Hail History

Hail history for Sterling, Illinois

NOAA hail reports in and within about 5 km (3 miles) of Sterling since 1974, with preliminary reports to November 3, 2026.

Readout · Sterling

Last hail
Feb 28, 2017
0.75 in, penny size
Hail days, last 5 years
0
since Nov 3, 2021 · 0 reports
Largest ever
2.00 in
hen egg · Feb 28, 2017

22 reports on 14 days since 1974 · #103 of 378 Illinois places

Hail map · Sterling

Sterling Rock Falls Morrison Prophetstown 5 mi
  • Under 1 in
  • 1–1.75 in
  • 1.75–2.5 in
  • 2.5–4 in
  • 4 in +
  • No size
22 most recent reports with a location; Whiteside County is shaded. Open street map

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 Sterling is from February 28, 2017. A local roofer can check and document it at no cost.

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What the record says about Sterling

The latest hail report in and around Sterling is from February 28, 2017, 0.75 in (penny size). There has been no hail report here in the five years since November 3, 2021.

Over the 20 years 2006–2025, Sterling logged 17 reports on 9 hail days, about 0.8 reports a year. That is 70% more than the median Illinois town on this site (0.5 a year) and ranks #103 of 378 Illinois cities and towns on this site for all-time reports. Sterling accounts for 13% of the 164 reports filed in Whiteside County.

5% 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 2.00 in (hen egg) on February 28, 2017 near 0.52 E Sterling.

Reports were down 79% in 2016–2025 (3) compared with 2006–2015 (14). The busiest year was 2006, with 6 reports on 4 days. Hail here peaks in May (27% of reports); 64% fall between April and June.

Reports a year 2006–2025 average

  • Sterling 0.8
  • Whiteside County 4.7
  • Median Illinois town on this site 0.5

Hail days 2006–2025

  • Sterling 9
  • Whiteside County 52
  • Median Illinois town on this site 8

Share 2 in or larger of sized reports

  • Sterling 5%
  • Whiteside County 1%
  • Median Illinois town on this site 4%

Hail over time

0246 1974: 1 reports, largest 1.75 in 1980 1986: 1 reports, largest 1.00 in 1990 2000: 1 reports, largest 0.88 in 2000 2001: 1 reports, largest 0.75 in 2004: 1 reports, largest 1.00 in 2006: 6 reports, largest 1.25 in 2007: 1 reports, largest 0.75 in 2008: 3 reports, largest 1.00 in 2010 2011: 2 reports, largest 0.75 in 2015: 2 reports, largest 0.88 in 2017: 3 reports, largest 2.00 in 2020
Reports per year, 1974–2026. Bar colour shows the largest hail that year. Reporting grew sharply after the mid-1990s, so early decades undercount.
0246 Jan February: 3 reports (14%) Feb Mar April: 4 reports (18%) Apr May: 6 reports (27%) May June: 4 reports (18%) Jun Jul Aug September: 1 reports (5%) Sep October: 4 reports (18%) Oct Nov Dec
All 22 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 3 3

Largest hail on record

Largest hail reports in Sterling
Date Size Location County Time · source
Feb 28, 2017 2.00 inhen egg 0.52 E Sterling Whiteside 16:54 local · NCEI
Feb 28, 2017 1.75 ingolf ball 3.09 E Sterling Whiteside 16:58 local · NCEI
May 16, 1974 1.75 ingolf ball — Whiteside 18:23 local · NCEI
Oct 2, 2006 1.25 inhalf dollar 0.52 W Sterling Whiteside 20:26 local · NCEI
May 13, 2008 1.00 inquarter 0.52 E Sterling 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

Most recent reports

Most recent hail reports in Sterling
Date Size Location County Time · source
Feb 28, 2017 0.75 inpenny 0.52 E Sterling Whiteside 16:59 local · NCEI
Feb 28, 2017 1.75 ingolf ball 3.09 E Sterling Whiteside 16:58 local · NCEI
Feb 28, 2017 2.00 inhen egg 0.52 E Sterling Whiteside 16:54 local · NCEI
Jun 22, 2015 0.88 innickel 3.09 E Sterling Whiteside 18:14 local · NCEI
Jun 22, 2015 0.75 inpenny 0.52 E Sterling Whiteside 18:12 local · NCEI
Jun 8, 2011 0.75 inpenny 1.03 E Sterling Whiteside 21:40 local · NCEI
Jun 8, 2011 0.75 inpenny 0.52 E Sterling Whiteside 21:39 local · NCEI
May 13, 2008 0.88 innickel 0.52 E Sterling Whiteside 15:45 local · NCEI
May 13, 2008 0.75 inpenny 0.86 NW Sterling Whiteside 15:44 local · NCEI
May 13, 2008 1.00 inquarter 0.52 E Sterling Whiteside 15:42 local · NCEI
Apr 29, 2007 0.75 inpenny 2.08 NE Sterling Whiteside 18:40 local · NCEI
Oct 2, 2006 1.25 inhalf dollar 0.52 W Sterling Whiteside 20:26 local · NCEI

Hail history near Sterling

Questions about hail in Sterling

How often does it hail in Sterling, Illinois?

22 hail reports have been logged in and within about 5 km (3 miles) of Sterling since 1974. Over the 20 years 2006–2025 that averages 0.8 reports a year. That ranks #103 of 378 Illinois places by number of reports.

When is hail season in Sterling?

Most reports come in May, April, June. May alone accounts for 27% of all reports.

What is the largest hail recorded in Sterling?

2.00 in (hen egg size) on February 28, 2017 near 0.52 E Sterling. 5% of reports here were 2 inches or larger.

When did it last hail in Sterling?

The most recent report in this data is from February 28, 2017 (0.75 in). Final NOAA data runs to July 31, 2026; preliminary NWS reports run to November 3, 2026.

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

None: there has been no hail report in and within about 5 km (3 miles) of Sterling since November 3, 2021. The last one was on February 28, 2017.

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.