Hail history for Washington County, IL

Washington County has 134 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 82 of them 1″ or larger and 9 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 4.5″ (grapefruit) on April 28, 2012.

Records 1950–present Data through April 2026 Peak month April

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 134 since 1956

1″ or larger 82 NWS severe threshold

2″ or larger 9 hen egg class and up

Largest recorded 4.5″ grapefruit · April 28, 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 Washington County

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

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 134 recorded events · data through April 2026
Date	Size	Comparable to
May 16, 2025	1.0″	Quarter
May 16, 2025	1.0″	Quarter
May 16, 2025	2.0″	Hen egg
April 29, 2025	1.25″	Half dollar
March 30, 2025	1.25″	Half dollar
March 30, 2025	1.0″	Quarter
March 30, 2025	1.0″	Quarter
March 30, 2025	1.0″	Quarter

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

From the storm reports

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

March 30, 2025 · 1.0″ (quarter)

Wind driven quarter sized hail damaged the siding of a building in Addieville.

March 14, 2024 · 2.5″ (tennis ball)

A wide swath of large hail, up to 2.5 inches in diameter, fell across the southern portions of Washington County. Large hail fell in Oakdale and Posen.

June 8, 2009 · 1.75″ (golf ball)

Golfball sized hail fell just north of Addieville causing major siding damage to one home as well as several windows in that home and the home next door. Crops in the area sustained some hail damage as well.

Events by decade

1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
2	4	5	6	26	53	23	15

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 Washington County

Has it ever hailed in Washington County?

Yes — 134 hail events have been recorded for Washington County, IL in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1956, including 82 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Washington County?

The most recent recorded hail event for Washington County, IL is May 16, 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 Washington County?

4.5″ (grapefruit), recorded on April 28, 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.