Buffalo Grove Hail — Storm History & NOAA Data for Buffalo Grove, 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 213 hail storms within 25 miles of Buffalo Grove, IL. Of those, 213 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 egg-sized, which can fracture shingle mat and dent metal flashing on contact. 2026 was the most active year on record locally, with 95 documented hail events.

Check Hail History for a Specific Address in Buffalo Grove

Hail Severity Breakdown — Buffalo Grove Area (Last 5 Years)

SeverityCountWhat it means for roofs
Destructive11 eventsEgg-size, expect mat fractures and gutter damage
Severe51 eventsPing pong-size, granule loss and bruising common
Significant151 eventsQuarter-size, the standard insurance damage threshold

Buffalo Grove Hail Storms by Year

YearReported Hail Events Within 25 mi
202695 events
202520 events
202416 events
202365 events
202217 events

2026 was the busiest hail year on record locally for Buffalo Grove, with 95 documented events inside the 25-mile radius. Storm activity in Buffalo Grove 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 Buffalo Grove Hail Storms

Recent Hail Events Near Buffalo Grove

DateLocationSeveritySizeNOAA Comments
2026-08-10 Vernon Hills, IL Significant 1.00" Trained spotter reports quarter size hail ongoing in Vernon Hills.
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 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 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 Oak Brook, IL Destructive 2.00" Photo shared on social media showing a hailstone roughly two inches in diameter.
2026-07-27 Elmhurst, IL Significant 1.00" Relayed via mping. Time estimated by radar.
2026-07-27 1 WNW Westmont, IL Destructive 2.50" —
2026-07-27 Hinsdale, IL Severe 1.75" Public report of golf ball size hail in Hinsdale. Relayed via social media. Time estimated by radar.
2026-07-27 1 NE Downers Grove, IL Severe 1.50" Relayed via mping.
2026-07-27 1 N Oakbrook Terrace, IL Severe 1.50" Public report of ping pong ball size hail at Oakbrook Terrace. Time estimated by radar.
2026-07-27 1 NW Villa Park, IL Significant 1.00" Public report of nickel to quarter size hail in Villa Park. Some melting occurred prior to measurement. Time estimated by radar.
2026-07-27 1 E La Grange Park, IL Severe 1.50" Relayed via mping.

Wind Storm History — Buffalo Grove Area (Last 5 Years)

NOAA has recorded 500 high-wind events within 25 miles of Buffalo Grove, IL in the past five years. Of those, 497 reached severe-thunderstorm thresholds (58+ mph). The highest measured gust was 86 mph.

SeverityCount
Severe164 events
Significant333 events
Moderate3 events

Recent Wind Events Near Buffalo Grove

DateLocationGust (mph)SeverityNOAA Comments
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 1 WNW Westmont, IL 55 Significant Private weather station: KILDOWNE102.
2026-08-11 1 SSE South Barrington, IL 81 Severe Private weather station.
2026-07-27 1 NE Bensenville, IL 62 Significant ASOS site ORD Chicago Ohare Airport reported 62 mph peak gust.
2026-07-27 1 N Oakbrook Terrace, IL 72 Severe —
2026-07-27 Lakeview - Chicago, IL 62 Significant Private weather station KILCHICA1037 reported 62 mph gust.
2026-07-27 Lakeview - Chicago, IL 63 Significant Private weather station KILCHICA1231 reported 63 mph gust.
2026-07-27 North Park - Chicago, IL 59 Significant Private weather station KILCHICA929 reported 59 mph gust.
2026-07-27 1 SSE South Barrington, IL 55 Significant Private weather station KILHOFFM60 reported 55 mph gust.
2026-07-27 1 N West Dundee, IL 54 Significant Private weather station KILCARPE8 reported 54 mph gust.
2026-07-27 1 SW Beach Park, IL 82 Severe The KUGN ASOS measured a peak wind gust of 82 mph at 3:43pm out of the northeast. Extensive damage was noted around Waukegan including snapped and uprooted trees.
2026-07-27 1 SSE Lake Bluff, IL 55 Significant Private weather station reported 55 mph gust near Lake Forest Cemetery.
2026-07-27 Waukegan, IL 55 Significant Measured at the Waukegan Airport.
2026-07-04 Westchester, IL 60 Significant Measured at PWS WESTC57.
2026-07-03 1 NE Montrose Harbor, IL 57 Significant Mesonet station XMTB Montrose Beach Light.
2026-07-03 Ohare Airport, IL 63 Significant Peak wind gust of 55 kt measured at runway sensor 27 left. Peak gust of 47 kt at ASOS.
2026-07-03 2 NNW Chicago Loop, IL 71 Severe Peak wind gust of 71 mph measured on personal weather station.
2026-07-03 1 ESE Lakeview - Chicag, IL 64 Severe Peak wind gust of 64 mph measured on a personal weather station.
2026-07-03 1 W Elmhurst, IL 66 Severe Personal weather station measured wind gust.
2026-07-03 Ohare Airport, IL 53 Significant Peak wind gust of 53 mph measured at ORD.

Frequently Asked Questions About Buffalo Grove Hail

When was the last major hail storm in Buffalo Grove, IL?

The most recent quarter-size-or-larger hail storm recorded by NOAA within 25 miles of Buffalo Grove was on August 10, 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 Buffalo Grove?

Buffalo Grove averages roughly 43 reported hail events per year within a 25-mile radius. Significant storms (quarter-size or larger) account for 213 of the 213 events recorded over the last five years.

How big does hail typically get in Buffalo Grove?

The largest documented hail near Buffalo Grove in the last five years was egg-sized. Most Buffalo Grove-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 Buffalo Grove address?

Use the HailCheck address search to enter any street address in or near Buffalo Grove. 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 Buffalo Grove

If your property in or near Buffalo Grove 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 Buffalo Grove's Location Matters for Hail

Buffalo Grove 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.

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