Hail history for Ford County, IL

Ford County has 47 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 35 of them 1″ or larger and 2 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 2.5″ (tennis ball) on June 20, 1981.

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 47 since 1978

1″ or larger 35 NWS severe threshold

2″ or larger 2 hen egg class and up

Largest recorded 2.5″ tennis ball · June 20, 1981

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 Ford County

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

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 47 recorded events · data through April 2026
Date	Size	Comparable to
May 20, 2025	1.5″	Ping-pong ball
May 20, 2025	1.0″	Quarter
May 20, 2025	1.25″	Half dollar
April 30, 2022	1.0″	Quarter
August 12, 2021	1.0″	Quarter
July 15, 2021	1.75″	Golf ball
May 9, 2018	1.25″	Half dollar
May 26, 2017	1.25″	Half dollar

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

From the storm reports

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

April 30, 2022 · 1.0″ (quarter)

A photo shared on social media showed nickel to quarter size hail.

July 15, 2021 · 1.75″ (golf ball)

A photo was shared on social media of golf ball size hail near Waggoner Cemetery.

May 7, 2011 · 1.75″ (golf ball)

Hail up to the size of golf balls pounded the city of Roberts damaging numerous cars and roofs.

Events by decade

1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
0	0	2	4	7	13	15	6

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 Ford County

Has it ever hailed in Ford County?

Yes — 47 hail events have been recorded for Ford County, IL in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1978, including 35 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Ford County?

The most recent recorded hail event for Ford County, IL is May 20, 2025, with 1.5″ (ping-pong ball) 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 Ford County?

2.5″ (tennis ball), recorded on June 20, 1981. 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.