HailHistoryHail by countyIllinois › Cass County

Illinois · county FIPS 17017

Hail history for Cass County, IL

Cass County has 56 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 32 of them 1″ or larger and 3 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 2.75″ (baseball) on May 5, 1977.

Records 1950–present Data through April 2026 Peak month May
Core sample · every recorded event, 1955–2026
1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s 2020s 1955 through 2026 largest · 2.75″ baseball May 5, 1977

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 56 since 1966
1″ or larger 32 NWS severe threshold
2″ or larger 3 hen egg class and up
Largest recorded 2.75 baseball · May 5, 1977
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 Cass County

1 Jan 2 Feb 8 Mar 7 Apr 16 May 9 Jun 5 Jul 3 Aug 2 Sep 1 Oct 2 Nov Dec

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

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 56 recorded events · data through April 2026
DateSizeComparable to
0.88″ Nickel
1.0″ Quarter
1.0″ Quarter
1.5″ Ping-pong ball
1.5″ Ping-pong ball
1.0″ Quarter
1.0″ Quarter
0.88″ Nickel

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

From the storm reports

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

· 1.5″ (ping-pong ball)

Several cars were damaged by the hail.

· 2.5″ (tennis ball)

A swath of hail up to the size of tennis balls was reported from 1.6 miles southwest of Bluff Springs to the town of Bluff Springs. Roofs of homes and automobiles were damaged.

· 1.75″ (golf ball)

Golfball-sized hail damaged a vehicle.

Events by decade

1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020s
01121016215

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 Cass County

Has it ever hailed in Cass County?

Yes — 56 hail events have been recorded for Cass County, IL in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1966, including 32 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Cass County?

The most recent recorded hail event for Cass County, IL is March 15, 2026, with 0.88″ (nickel) 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 Cass County?

2.75″ (baseball), recorded on May 5, 1977. Hail that size is destructive-class and typically damages roofs, vehicles, and siding. 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.