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Map of 2" or larger size hail reports since 1950. Click image to enlarge.
Approximate hail sizes as compared to objects. Dimensions refer to the diameter of the object. When very large hail is observed, it is desirable to use a ruler or tape measure for an exact measurement.
Size | Object |
2.00" | Lime or navel orange |
2.25" | Standard billiard ball |
2.50" | Tennis ball |
2.75" | Baseball |
3.00" | Large orange |
3.50" | Croquet ball |
4.00" | Softball |
4.50" | Grapefruit |
4.75" | DVD disc |
Specific details on these occurrences can be found at the National Centers for Environmental Prediction's Storm Events Database.
These are the largest hailstones (3" diameter or larger) with the Lincoln NWS coverage area of central and southeast Illinois since 1950 (27 reports).
4.50" Diameter | |
5/9/1995 | Galesburg (Knox County) |
4/7/1998 | Arthur (Douglas County) |
5/12/1998 | Littleton (Schuyler County) |
4/10/2001 | Cowden (Shelby County) |
5/9/2003 | Stanford (McLean County) |
4.25" Diameter | |
7/13/2004 | Hudson (McLean County) |
5/30/2008 | Philo (Champaign County) |
4.00" Diameter | |
8/26/2000 | Bement (Piatt County) |
5/21/2014 | 1 mile west-northwest of Tuscola (Douglas County) |
5/30/2004 | Metamora (Woodford County) |
11/17/2013 | 2 miles northeast of Covell (McLean County) |
3.75" Diameter | |
8/18/2001 | San Jose (Logan County) |
3.50" Diameter | |
6/23/1960 | Oreana (Macon County) |
5/5/1977 | Literberry (Morgan County) |
6/29/2012 | 3 miles south-southwest of Bismarck (Vermilion County) |
3.00" Diameter | |
5/6/1971 | 5 miles north of Effingham (Effingham County) |
6/13/1975 | 8 miles northeast of Canton (Fulton County) |
4/9/2001 | Castleton (Stark County) |
5/28/2003 | 4 miles northwest of Washington (Tazewell County) |
4/16/2006 | Normal (McLean County |
5/24/2006 | St. David (Fulton County) |
5/30/2008 | 3 miles west of Loami (Sangamon County) |
5/21/2014 | Camargo (Douglas County) |
4/9/2015 | 2 miles northeast of Mahomet (Champaign County) |
5/1/2016 | 3 miles south of Brocton (Edgar County) |
4/8/2020 | 1 mile west of Devereux Heights (Sangamon County) |
8/20/2022 | Washington (Tazewell County) |
The largest officially documented hailstone in Illinois was 4.75" in diameter, occurring at Minooka on June 10, 2015. While determining the validity of this report, the State Climate Extremes Committee, operating within the National Centers for Environmental Information, investigated a previous report of 6" diameter hail at Kankakee on April 23, 1961. It was determined that this measurement could not be reasonably validated or verified, based on synoptic weather conditions that occurred across the area on that date.
All reports of hail of at least 2" in diameter, broken up by county, from greatest to fewest reports:
Vermilion County (19 reports) |
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Size | Location | Date |
3.50" | 3 miles south-southwest of Bismarck | 6/29/2012 |
2.75" | 4 miles west of Bismarck | 6/29/2012 |
2.75" | Westville | 5/16/2019 |
2.75" | Oakwood | 5/17/1991 |
2.75" | Georgetown | 5/18/2000 |
2.75" | Indianola | 5/18/2000 |
2.75" | Hoopeston | 3/20/2017 |
2.50" | 3 miles west of Hoopeston | 5/6/2012 |
2.50" | Hoopeston | 5/6/2012 |
2.50" | Rankin | 5/26/2017 |
2.00" | 4 miles northwest of Danville | 9/30/1977 |
2.00" | Rossville | 5/18/2000 |
2.00" | Allerton | 8/18/2001 |
2.00" | (DNV) Vermilion Regional Airport | 6/29/2012 |
2.00" | Hoopeston | 3/20/2017 |
2.00" | 5 miles ESE Rankin | 5/26/2017 |
2.00" | 3 miles west of Hoopeston | 5/26/2017 |
2.00" | 5 miles west of Rossville | 5/26/2017 |
2.00" | 2 miles west of Hoopeston | 5/26/2017 |
McLean County (11 reports) |
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Size | Location | Date |
4.50" | Stanford | 5/9/2003 |
4.25" | Hudson | 7/13/2004 |
4.00" | 2 miles northeast of Covell | 11/17/2013 |
3.00" | Normal | 4/16/2006 |
2.75" | Danvers | 4/3/1974 |
2.75" | 6 miles north of Lexington | 3/30/2005 |
2.75" | Normal | 11/17/2013 |
2.75" | 1 mile north of Towanda | 5/11/2014 |
2.50" | Danvers | 5/9/2003 |
2.00" | Colfax | 10/17/1988 |
2.00" | 2 miles south-southeast of Carlock | 4/16/2006 |
Champaign County (11 reports) |
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Size | Location | Date |
4.25" | Philo | 5/30/2008 |
3.00" | 2 miles northeast of Mahomet | 4/09/2015 |
2.75" | Mahomet | 5/6/1961 |
2.75" | 3 miles south of Sadorus | 5/18/2000 |
2.75" | 3 miles south of Champaign | 5/18/2000 |
2.75" | Fisher | 3/12/2006 |
2.75" | 1 mile north-northeast of Sadorus | 5/30/2008 |
2.50" | Philo | 5/30/2008 |
2.25" | 2 miles southeast of Mahomet | 4/09/2015 |
2.00" | Pesotum | 5/18/2000 |
2.00" | 2 miles east of Sadorus | 5/30/2008 |
Douglas County (10 reports) |
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Size | Location | Date |
4.50" | Arthur | 4/7/1998 |
4.00" | 1 mile west-northwest of Tuscola | 5/21/2014 |
3.00" | Camargo | 5/21/2014 |
2.75" | Newman | 4/10/1981 |
2.75" | Hindsboro | 7/4/1985 |
2.00" | 3 miles northwest of Tuscola | 5/21/2014 |
2.00" | Camargo | 5/25/1989 |
2.00" | Newman | 4/19/1996 |
2.00" | 4 miles northwest of Tuscola | 5/21/2014 |
2.00" | 3 miles north of Hindsboro | 5/21/2014 |
Fulton County (10 reports) |
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Size | Location | Date |
3.00" | 8 miles northeast of Canton | 6/13/1975 |
3.00" | St. David | 5/24/2006 |
2.75" | Cuba | 7/21/2008 |
2.75" | Fiatt | 7/21/2008 |
2.50" | Canton | 4/10/2017 |
2.00" | Canton | 4/10/2017 |
2.00" | Blyton | 6/14/1974 |
2.00" | 1 mile east of Bryant | 5/24/2006 |
2.00" | 1 mile north of Dunfermline | 5/24/2006 |
2.00" | 4 miles east-southeast of Lewistown | 6/4/2010 |
Tazewell County (10 reports) |
||
Size | Location | Date |
3.00" | 4 miles northwest of Washington | 5/28/2003 |
3.00" | Washington | 8/20/2022 |
2.75" | Tremont | 12/8/1991 |
2.75" | Delavan | 5/30/2004 |
2.50" | 6 miles southwest of Delavan | 8/18/2001 |
2.50" | Morton | 5/8/2003 |
2.00" | Mackinaw | 7/26/1978 |
2.00" | Armington | 5/9/2003 |
2.00" | Washington | 5/13/2008 |
2.00" | Creve Coeur | 7/11/2020 |
Peoria County (9 reports) |
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Size | Location | Date |
2.75" | Peoria | 6/2/1980 |
2.75" | Hanna City | 4/10/1981 |
2.75" | Alta | 7/9/1990 |
2.00" | 1 mile west of Bartonville | 6/4/2002 |
2.00" | Kickapoo | 7/26/2002 |
2.00" | Norwood | 5/9/2003 |
2.00" | 1 mile west of Princeville | 4/13/2006 |
2.00" | Bellevue | 6/19/2009 |
2.00" | Princeville | 4/19/2011 |
Edgar County (7 reports) |
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Size | Location | Date |
3.00" | 3 miles south of Brockton | 5/01/2016 |
2.75" | 1 mile north of Paris | 5/10/2003 |
2.50" | Chrisman | 7/21/2008 |
2.50" | Paris | 4/10/2013 |
2.00" | 2 miles south of Paris | 5/30/2004 |
2.00" | Paris | 4/10/2013 |
2.00" | Vermilion | 3/28/2020 |
Morgan County (7 reports) |
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Size | Location | Date |
3.50" | Literberry | 5/5/1977 |
2.75" | Alexander | 3/15/2016 |
2.75" | (IJX) Jacksonville Airport | 5/10/2017 |
2.00" | Jacksonville | 4/19/1964 |
2.00" | Murrayville | 5/11/1975 |
2.00" | 1 mile north-northwest of Waverly | 4/15/2011 |
2.00" | Jacksonville | 3/15/2016 |
Sangamon County (6 reports) |
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Size | Location | Date |
3.00" | 3 miles west of Loami | 5/30/2008 |
3.00" | Devereux Heights | 4/8/2020 |
2.50" | (SPI) Springfield Capital Airport | 4/3/1974 |
2.50" | 1 mile northwest of Divernon | 5/30/2008 |
2.00" | Auburn | 5/27/2002 |
2.00" | 3 miles west-southwest of Divernon | 8/13/2011 |
Woodford County (6 reports) |
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Size | Location | Date |
4.00" | Secor | 5/30/2004 |
2.75" | Kappa | 7/13/2004 |
2.50" | 2 miles south of Eureka | 5/12/2000 |
2.00" | 4 miles west-northwest of Benson | 6/13/1975 |
2.00" | Metamora | 7/26/1978 |
2.00" | Minonk | 5/17/1991 |
Crawford County (6 reports) |
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Size | Location | Date |
2.75" | New Hebron | 5/25/1989 |
2.75" | Robinson | 7/20/1990 |
2.75" | 2 miles west of Palestine | 7/20/1990 |
2.00" | Robinson | 6/24/1985 |
2.00" | 5 miles south of Oblong | 6/26/2006 |
2.00" | Flat Rock | 6/18/2009 |
Coles County (5 reports) |
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Size | Location | Date |
2.50" | Fairgrange | 7/9/1992 |
2.50" | Ashmore | 7/9/1992 |
2.00" | Mattoon | 11/15/1955 |
2.00" | Charleston | 5/14/2003 |
2.00" | 2 E Oakland | 5/01/2016 |
Logan County (5 reports) |
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Size | Location | Date |
3.75" | San Jose | 8/18/2001 |
2.50" | Mount Pulaski | 8/13/2011 |
2.25" | Logan County Airport | 5/9/1995 |
2.00" | Broadwell | 5/12/2000 |
2.00" | 2 miles south of Mount Pulaski | 7/26/1978 |
Piatt County (5 reports) |
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Size | Location | Date |
4.00" | Bement | 8/26/2000 |
2.75" | Monticello | 5/15/2009 |
2.50" | De Land | 5/28/2019 |
2.00" | White Heath | 5/21/2014 |
2.00 | 4 miles west of Monticello | 5/11/2016 |
Christian County (4 reports) |
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Size | Location | Date |
2.75" | Assumption | 11/17/2013 |
2.00" | 2 miles southwest of Sicily | 4/7/1998 |
2.00" | 1 mile west of Morrisonville | 5/1/2002 |
2.00" | 5 miles west-southwest of Rosamond | 5/3/2021 |
Macon County (4 reports) |
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Size | Location | Date |
3.50" | Oreana | 6/22/1960 |
2.25" | 4 miles southeast of Niantic | 4/18/1996 |
2.00" | Decatur | 4/22/1963 |
2.00" | Warrensburg | 8/17/2000 |
Clay County (4 reports) |
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Size | Location | Date |
2.75" | Louisville | 9/19/1986 |
2.75" | Hord | 5/25/1989 |
2.75" | 5 miles south of Xenia | 5/3/1996 |
2.50" | 1 mile west of Flora | 4/24/2002 |
Knox County (4 reports) |
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Size | Location | Date |
4.50" | Galesburg | 5/9/1995 |
2.75" | Altona | 4/13/2006 |
2.00" | Williamsfield | 4/30/1973 |
2.00" | Hermon | 6/14/1974 |
Menard County (4 reports) |
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Size | Location | Date |
2.50" | Petersburg | 12/8/1991 |
2.00" | 4 miles north-northeast of Athens | 3/21/1966 |
2.00" | Greenview | 7/28/1996 |
2.00" | 2 miles east of Oakford | 4/4/2003 |
Effingham County (3 reports) |
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Size | Location | Date |
3.00" | 5 miles north of Effingham | 5/6/1971 |
2.75" | 4 miles east-northeast of Shumway | 11/15/1955 |
2.00" | Beecher City | 9/30/1977 |
Jasper County (3 reports) |
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Size | Location | Date |
2.75" | 2 miles east of Wheeler | 5/25/1989 |
2.00" | Newton | 6/24/1985 |
2.00" | 2 miles southeast of Newton | 6/21/2009 |
Mason County (3 reports) |
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Size | Location | Date |
2.75" | Manito | 12/8/1991 |
2.75" | Manito | 8/18/2001 |
2.00" | Kilbourne | 4/4/2003 |
Cass County (3 reports) |
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Size | Location | Date |
2.75" | Philadelphia | 5/5/1977 |
2.50" | 2 miles southwest of Bluff Springs | 6/10/2018 |
2.00" | 4 miles west of Ashland | 3/21/1966 |
Cumberland County (2 reports) |
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Size | Location | Date |
2.50 | Greenup | 5/11/2014 |
2.00 | 3 miles northwest of Greenup | 5/11/2014 |
Lawrence County (2 reports) |
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Size | Location | Date |
2.75" | 3 miles east of Birds | 5/31/1998 |
2.00" | Sumner | 1/17/2012 |
Schuyler County (2 reports) |
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Size | Location | Date |
4.50" | Littleton | 5/12/1998 |
2.75" | 1 mile northwest of Rushville | 8/18/1999 |
De Witt County (1 report) |
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Size | Location | Date |
2.75" | 3 miles southwest of Clinton | 5/28/2003 |
Marshall County (1 report) |
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Size | Location | Date |
2.75" | Varna | 4/9/2001 |
Moultrie County (1 report) |
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Size | Location | Date |
2.00" | Bethany | 4/7/1998 |
Richland County (1 report) |
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Size | Location | Date |
2.00" | Olney | 6/24/1985 |
Shelby County (1 report) |
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Size | Location | Date |
4.50" | Cowden | 4/10/2001 |
Stark County (1 report) |
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Size | Location | Date |
3.00" | 2 miles southeast of Castleton | 4/9/2001 |
No occurrences of hail 2" or larger have been reported in Clark or Scott Counties since 1950.