Hail history for Wayne County, IL

Wayne County has 72 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 39 of them 1″ or larger and 3 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

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 72 since 1955

1″ or larger 39 NWS severe threshold

2″ or larger 3 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 Wayne County

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

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 72 recorded events · data through April 2026
Date	Size	Comparable to
April 2, 2024	1.5″	Ping-pong ball
March 31, 2023	0.75″	Penny
August 6, 2019	0.75″	Penny
June 5, 2019	0.88″	Nickel
April 3, 2018	0.88″	Nickel
August 19, 2017	1.75″	Golf ball
August 19, 2017	1.0″	Quarter
May 11, 2016	1.75″	Golf ball

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

From the storm reports

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

April 2, 2024 · 1.5″ (ping-pong ball)

Hail estimated to ping pong ball size was reported in Marriam via mPING.

August 19, 2017 · 1.75″ (golf ball)

A few of the hailstones were estimated to be the size of golf balls. Most of them were quarter-size. Photos of the hail were relayed by emergency management officials.

May 11, 2016 · 1.75″ (golf ball)

A slow-moving severe thunderstorm crossed the city of Fairfield, producing a swath of quarter to golf-ball size hail across the city.

Events by decade

1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
1	0	1	1	13	35	19	2

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 Wayne County

Has it ever hailed in Wayne County?

Yes — 72 hail events have been recorded for Wayne County, IL in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1955, including 39 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Wayne County?

The most recent recorded hail event for Wayne County, IL is April 2, 2024, 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 Wayne 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.