HailHistoryHail by countyIllinois › Madison County

Illinois · county FIPS 17119

Hail history for Madison County, IL

Madison County has 310 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 205 of them 1″ or larger and 13 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 3.75″ (softball) on March 14, 2024.

Records 1950–present Data through April 2026 Peak month April
Core sample · every recorded event, 1955–2026
1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s 2020s 1955 through 2026 largest · 3.75″ softball March 14, 2024

Mark size = measured hail diameter; slivers are events with no recorded size. Amber ≥2″, red ≥2.75″ (baseball class). Denser recent decades partly reflect better reporting, not only more storms.

Recorded events 310 since 1961
1″ or larger 205 NWS severe threshold
2″ or larger 13 hen egg class and up
Largest recorded 3.75 softball · March 14, 2024
Read the record honestly: Storm Events contains what was reported to the National Weather Service. Sparse or rural counties under-report, and coverage improved sharply after the mid-1990s — a quiet-looking stretch is not proof nothing fell.

When it hails in Madison County

7 Jan 8 Feb 39 Mar 105 Apr 60 May 40 Jun 17 Jul 11 Aug 10 Sep 6 Oct 6 Nov 1 Dec

Recorded events by month, 1950–present. The amber bar marks Madison County's peak: April.

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 310 recorded events · data through April 2026
DateSizeComparable to
1.0″ Quarter
1.75″ Golf ball
1.0″ Quarter
1.25″ Half dollar
1.0″ Quarter
1.75″ Golf ball
1.25″ Half dollar
1.25″ Half dollar

Looking for a specific storm? Use the did-it-hail date lookup for Madison County.

From the storm reports

Narratives as filed with the NOAA Storm Events Database (public records; lightly trimmed for length).

· 1.0″ (quarter)

Quarter sized hail was reported in Wood River by Madison County SKYWARN.

· 3.75″ (softball)

Widespread very large hail fell across Madison County from southwest to northeast. The largest stones were between 2 inches and 3.75 inches. The largest stones were reported in Edwardsville, Hamel, Worden and Livingston. Large hail was also reported in Granite City, Collinsville, Pontoon Beach, Poag, Mitchell, Roxana, Glen Carbon, Maryville, Troy, Marine, and Kuhn.

· 3.0″ (tea cup)

A wide swath of large hail fell across Madison County from Venice to St. Jacob. The largest hailstones were reported in the Collinsville area, three inches in diameter. Two and a half inch diameter hail was reported one mile south of Troy. Hail one inch or larger was reported in Venice, Collinsville, Troy and St. Jacob areas.

Events by decade

1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020s
04617191179552

The climb across decades is largely a reporting story: spotter networks, radar, and digital filing pulled far more storms into the record after the 1990s.

Questions about hail in Madison County

Has it ever hailed in Madison County?

Yes — 310 hail events have been recorded for Madison County, IL in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1961, including 205 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Madison County?

The most recent recorded hail event for Madison County, IL is April 27, 2026, with 1.0″ (quarter) hail. The database is currently updated through April 2026, so a storm from the last few weeks may not appear yet. To check a specific day, use the did-it-hail date lookup.

What is the largest hail ever recorded in Madison County?

3.75″ (softball), recorded on March 14, 2024. Hail that size is destructive-class and typically damages roofs, vehicles, and siding. See how big that really is on the actual-size hail chart.

Does a recorded hail event mean my roof was damaged?

No. This page reports storm records, not damage. Hail size and damage vary block by block within a county, and only an inspection can establish what happened to a specific roof. If you suspect damage, talk to your insurer or a licensed roofer — they can pull the same NOAA records for your claim.

More Illinois hail history

All 102 Illinois counties, ranked by recorded hail →

Source: NOAA/NCEI Storm Events Database, public domain, updated monthly by NCEI — this site's copy runs through April 2026. HailHistory reports records; it does not give insurance advice or assess damage.