Hail history for Vermilion County, IL

Vermilion County has 202 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 116 of them 1″ or larger and 20 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 3.5″ (softball) on June 29, 2012.

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 202 since 1965

1″ or larger 116 NWS severe threshold

2″ or larger 20 hen egg class and up

Largest recorded 3.5″ softball · June 29, 2012

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 Vermilion County

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

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 202 recorded events · data through April 2026
Date	Size	Comparable to
March 26, 2026	1.5″	Ping-pong ball
March 26, 2026	1.5″	Ping-pong ball
March 26, 2026	1.75″	Golf ball
March 26, 2026	1.5″	Ping-pong ball
March 3, 2026	0.75″	Penny
August 16, 2025	1.0″	Quarter
May 20, 2025	1.75″	Golf ball
May 20, 2025	1.0″	Quarter

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

From the storm reports

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

May 16, 2019 · 2.75″ (baseball)

A window was damaged due to baseball-sized hail.

May 16, 2019 · 1.75″ (golf ball)

Approximately 4 million dollars of hail damage occurred at the Toyota dealership on the south side of Tilton.

May 26, 2017 · 2.0″ (hen egg)

Hail lasted for 4 minutes and broke windshields.

Events by decade

1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
0	1	8	4	13	49	107	20

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 Vermilion County

Has it ever hailed in Vermilion County?

Yes — 202 hail events have been recorded for Vermilion County, IL in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1965, including 116 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Vermilion County?

The most recent recorded hail event for Vermilion 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 Vermilion County?

3.5″ (softball), recorded on June 29, 2012. 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.