HailHistoryHail by countyIllinois › Wabash County

Illinois · county FIPS 17185

Hail history for Wabash County, IL

Wabash County has 56 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 27 of them 1″ or larger and 1 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 2.75″ (baseball) on May 3, 1996.

Records 1950–present Data through April 2026 Peak month May
Core sample · every recorded event, 1955–2026
1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s 2020s 1955 through 2026 largest · 2.75″ baseball May 3, 1996

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 56 since 1976
1″ or larger 27 NWS severe threshold
2″ or larger 1 hen egg class and up
Largest recorded 2.75 baseball · May 3, 1996
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 Wabash County

3 Jan 2 Feb 7 Mar 8 Apr 13 May 10 Jun 4 Jul 3 Aug 3 Sep 2 Oct 1 Nov Dec

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

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 56 recorded events · data through April 2026
DateSizeComparable to
1.0″ Quarter
1.75″ Golf ball
1.5″ Ping-pong ball
0.75″ Penny
1.0″ Quarter
1.0″ Quarter
1.75″ Golf ball
1.0″ Quarter

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

From the storm reports

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

· 1.0″ (quarter)

A lone storm gradually intensified as it moved east northeast all the way across southern Illinois, culminating with some hail to the size quarters in Mt Carmel.

· 1.75″ (golf ball)

Golf ball size hail was reported near the intersection of County Road 350 and State Route 1.

· 1.75″ (golf ball)

Golf-ball size hail was reported along the White County line, about a mile east of Grayville.

Events by decade

1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020s
0025326155

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 Wabash County

Has it ever hailed in Wabash County?

Yes — 56 hail events have been recorded for Wabash County, IL in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1976, including 27 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Wabash County?

The most recent recorded hail event for Wabash County, IL is February 26, 2025, with 1.0″ (quarter) 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 Wabash County?

2.75″ (baseball), recorded on May 3, 1996. 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.