HailHistory › Hail by county › Illinois › Saline County
Illinois · county FIPS 17165
Hail history for Saline County, IL
Saline County has 78 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 34 of them 1″ or larger and 5 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 3.5″ (softball) on August 6, 2019.
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.
When it hails in Saline County
Recorded events by month, 1950–present. The amber bar marks Saline County's peak: April.
Most recent recorded events
| Date | Size | Comparable to |
|---|---|---|
| 1.75″ | Golf ball | |
| 0.75″ | Penny | |
| 1.25″ | Half dollar | |
| 1.5″ | Ping-pong ball | |
| 1.75″ | Golf ball | |
| 0.88″ | Nickel | |
| 0.88″ | Nickel | |
| 0.88″ | Nickel |
Looking for a specific storm? Use the did-it-hail date lookup for Saline County.
From the storm reports
Narratives as filed with the NOAA Storm Events Database (public records; lightly trimmed for length).
· 1.75″ (golf ball)
Half dollar to golfball size hail occurred in Harrisburg.
· 3.5″ (softball)
A narrow swath of very large hail up to 3.5 inches in diameter occurred across northern Saline County. The biggest hailstone was photographed alongside a ruler. The biggest hailstones and associated damage were in farmland just north of the communities of Galatia and Raleigh. Two roofs were damaged 3.5 miles north-northwest of Galatia. A truck roof was dented, and there were some minor dents in cars.
· 3.0″ (tea cup)
Hail slightly larger than baseball size was reported just south of Harrisburg in the Pankeyville community. The hailstones were reported to be three inches in diameter, or about the size of a tea cup.
Events by decade
| 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 31 | 30 | 11 |
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 Saline County
Has it ever hailed in Saline County?
Yes — 78 hail events have been recorded for Saline County, IL in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1984, including 34 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.
When did it last hail in Saline County?
The most recent recorded hail event for Saline County, IL is March 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 Saline County?
3.5″ (softball), recorded on August 6, 2019. 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
- Cook County 643
- Will County 359
- St. Clair County 319
- Sangamon County 314
- Madison County 310
- DuPage County 255
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.