HailHistory › Hail by county › Illinois › Shelby County
Illinois · county FIPS 17173
Hail history for Shelby County, IL
Shelby County has 65 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 39 of them 1″ or larger and 1 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 4.5″ (grapefruit) on April 10, 2001.
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 Shelby County
Recorded events by month, 1950–present. The amber bar marks Shelby County's peak: May.
Most recent recorded events
| Date | Size | Comparable to |
|---|---|---|
| 1.5″ | Ping-pong ball | |
| 1.25″ | Half dollar | |
| 1.25″ | Half dollar | |
| 1.0″ | Quarter | |
| 1.0″ | Quarter | |
| 1.0″ | Quarter | |
| 1.0″ | Quarter | |
| 1.25″ | Half dollar |
Looking for a specific storm? Use the did-it-hail date lookup for Shelby County.
From the storm reports
Narratives as filed with the NOAA Storm Events Database (public records; lightly trimmed for length).
· 1.0″ (quarter)
Hail to one inch in diameter accumulated to at least an inch deep in and around Findlay.
· 4.5″ (grapefruit)
Hail ranging from dime to golf ball size was reported during this time frame. A report came in of softball size hail at the Hudson Power Plant. Damage ocurred to employee vehicles, but no estimates were available. Location of this hail is 5 east of US 128, just north of Holiday.
· 1.75″ (golf ball)
Golfball sized hail fell in an area between Moweaqua and Findlay. It shredded a patio roof, shattered a windshield of a sheriff deputy's car, and dented several vehicles. Also, the hail broke out several windows on a barn 4 miles north of Findlay. No injuries were reported and damage was estimated around $5,000.
Events by decade
| 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 9 | 21 | 18 | 9 |
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 Shelby County
Has it ever hailed in Shelby County?
Yes — 65 hail events have been recorded for Shelby County, IL in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1958, including 39 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.
When did it last hail in Shelby County?
The most recent recorded hail event for Shelby County, IL is March 26, 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 Shelby County?
4.5″ (grapefruit), recorded on April 10, 2001. 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.