Hail in McHenry County, IL
Hail turns up in McHenry County on a regular basis. NOAA radar has confirmed 6 hail events of 1 inch or larger in McHenry County since 2025, the largest 1.3″ (half dollar) on August 16, 2025. The most recent confirmed hail was August 11, 2026.
Did hail hit your exact address?
This page covers the whole area. Enter your address to see what NOAA radar detected over your specific roof - free, in seconds.
About McHenry County, IL
McHenry County lies in northeastern Illinois near the Wisconsin line, rolling glacial country of lakes and moraines northwest of the Chicago metropolitan area. Hail is infrequent here, generally tied to warm-season storms that develop along fronts crossing the region, with stones occasionally reaching walnut size. The Milwaukee (KMKX) radar sits about 45 miles to the north and keeps the county in view.
The hail record for McHenry County, IL
McHenry County doesn't see hail every month, but it's a recurring visitor, with 6 confirmed events since 2025.
This year has run hot: 4 confirmed events in 2026 already, ahead of the recent pace.
The hail clusters in August; the rest of the year is comparatively quiet.
Common questions
How often does it hail in McHenry County?
NOAA radar has confirmed 6 severe hail events (1 inch or larger) in the McHenry County area since 2025.
When is hail season in McHenry County?
Hail in McHenry County is concentrated in August, within a season that runs spring into early summer.
What's the largest hail recorded in McHenry County?
Radar confirmed 1.3-inch hail, about half dollar size, on August 16, 2025.
Does homeowner's insurance cover hail damage?
Hail is a covered peril under most standard homeowner's policies (typically HO-3), subject to your deductible. Whether you have replacement-cost or actual-cash-value coverage makes a big difference in what's paid out. Your declarations page will say which.
How do I know if my roof was damaged by hail?
Common signs are granules collecting in gutters and downspouts, bruised or cracked shingles, and dents on soft metals like vents, flashing, and gutter tops. A lot of hail damage isn't visible from the ground, so a professional inspection is the reliable check.
Is McHenry County's hail big enough to damage a roof?
It can be. Asphalt shingles can begin showing functional damage in the ¾-to-1-inch range, and McHenry County's confirmed hail reaches 1.3″. At these sizes damage is often hard to see from the ground, so whether it's a claimable loss depends on shingle type, age, and an inspection.
Is hail getting worse in McHenry County?
Nationally, the research on long-term hail trends is mixed. Better radar coverage since the 1990s makes real increases hard to separate from improved detection. In McHenry County, 4 confirmed events have been recorded in 2026 so far, but the tracked record is still short, so it isn't evidence of a lasting trend.
Recent confirmed hail near McHenry County, IL
What this means for your home
If you were just hit
With recent hail in McHenry County, you're still in the window to document and report it. Photograph any damage, note the storm date, confirm what radar detected at your address, and review your policy's reporting requirements. Deadlines vary.
Damage can be invisible from the ground
At McHenry County's typical sizes, hail often bruises shingles and loosens granules without obvious holes, shortening roof life in ways that are easy to miss until the next storm or an inspection.
Document before you repair
If you suspect hail damage, photograph it and note the storm's date before making any repairs. Undocumented or already-fixed damage is much harder to claim later.
Claims have deadlines
Policies set a deadline for hail-damage claims, and state law may also apply. Windows range from months to several years depending on your state and policy. Knowing the exact date hail hit your address helps you file on time.
Replacement cost vs. actual cash value
An RCV policy pays to replace your roof at today's prices; an ACV policy subtracts depreciation for the roof's age, which can mean a much smaller check on an older roof. Knowing which you carry shapes what a hail claim is actually worth.
Know your hail deductible
Many policies in hail-prone states use a percentage deductible, often 1–2% of the home's insured value rather than a flat dollar amount. On a $400,000 home that can be $4,000–$8,000 out of pocket before coverage starts, so it's worth checking your declarations page before a storm.
Before you call your insurer
Get the radar evidence for your address.
A NOAA Radar Evidence Report documents exactly what federal radar recorded at your address - hail size, date, and signature - in a formatted PDF you can attach to a claim. Built entirely from public NOAA data.
Events are NOAA/NWS Severe Thunderstorm Warnings with confirmed hail ≥ 1 inch, matched to this county by the warning centroid. Federal public-domain data. A confirmed event indicates radar-detected hail over the area, not a guarantee of damage to any specific property.