Hail history for Menard County, IL

Menard County has 79 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 48 of them 1″ or larger and 4 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 2.5″ (tennis ball) on December 8, 1991.

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 79 since 1966

1″ or larger 48 NWS severe threshold

2″ or larger 4 hen egg class and up

Largest recorded 2.5″ tennis ball · December 8, 1991

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 Menard County

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

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 79 recorded events · data through April 2026
Date	Size	Comparable to
May 15, 2025	1.75″	Golf ball
May 15, 2025	1.5″	Ping-pong ball
May 15, 2025	1.0″	Quarter
March 14, 2025	0.75″	Penny
March 31, 2024	1.0″	Quarter
June 29, 2023	1.0″	Quarter
March 31, 2023	0.75″	Penny
March 31, 2023	0.75″	Penny

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

From the storm reports

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

May 15, 2025 · 1.5″ (ping-pong ball)

Ping-pong ball sized hail fell at Athens Community Park.

May 9, 2003 · 1.75″ (golf ball)

Three quarter inch hail was reported throughout the county with one report of golfball sized hail at the New Salem State Park.

Events by decade

1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
0	1	0	6	8	33	21	10

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 Menard County

Has it ever hailed in Menard County?

Yes — 79 hail events have been recorded for Menard County, IL in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1966, including 48 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Menard County?

The most recent recorded hail event for Menard County, IL is May 15, 2025, with 1.75″ (golf 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 Menard County?

2.5″ (tennis ball), recorded on December 8, 1991. 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.