Bellwood Hail — Storm History & NOAA Data for Bellwood, IL

Data current as of 2026-10-16 · Sourced from NOAA Storm Events

Over the past five years, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has recorded 329 hail storms within 25 miles of Bellwood, IL. Of those, 324 produced hail at least quarter-size — the threshold most insurance carriers consider potentially damaging to asphalt shingles. The largest reported hail in this window was baseball-sized or larger, which can fracture shingle mat and dent metal flashing on contact. 2026 was the most active year on record locally, with 154 documented hail events.

Check Hail History for a Specific Address in Bellwood

Hail Severity Breakdown — Bellwood Area (Last 5 Years)

SeverityCountWhat it means for roofs
Catastrophic3 eventsBaseball+ size, structural roof damage likely
Destructive31 eventsEgg-size, expect mat fractures and gutter damage
Severe83 eventsPing pong-size, granule loss and bruising common
Significant207 eventsQuarter-size, the standard insurance damage threshold
Moderate5 eventsMarble-size, possible cosmetic damage

Bellwood Hail Storms by Year

YearReported Hail Events Within 25 mi
2026154 events
202530 events
202458 events
202378 events
20229 events

2026 was the busiest hail year on record locally for Bellwood, with 154 documented events inside the 25-mile radius. Storm activity in Bellwood typically peaks in spring and early summer, when the jet stream pushes Gulf moisture into the area and supercell thunderstorms become more frequent.

Notable Recent Bellwood Hail Storms

Recent Hail Events Near Bellwood

DateLocationSeveritySizeNOAA Comments
2026-08-09 2 W Naperville, IL Significant 1.00" Report from mPING: Quarter (1.00 in.).
2026-08-09 1 N Naperville, IL Moderate 0.75" Report from mPING: Dime (0.75 in.).
2026-08-09 2 W Naperville, IL Moderate 0.75" Report from mPING: Dime (0.75 in.).
2026-08-09 3 W Naperville, IL Significant 1.00" Report from mPING: Quarter (1.00 in.).
2026-07-28 Oak Brook, IL Destructive 2.00" Photo shared on social media showing a hailstone roughly two inches in diameter.
2026-07-27 1 NW Roselle, IL Significant 1.25" Report from mPING: Half Dollar (1.25 in.).
2026-07-27 1 ENE Carol Stream, IL Severe 1.75" Quarter size hail in Carol Stream. Location approximate.
2026-07-27 3 W York Center, IL Significant 1.00" Relayed via mping. Time estimated by radar.
2026-07-27 Downers Grove, IL Severe 1.75" Photo shared on social media of golf ball size hail.
2026-07-27 1 SW York Center, IL Significant 1.00" Relayed via mping.
2026-07-27 1 E Glendale Heights, IL Severe 1.50" Relayed via mping.
2026-07-27 2 NW Lisle, IL Severe 1.50" Relayed via mping. Time estimated by radar.
2026-07-27 1 S Hanover Park, IL Significant 1.00" Public report of quarter size hail relayed via mping.
2026-07-27 1 W Medinah, IL Significant 1.00" Relayed via mping.
2026-07-27 1 NE Tinley Park, IL Severe 1.75" —
2026-07-27 1 NNE Indian Head Park, IL Significant 1.25" Photo shared on social media of quarter to half dollar size hail in La Grange Highlands.
2026-07-27 Oak Brook, IL Severe 1.75" Public report of golf ball size hail in Oak Brook. Time estimated by radar.
2026-07-27 Clarendon Hills, IL Destructive 2.00" Trained spotter reported 2 inch diameter hail in Clarendon Hills. Time estimated by radar.
2026-07-27 1 SW Evergreen Park, IL Significant 1.00" Relayed via mping. Time estimated by radar.
2026-07-27 1 NW Oak Lawn, IL Significant 1.00" Relayed via mping. Time estimated by radar.

Wind Storm History — Bellwood Area (Last 5 Years)

NOAA has recorded 500 high-wind events within 25 miles of Bellwood, IL in the past five years. Of those, 495 reached severe-thunderstorm thresholds (58+ mph). The highest measured gust was 91 mph.

SeverityCount
Severe216 events
Significant279 events
Moderate4 events
Minor1 event

Recent Wind Events Near Bellwood

DateLocationGust (mph)SeverityNOAA Comments
2026-08-11 2 NW Plainfield, IL 88 Severe Second personal weather station measured an 88 mph wind gust in Plainfield.
2026-08-11 3 SE Batavia, IL 89 Severe Private weather station: KILAUROR58.
2026-08-11 2 NW Plainfield, IL 85 Severe —
2026-08-11 NWS Chicago-Romeoville, IL 58 Significant Peak wind gust of 58 mph measured by Davis weather station at NWS Chicago office. Severe gusts lasted for 5 to 10 minutes as the storm moved overhead. There are numerous small branches down in the vicinity of the office.
2026-08-11 2 NNW Warrenville, IL 80 Severe A corridor of destructive winds impacted Warrenville and a portion of Lisle during the derecho on August 11. Extensive tree damage occurred in Blackwell Forest Preserve, Herrick Lake Forest Preserve, and Danada Forest Preserve with snapped and uprooted trees. In addition, extensive tree damage occurred throughout Warrenville including the snapping and uprooting of trees ranging in size from 1 to 3 feet in diameter. Several trees fell on homes causing structure damage, as well. Based on video footage and witness reports, the damage was most likely caused by straight line winds in excess of 80 mph on the southern side of a radar-indicated rotation path. Thank you to emergency management partners in Warrenville and DuPage County Forest Preserve for their help in this report.
2026-08-11 2 NW Plainfield, IL 62 Significant Private weather station: 2.3 NW Plainfield.
2026-08-11 1 SSE South Chicago, IL 45 Moderate Calumet Harbor peak gust of 39 knots.
2026-08-11 3 NE Navy Pier, IL 60 Significant Mesonet station CHII2 Harrison-Dever Crib. Peak gust of 52.1 kt before data loss.
2026-08-11 2 N Lemont, IL 70 Severe Peak wind gust of 70 mph measured by sonic anemometer at a height of 10m.
2026-08-11 1 WNW Westmont, IL 55 Significant Private weather station: KILDOWNE102.
2026-08-11 1 W Oak Lawn, IL 70 Severe —
2026-08-11 Oak Forest, IL 57 Significant Private weather station: KILOAKFO13.
2026-08-11 2 E Mokena, IL 91 Severe Near 195th and La Grange Road.
2026-08-11 1 SSE South Barrington, IL 81 Severe Private weather station.
2026-07-27 2 N Lemont, IL 78 Severe A 10m tower measured a peak wind gust of 77.6 mph. A 2 foot diameter willow tree was downed close by, as well.
2026-07-27 1 NE Bensenville, IL 62 Significant ASOS site ORD Chicago Ohare Airport reported 62 mph peak gust.
2026-07-27 Midway Airport, IL 74 Severe —
2026-07-27 1 N Oakbrook Terrace, IL 72 Severe —
2026-07-27 1 NNE Homer Glen, IL 60 Significant Private weather station KILHOMER4 reported 60 mph gust.
2026-07-27 Lakeview - Chicago, IL 62 Significant Private weather station KILCHICA1037 reported 62 mph gust.

Frequently Asked Questions About Bellwood Hail

When was the last major hail storm in Bellwood, IL?

The most recent quarter-size-or-larger hail storm recorded by NOAA within 25 miles of Bellwood was on August 9, 2026. HailCheck refreshes from the NOAA Storm Events database daily, so newer events appear here as they are reported.

How often does it hail in Bellwood?

Bellwood averages roughly 66 reported hail events per year within a 25-mile radius. Significant storms (quarter-size or larger) account for 324 of the 329 events recorded over the last five years.

How big does hail typically get in Bellwood?

The largest documented hail near Bellwood in the last five years was baseball-sized or larger. Most Bellwood-area hail falls in the marble-to-quarter range, with destructive storms (egg-size or larger) appearing roughly once every few years.

Does my insurance cover hail damage in IL?

Most homeowners insurance policies in IL cover hail damage to roofs, siding, and gutters under the dwelling and other-structures coverage. Coverage typically requires the damage to be tied to a verifiable storm date — which is where the NOAA hail history above (and a HAAG-style test square validation) becomes important for the claim file.

How do I check hail history for a specific Bellwood address?

Use the HailCheck address search to enter any street address in or near Bellwood. HailCheck returns every NOAA hail event within a configurable radius, along with severity bands, dates, and storm narratives for Pro members.

What a HAAG-Style Test Square Validation Means in Bellwood

If your property in or near Bellwood took on hail during one of the storms above, the standard process for documenting damage is a 10×10 foot test square inspection. A HAAG-trained reviewer counts impact indicators — granule displacement, mat fractures, and bruising — within the marked square and produces a PASS or FAIL document for the claim file.

HailCheck offers a $99 photo-based HAAG-style test square validation. You submit photos from the field, our reviewer evaluates the impact indicators and cross-references the NOAA storm dates listed above, and a written PASS/FAIL determination is returned within one business day. We do not send anyone to the roof — the validation is built around the photos you submit.

Learn About $99 HAAG-Style Validation

Why Bellwood's Location Matters for Hail

Bellwood sits east of the traditional hail alley, where hail events are less frequent than the central plains but tend to be associated with strong squall lines and tropical systems. Local roof systems are less commonly hardened for hail, which can mean even moderate impacts produce claim-worthy damage.

Other Cities in IL