Hail in Putnam County, IL
Hail turns up in Putnam County on a regular basis. NOAA radar has confirmed 6 hail events of 1 inch or larger in Putnam County since 2025, the largest 2.5″ (tennis ball) on March 11, 2026. The most recent confirmed hail was June 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 Putnam County, IL
Putnam County is a small county on the Illinois River in north-central Illinois, low river-valley country amid the surrounding prairie. Hail is occasional but can turn serious, with the strongest spring storms riding a front capable of dropping stones up to hen egg size. The Lincoln (KILX) radar lies roughly 73 miles to the south, far enough that it reads the upper structure of these storms more dependably than their near-ground core.
The hail record for Putnam County, IL
Hail is a recurring threat in Putnam County, with 6 confirmed events on record since 2025.
This year has run hot: 5 confirmed events in 2026 already, ahead of the recent pace.
March is the peak, but the broader risk stretches across spring and into early summer.
Common questions
How often does it hail in Putnam County?
NOAA radar has confirmed 6 severe hail events (1 inch or larger) in the Putnam County area since 2025.
When is hail season in Putnam County?
Putnam County sees hail from spring into early summer, most often in March.
What's the largest hail recorded in Putnam County?
Radar confirmed 2.5-inch hail, about tennis ball size, on March 11, 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 hail getting worse in Putnam 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 Putnam County, 5 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.
Will it hail again in Putnam County this year?
Putnam County's record already includes more than one confirmed event in a single season. That's what the data shows so far, not a prediction for any given season.
Did it hail in Putnam County in 2026?
Yes, 5 confirmed hail events so far in 2026, most recently June 11, 2026.
Recent confirmed hail near Putnam County, IL
What this means for your home
Damage can be invisible from the ground
At Putnam 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.