Hail history for Montgomery County, IL

Montgomery County has 136 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 78 of them 1″ or larger and 9 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 4.5″ (grapefruit) on May 28, 2011.

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 136 since 1968

1″ or larger 78 NWS severe threshold

2″ or larger 9 hen egg class and up

Largest recorded 4.5″ grapefruit · May 28, 2011

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 Montgomery County

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

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 136 recorded events · data through April 2026
Date	Size	Comparable to
April 27, 2026	1.5″	Ping-pong ball
March 14, 2024	1.0″	Quarter
March 14, 2024	2.0″	Hen egg
March 14, 2024	1.75″	Golf ball
May 14, 2023	1.0″	Quarter
May 14, 2023	1.75″	Golf ball
May 14, 2023	1.0″	Quarter
May 14, 2023	1.0″	Quarter

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

From the storm reports

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

March 14, 2024 · 2.0″ (hen egg)

Large hail up to two inches in diameter fell in an area from Litchfield northeastward towards Lake Lou Yaeger.

May 28, 2011 · 4.5″ (grapefruit)

Most of the hail was quarter to ping pong ball size, though a few of the hail stones were softball size.

May 28, 2011 · 4.5″ (grapefruit)

Lots of large hail fell over town, so of the hail stones were up to softball size. A few cars had their windows broken on them.

Events by decade

1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
0	1	2	4	18	69	25	17

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 Montgomery County

Has it ever hailed in Montgomery County?

Yes — 136 hail events have been recorded for Montgomery County, IL in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1968, including 78 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Montgomery County?

The most recent recorded hail event for Montgomery County, IL is April 27, 2026, 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 Montgomery County?

4.5″ (grapefruit), recorded on May 28, 2011. 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.