Hail history for Johnson County, IL

Johnson County has 87 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 51 of them 1″ or larger and 7 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 3.0″ (tea cup) on July 5, 1975.

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 87 since 1965

1″ or larger 51 NWS severe threshold

2″ or larger 7 hen egg class and up

Largest recorded 3.0″ tea cup · July 5, 1975

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 Johnson County

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

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 87 recorded events · data through April 2026
Date	Size	Comparable to
April 18, 2024	2.0″	Hen egg
July 19, 2023	1.0″	Quarter
June 30, 2023	1.75″	Golf ball
May 7, 2023	1.75″	Golf ball
May 6, 2021	1.0″	Quarter
May 14, 2018	1.0″	Quarter
February 7, 2017	0.75″	Penny
July 19, 2016	0.88″	Nickel

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

From the storm reports

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

April 18, 2024 · 2.0″ (hen egg)

An intense thunderstorm south of Cypress produced hail ranging from ping pong ball to larger than golf ball sized. No damage was reported with this storm.

June 18, 2004 · 2.75″ (baseball)

Reported on Highway 37 near Cypress.

May 23, 2000 · 2.75″ (baseball)

A supercell thunderstorm produced baseball size hail from northwest to southeast across parts of Johnson County. The total damage costs for dented cars, smashed windows, and damaged roofs in Vienna was estimated near 7 million dollars. The city's two car dealers sustained about 800,000 dollars damage to a total of 280 cars.

Events by decade

1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
0	1	2	3	11	40	25	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 Johnson County

Has it ever hailed in Johnson County?

Yes — 87 hail events have been recorded for Johnson County, IL in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1965, including 51 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Johnson County?

The most recent recorded hail event for Johnson County, IL is April 18, 2024, with 2.0″ (hen egg) 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 Johnson County?

3.0″ (tea cup), recorded on July 5, 1975. 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.