Hail history for St. Clair County, IL

St. Clair County has 319 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 198 of them 1″ or larger and 19 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 3.5″ (softball) on April 28, 2012.

Records 1950–present Data through April 2026 Peak month April

Core sample · every recorded event, 1955–2026

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 319 since 1955

1″ or larger 198 NWS severe threshold

2″ or larger 19 hen egg class and up

Largest recorded 3.5″ softball · April 28, 2012

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 St. Clair County

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

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 319 recorded events · data through April 2026
Date	Size	Comparable to
April 27, 2026	1.0″	Quarter
April 2, 2025	1.75″	Golf ball
April 2, 2025	1.25″	Half dollar
March 30, 2025	1.0″	Quarter
March 30, 2025	1.5″	Ping-pong ball
March 30, 2025	1.5″	Ping-pong ball
March 30, 2025	1.0″	Quarter
March 14, 2025	1.0″	Quarter

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

From the storm reports

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

March 30, 2025 · 1.0″ (quarter)

Hail ranging in size from dimes to quarters fell for nearly 6 minutes.

April 28, 2012 · 3.0″ (tea cup)

There were numerous reports of large hail across Belleville and Swansea. The largest hail stones reported were three inches in diameter. There were numerous reports of damage to vehicles from the hail.

Events by decade

1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
5	4	27	25	44	112	69	33

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 St. Clair County

Has it ever hailed in St. Clair County?

Yes — 319 hail events have been recorded for St. Clair County, IL in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1955, including 198 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in St. Clair County?

The most recent recorded hail event for St. Clair 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 St. Clair County?

3.5″ (softball), recorded on April 28, 2012. 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.