Hail history for Douglas County, IL

Douglas County has 72 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 45 of them 1″ or larger and 12 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 4.5″ (grapefruit) on April 7, 1998.

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 72 since 1974

1″ or larger 45 NWS severe threshold

2″ or larger 12 hen egg class and up

Largest recorded 4.5″ grapefruit · April 7, 1998

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 Douglas County

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

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 72 recorded events · data through April 2026
Date	Size	Comparable to
March 19, 2025	1.25″	Half dollar
May 24, 2024	1.0″	Quarter
March 31, 2024	1.25″	Half dollar
July 25, 2023	1.5″	Ping-pong ball
July 25, 2023	1.0″	Quarter
July 25, 2023	1.0″	Quarter
July 25, 2023	2.5″	Tennis ball
June 29, 2023	0.88″	Nickel

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

From the storm reports

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

July 15, 2022 · 1.5″ (ping-pong ball)

Report from county road 300 E. Report relayed by broadcast media.

May 21, 2014 · 4.0″ (softball)

Hail caused significant damage to the roofs, windows, and siding of numerous houses in Tuscola. Hundreds of vehicles sustained major window and body damage. Two men were injured when they were struck in the head by large hailstones.

May 21, 2014 · 1.75″ (golf ball)

Hail fell for 10 minutes with the largest stones the size of golf balls.

Events by decade

1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
0	0	1	4	10	21	20	16

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 Douglas County

Has it ever hailed in Douglas County?

Yes — 72 hail events have been recorded for Douglas County, IL in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1974, including 45 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Douglas County?

The most recent recorded hail event for Douglas County, IL is March 19, 2025, with 1.25″ (half dollar) 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 Douglas County?

4.5″ (grapefruit), recorded on April 7, 1998. 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.