Hail history for Whiteside County, IL

Whiteside County has 163 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 83 of them 1″ or larger and 2 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 2.0″ (hen egg) on February 28, 2017.

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 163 since 1964

1″ or larger 83 NWS severe threshold

2″ or larger 2 hen egg class and up

Largest recorded 2.0″ hen egg · February 28, 2017

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 Whiteside County

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

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 163 recorded events · data through April 2026
Date	Size	Comparable to
April 2, 2026	1.5″	Ping-pong ball
March 10, 2026	1.0″	Quarter
March 10, 2026	1.0″	Quarter
May 15, 2025	1.25″	Half dollar
August 5, 2024	1.75″	Golf ball
May 7, 2024	1.0″	Quarter
May 7, 2024	1.0″	Quarter
March 4, 2024	1.0″	Quarter

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

From the storm reports

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

May 15, 2025 · 1.25″ (half dollar)

A trained spotter reported that several hailstones were quarter size, some were perhaps bigger.

August 5, 2024 · 1.75″ (golf ball)

Golf ball size hail was reported near Penrose, Illinois. The time was estimated from radar data.

September 7, 2021 · 1.75″ (golf ball)

Golf ball sized hail lasting for about 4 minutes.

Events by decade

1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
0	2	12	5	26	51	47	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 Whiteside County

Has it ever hailed in Whiteside County?

Yes — 163 hail events have been recorded for Whiteside County, IL in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1964, including 83 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Whiteside County?

The most recent recorded hail event for Whiteside County, IL is April 2, 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 Whiteside County?

2.0″ (hen egg), recorded on February 28, 2017. Hail that size meets or exceeds the National Weather Service severe threshold. 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.