Decatur Hail — Storm History & NOAA Data for Decatur, 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 137 hail storms within 25 miles of Decatur, IL. Of those, 121 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 64 documented hail events.

Check Hail History for a Specific Address in Decatur

Hail Severity Breakdown — Decatur Area (Last 5 Years)

SeverityCountWhat it means for roofs
Catastrophic2 eventsBaseball+ size, structural roof damage likely
Destructive12 eventsEgg-size, expect mat fractures and gutter damage
Severe41 eventsPing pong-size, granule loss and bruising common
Significant66 eventsQuarter-size, the standard insurance damage threshold
Moderate16 eventsMarble-size, possible cosmetic damage

Decatur Hail Storms by Year

YearReported Hail Events Within 25 mi
202664 events
202521 events
202436 events
202312 events
20224 events

2026 was the busiest hail year on record locally for Decatur, with 64 documented events inside the 25-mile radius. Storm activity in Decatur 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 Decatur Hail Storms

Recent Hail Events Near Decatur

DateLocationSeveritySizeNOAA Comments
2026-06-17 BOODY, IL Severe 1.50" A photo showed ping pong-sized hail measured with a ruler.
2026-06-17 Boody, IL Severe 1.50" Corrects previous hail report from Boody. Photo of ping pong size hail with a ruler. Time estimated from radar.
2026-06-17 LANESVILLE, IL Severe 1.75" —
2026-06-17 LANESVILLE, IL Severe 1.75" —
2026-06-17 2 SE Niantic, IL Destructive 2.00" —
2026-06-17 1 W Illiopolis, IL Severe 1.75" Report from mPING: Golf Ball (1.75 in.).
2026-06-17 Boody, IL Severe 1.75" Golf ball size hail near route 48 outside of Boody.
2026-06-17 1 W Illiopolis, IL Severe 1.75" Corrects previous hail report from 1 W Illiopolis. Report from mPING: Golf Ball (1.75 in.). Time estimated from radar.
2026-06-17 Boody, IL Severe 1.50" Photo of ping pong size hail with a ruler.
2026-06-17 (DEC)DECATUR ARPT, IL Significant 1.00" —
2026-06-17 1 W Decatur, IL Significant 1.00" —
2026-06-17 DECATUR, IL Significant 1.00" —
2026-06-17 4 SW Hammond, IL Severe 1.75" Report from mPING: Golf Ball (1.75 in.).
2026-06-17 DECATUR, IL Moderate 0.75" —
2026-06-17 ULLRICH, IL Severe 1.75" —
2026-06-17 Elwin, IL Severe 1.50" Ping Pong size hail.
2026-06-17 Decatur, IL Moderate 0.75" Report from mPING: Dime (0.75 in.).
2026-06-17 DECATUR, IL Significant 1.00" —
2026-06-17 3 N Cadwell, IL Catastrophic 3.00" Photo of 3 inch diameter jagged hailstone with ruler along with corn damaged from the large hail on farmland between Lovington and Arthur.
2026-06-17 FAIRBANKS, IL Catastrophic 3.00" A photo showed a 3-inch diameter jagged hailstone measured with a ruler...along with corn damaged from the large hail between Lovington and Arthur.

Wind Storm History — Decatur Area (Last 5 Years)

NOAA has recorded 185 high-wind events within 25 miles of Decatur, IL in the past five years. Of those, 185 reached severe-thunderstorm thresholds (58+ mph). The highest measured gust was 100 mph.

SeverityCount
Destructive2 events
Severe105 events
Significant78 events

Recent Wind Events Near Decatur

DateLocationGust (mph)SeverityNOAA Comments
2026-06-17 KNIGHTS, IL 75 Severe Ten trees were snapped.
2026-06-17 NIANTIC, IL 63 Significant Sheet metal was blown into a field near Niantic.
2026-06-17 LANESVILLE, IL 75 Severe Social media aerial image showed straight line wind damage to trees and a farm outbuilding.
2026-06-17 BUFFALO, IL 75 Severe Power poles and trees were blown down on Highway 36 east of Dawson.
2026-06-17 NIANTIC, IL 81 Severe A shed was destroyed by high winds.
2026-06-17 LOVINGTON, IL 75 Severe The roof of a turkey barn was partially torn off. A chimney was damaged and several trees were blown down as well.
2026-06-17 FORSYTH, IL 69 Severe Trees were damaged and some siding was torn off homes.
2026-06-17 (DEC)DECATUR ARPT, IL 78 Severe Gust measured at Decatur ASOS.
2026-06-17 DECATUR, IL 63 Significant Numerous powerlines were blown down across Macon county.
2026-06-17 Decatur Airport, IL 78 Severe —
2026-06-17 CASNER, IL 81 Severe Six two-foot diameter trees were blown down and shingles were peeled off a roof.
2026-06-17 DECATUR, IL 63 Significant A powerline was blown down at Shadow Ridge in Decatur.
2026-06-17 OSPUR, IL 75 Severe Route 10 between Weldon Springs and Taft Road was closed due to downed powerlines.
2026-06-17 CLINTON, IL 63 Significant Two power poles were snapped along Highway 10 and Weldon Springs Road east of Clinton.
2026-06-17 OSPUR, IL 69 Severe A tree was blown onto a power line, causing a fire.
2026-06-12 Latham, IL 75 Severe —
2026-06-12 Stonington, IL 60 Significant —
2026-06-12 Warrensburg, IL 60 Significant —
2026-06-12 1 E Bethany, IL 70 Severe —
2026-06-12 4 SSW Mount Zion, IL 61 Significant Personal weather station.

Frequently Asked Questions About Decatur Hail

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

The most recent quarter-size-or-larger hail storm recorded by NOAA within 25 miles of Decatur was on June 17, 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 Decatur?

Decatur averages roughly 27 reported hail events per year within a 25-mile radius. Significant storms (quarter-size or larger) account for 121 of the 137 events recorded over the last five years.

How big does hail typically get in Decatur?

The largest documented hail near Decatur in the last five years was baseball-sized or larger. Most Decatur-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 Decatur address?

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

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

Decatur 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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