Hail in Pope County, IL
NOAA radar has confirmed 3 hail events of 1 inch or larger in Pope County since 2025, the largest 1.5″ (half dollar) on March 5, 2026. The most recent confirmed hail was April 28, 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 Pope County, IL
Pope County occupies the hilly, heavily forested southern tip of Illinois, where the Shawnee uplands meet the Ohio River. Hail is infrequent, and the larger stones that do occur generally arrive with springtime cold fronts dragging Gulf moisture across the region. Coverage comes from the Paducah (KPAH) radar, about 26 miles to the southwest, close enough to watch storms develop over the county.
The hail record for Pope County, IL
This year has run hot: 2 confirmed events in 2026 already, ahead of the recent pace.
Most confirmed hail in Pope County falls between spring and early summer, with March the busiest month.
Pope County is no Plains hot spot, but the storms that do reach it have still dropped hail up to 1.5″.
Common questions
How often does it hail in Pope County?
NOAA radar has confirmed 3 severe hail events (1 inch or larger) in the Pope County area since 2025.
When is hail season in Pope County?
Pope County sees hail from spring into early summer, most often in March.
What's the largest hail recorded in Pope County?
Radar confirmed 1.5-inch hail, about half dollar size, on March 5, 2026.
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.
Is Pope 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 Pope County's confirmed hail reaches 1.5″. 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 Pope 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 Pope County, 2 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.
Did it hail in Pope County in 2026?
Yes, 2 confirmed hail events so far in 2026, most recently April 28, 2026.
Recent confirmed hail near Pope County, IL
What this means for your home
Damage can be invisible from the ground
At Pope 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.
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.
Keep a 'before' record
Photos of your roof and exterior in good condition make new hail damage much easier to prove later. A few shots now, before the next storm, can save an argument with an adjuster over what's old wear and what's storm damage.
Get more than one estimate
After a damaging storm, reputable local roofers get busy and out-of-town crews flood in. Get multiple written estimates and verify licensing and local references before signing anything.
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.
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.