Hail in Stephenson County, IL
Hail turns up in Stephenson County on a regular basis. NOAA radar has confirmed 10 hail events of 1 inch or larger in Stephenson County since 2025, the largest 2″ (golf ball) on March 11, 2026. The most recent confirmed hail was July 3, 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 Stephenson County, IL
Stephenson County occupies the rolling, unglaciated farmland of far northern Illinois near the Wisconsin line. Hail is occasional rather than routine, but a strong frontal system crossing the region can organize storms capable of producing stones around golf ball size. The Quad Cities (KDVN) radar provides the nearest coverage from roughly 70 miles to the southwest, far enough that it reads the higher portions of storms more clearly than the lowest levels.
The hail record for Stephenson County, IL
Hail is a recurring threat in Stephenson County, with 10 confirmed events on record since 2025.
This year has run hot: 9 confirmed events in 2026 already, ahead of the recent pace.
Rather than a single peak, hail turns up from spring through summer in Stephenson County, most often in June.
Common questions
How often does it hail in Stephenson County?
NOAA radar has confirmed 10 severe hail events (1 inch or larger) in the Stephenson County area since 2025.
When is hail season in Stephenson County?
Stephenson County sees hail from spring into early summer, most often in June.
What's the largest hail recorded in Stephenson County?
Radar confirmed 2-inch hail, about golf 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.
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 hail getting worse in Stephenson 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 Stephenson County, 9 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.
Hail just hit, what should I do?
Safely photograph any hail and note the time, then confirm what radar recorded at your address before calling your insurer. Most policies require prompt notice after a hail event, and deadlines vary by policy and state, so don't wait to document it.
Recent confirmed hail near Stephenson County, IL
What this means for your home
If you were just hit
With recent hail in Stephenson 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 Stephenson 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.
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.
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.
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.