Hail history for Lake County, IL

Lake County has 185 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 115 of them 1″ or larger and 10 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 2.75″ (baseball) on July 18, 1967.

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 185 since 1963

1″ or larger 115 NWS severe threshold

2″ or larger 10 hen egg class and up

Largest recorded 2.75″ baseball · July 18, 1967

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 Lake County

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

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 185 recorded events · data through April 2026
Date	Size	Comparable to
May 15, 2025	2.0″	Hen egg
May 15, 2025	1.0″	Quarter
May 15, 2025	1.0″	Quarter
May 15, 2025	2.0″	Hen egg
May 15, 2025	1.75″	Golf ball
May 15, 2025	1.0″	Quarter
August 27, 2024	1.0″	Quarter
August 27, 2024	1.25″	Half dollar

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

From the storm reports

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

May 15, 2025 · 2.0″ (hen egg)

Multiple reports of hail up to 2 inches in diameter were received.

May 2, 2018 · 2.25″ (tennis ball)

Large hail was report at several locations including 1.75 inch diameter hail at Deep Lake Road just south of Grass Lake Road and 2.25 inch diameter hail at Fairfield and Petite Lake Road.

July 17, 2003 · 2.5″ (tennis ball)

Tennis ball size hail was reported in Fox Lake.

Events by decade

1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
0	4	4	5	10	69	55	38

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 Lake County

Has it ever hailed in Lake County?

Yes — 185 hail events have been recorded for Lake County, IL in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1963, including 115 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Lake County?

The most recent recorded hail event for Lake County, IL is May 15, 2025, 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 Lake County?

2.75″ (baseball), recorded on July 18, 1967. 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.