:20 local · NCEI
Sep 26, 2003 0.75 inpenny Sparta Randolph 19:30 local · NCEI
May 6, 2003 2.75 inbaseball Sparta Randolph 19:50 local · NCEI
May 6, 2003 1.75 ingolf ball Sparta Randolph 19:40 local · NCEI
May 1, 2003 0.88 innickel Sparta Randolph 05:30 local · NCEI
Apr 4, 2003 1.00 inquarter Sparta Randolph 17:35 local · NCEI
Apr 4, 2003 1.00 inquarter Sparta Randolph 17:25 local · NCEI

Hail history near Sparta

Questions about hail in Sparta

How often does it hail in Sparta, Illinois?

27 hail reports have been logged in and within about 5 km (3 miles) of Sparta since 1969. Over the 20 years 2006–2025 that averages 0.3 reports a year. That ranks #70 of 378 Illinois places by number of reports.

When is hail season in Sparta?

Most reports come in May, April, March. May alone accounts for 33% of all reports.

What is the largest hail recorded in Sparta?

2.75 in (baseball size) on May 6, 2003 near Sparta. 4% of reports here were 2 inches or larger.

When did it last hail in Sparta?

The most recent report in this data is from May 3, 2010 (1.00 in). Final NOAA data runs to July 31, 2026; preliminary NWS reports run to November 3, 2026.

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

None: there has been no hail report in and within about 5 km (3 miles) of Sparta since November 3, 2021. The last one was on May 3, 2010.

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.