Hail history for Hamilton County, IL

Hamilton County has 44 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 23 of them 1″ or larger and 1 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 2.0″ (hen egg) on July 7, 1964.

Records 1950–present Data through April 2026 Peak month April

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 44 since 1964

1″ or larger 23 NWS severe threshold

2″ or larger 1 hen egg class and up

Largest recorded 2.0″ hen egg · July 7, 1964

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 Hamilton County

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

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 44 recorded events · data through April 2026
Date	Size	Comparable to
July 28, 2024	0.75″	Penny
May 26, 2024	1.0″	Quarter
June 30, 2023	1.0″	Quarter
August 29, 2022	1.0″	Quarter
August 29, 2022	1.25″	Half dollar
August 6, 2019	1.75″	Golf ball
May 31, 2018	1.25″	Half dollar
May 27, 2017	1.75″	Golf ball

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

From the storm reports

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

July 28, 2024 · 0.75″ (penny)

Penny size hail was measured from a supercell thunderstorm.

August 6, 2019 · 1.75″ (golf ball)

The hail was reported at Illinois Highway 242 and County Road 20, which is near Piopolis.

May 27, 2017 · 1.75″ (golf ball)

A swath of large hail from quarter to golf-ball size crossed the Mcleansboro area in association with a severe thunderstorm cell.

Events by decade

1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
0	1	0	0	4	20	14	5

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 Hamilton County

Has it ever hailed in Hamilton County?

Yes — 44 hail events have been recorded for Hamilton County, IL in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1964, including 23 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Hamilton County?

The most recent recorded hail event for Hamilton County, IL is July 28, 2024, with 0.75″ (penny) 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 Hamilton County?

2.0″ (hen egg), recorded on July 7, 1964. 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.