Hail history for Alexander County, IL

Alexander County has 52 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 27 of them 1″ or larger and 1 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 2.5″ (tennis ball) on March 30, 2005.

Records 1950–present Data through April 2026 Peak month May

Core sample · every recorded event, 1955–2026

Mark size = measured hail diameter; slivers are events with no recorded size. Amber ≥2″, red ≥2.75″ (baseball class). Denser recent decades partly reflect better reporting, not only more storms.

Recorded events 52 since 1966

1″ or larger 27 NWS severe threshold

2″ or larger 1 hen egg class and up

Largest recorded 2.5″ tennis ball · March 30, 2005

Read the record honestly: Storm Events contains what was reported to the National Weather Service. Sparse or rural counties under-report, and coverage improved sharply after the mid-1990s — a quiet-looking stretch is not proof nothing fell.

When it hails in Alexander County

Recorded events by month, 1950–present. The amber bar marks Alexander County's peak: May.

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 52 recorded events · data through April 2026
Date	Size	Comparable to
May 16, 2025	1.0″	Quarter
March 14, 2025	0.88″	Nickel
April 15, 2023	1.0″	Quarter
April 8, 2020	1.0″	Quarter
April 24, 2019	1.0″	Quarter
May 31, 2018	1.0″	Quarter
April 3, 2018	0.75″	Penny
September 5, 2017	0.75″	Penny

Looking for a specific storm? Use the did-it-hail date lookup for Alexander County.

From the storm reports

Narratives as filed with the NOAA Storm Events Database (public records; lightly trimmed for length).

May 16, 2025 · 1.0″ (quarter)

Hail measured to quarter size was reported via mPING. The time was adjusted based on radar imagery.

July 8, 2012 · 1.75″ (golf ball)

Golf-ball size hail occurred at Horseshoe Lake.

March 30, 2005 · 2.5″ (tennis ball)

This severe thunderstorm crossed the Mississippi River, producing quarter-size hail in East Cape Girardeau and tennis ball size hail in Thebes.

Events by decade

1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
0	2	0	3	10	24	9	4

The climb across decades is largely a reporting story: spotter networks, radar, and digital filing pulled far more storms into the record after the 1990s.

Questions about hail in Alexander County

Has it ever hailed in Alexander County?

Yes — 52 hail events have been recorded for Alexander County, IL in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1966, including 27 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Alexander County?

The most recent recorded hail event for Alexander County, IL is May 16, 2025, with 1.0″ (quarter) hail. The database is currently updated through April 2026, so a storm from the last few weeks may not appear yet. To check a specific day, use the did-it-hail date lookup.

What is the largest hail ever recorded in Alexander County?

2.5″ (tennis ball), recorded on March 30, 2005. Hail that size meets or exceeds the National Weather Service severe threshold. See how big that really is on the actual-size hail chart.

Does a recorded hail event mean my roof was damaged?

No. This page reports storm records, not damage. Hail size and damage vary block by block within a county, and only an inspection can establish what happened to a specific roof. If you suspect damage, talk to your insurer or a licensed roofer — they can pull the same NOAA records for your claim.

More Illinois hail history

All 102 Illinois counties, ranked by recorded hail →

Source: NOAA/NCEI Storm Events Database, public domain, updated monthly by NCEI — this site's copy runs through April 2026. HailHistory reports records; it does not give insurance advice or assess damage.