Freeport Hail — Storm History & NOAA Data for Freeport, 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 121 hail storms within 25 miles of Freeport, IL. Of those, 109 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 83 documented hail events.

Check Hail History for a Specific Address in Freeport

Hail Severity Breakdown — Freeport Area (Last 5 Years)

SeverityCountWhat it means for roofs
Catastrophic3 eventsBaseball+ size, structural roof damage likely
Destructive19 eventsEgg-size, expect mat fractures and gutter damage
Severe29 eventsPing pong-size, granule loss and bruising common
Significant58 eventsQuarter-size, the standard insurance damage threshold
Moderate11 eventsMarble-size, possible cosmetic damage
Minor1 eventPea-size, unlikely to damage modern shingles

Freeport Hail Storms by Year

YearReported Hail Events Within 25 mi
202683 events
20255 events
202414 events
202314 events
20225 events

2026 was the busiest hail year on record locally for Freeport, with 83 documented events inside the 25-mile radius. Storm activity in Freeport 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 Freeport Hail Storms

Recent Hail Events Near Freeport

DateLocationSeveritySizeNOAA Comments
2026-07-03 2 ESE Scioto Mills, IL Significant 1.00" Estimate of golf ball size hail. Picture of dent to vehicle. Report was delayed.
2026-06-24 BYRON, IL Significant 1.00" —
2026-06-24 2 NNE Byron, IL Significant 1.00" Quarter size hail near Byron. Relayed via amateur radio. Time estimated by radar.
2026-04-17 3 SW Winneshiek, IL Significant 1.00" Report from mPING: Quarter (1.00 in.).
2026-04-17 Winneshiek, IL Severe 1.75" Report from mPING: Golf Ball (1.75 in.).
2026-04-17 NORA, IL Significant 1.00" The time was estimated from radar data.
2026-04-17 DAKOTA, IL Destructive 2.75" Relayed by Chicago NWS Office, with a photo of baseball size hail.
2026-04-17 DAKOTA, IL Severe 1.75" —
2026-04-17 1 S Nora, IL Significant 1.00" Time estimated by radar.
2026-04-17 STOCKTON, IL Significant 1.00" Photos on social media.
2026-04-17 2 W Dakota, IL Catastrophic 3.00" Report from mPING: Tea Cup (3.00 in.).
2026-04-17 1 N Dakota, IL Severe 1.75" —
2026-04-17 WINNESHIEK, IL Significant 1.00" Report received from Mping.
2026-04-17 Dakota, IL Destructive 2.75" report from LOT on Dakota storm.. they received a photo of baseball size hail..
2026-04-17 WINNESHIEK, IL Severe 1.75" Report received from Mping.
2026-04-17 Winneshiek, IL Significant 1.00" Report from mPING: Quarter (1.00 in.).
2026-04-17 WINNESHIEK, IL Significant 1.00" Report received from Mping.
2026-04-17 DAKOTA DORNINK ARPT, IL Catastrophic 3.00" Report received from Mping.
2026-04-17 3 NNE Stockton, IL Significant 1.00" Photos relayed via social media.
2026-04-17 DURAND, IL Destructive 2.25" A few hail reports came from south of Durand ranging in size from 1.25 to 2.25 inches in diameter.

Wind Storm History — Freeport Area (Last 5 Years)

NOAA has recorded 128 high-wind events within 25 miles of Freeport, IL in the past five years. Of those, 128 reached severe-thunderstorm thresholds (58+ mph). The highest measured gust was 96 mph.

SeverityCount
Severe72 events
Significant56 events

Recent Wind Events Near Freeport

DateLocationGust (mph)SeverityNOAA Comments
2026-08-11 Polo, IL 75 Severe Private weather station on the south side of Polo measured 75.2 mph and 70.7 mph wind gusts at 9:21 AM and 9:22 AM with trees severely bending and tree limbs snaping.
2026-08-11 Stockton, IL 60 Significant PWS.
2026-07-04 Polo, IL 64 Severe —
2026-06-24 ROCK GROVE, IL 60 Significant Power lines blown down in front yard.
2026-06-11 4 NE Winnebago, IL 62 Significant Peak gust measured on personal weather station.
2026-06-11 WEMPLETON, IL 62 Significant A personal weather station measured a wind gust to 62 mph.
2026-06-10 Polo, IL 58 Significant Measured on personal weather station.
2026-06-10 POLO, IL 58 Significant A personal weather station measured a wind gust to 58 mph.
2026-06-10 STOCKTON, IL 73 Severe Peak wind gust was measured by COOP observer. Time estimated by radar.
2026-06-10 4 NNE Stockton, IL 73 Severe Peak wind gust measured by COOP observer. Time estimated by radar.
2026-06-10 CEDARVILLE, IL 58 Significant Large limb came down and is blocking the southbound lane of Highway 26.
2026-06-10 LAKE SUMMERSET, IL 60 Significant Large tree limbs were downed over powerlines. Picture sent via social media. Time estimated by radar.
2026-04-27 3 W Mount Morris, IL 46 Significant Private weather station reported 46 mph gust west of Mount Morris.
2026-04-27 1 SE Winnebago, IL 52 Significant Private weather station KILWINNE5 reported 52 mph gust.
2026-04-24 3 N Stockton, IL 60 Significant gust from Thunderstorm Measured with Robert Young Anemometer.
2026-04-23 STOCKTON, IL 60 Significant Recorded with an anemometer.
2026-04-17 5 SE Loran, IL 58 Significant —
2026-04-17 LANARK, IL 58 Significant —
2026-04-17 1 SSE Warren, IL 70 Severe Wind out of the west.
2026-04-17 WARREN, IL 70 Severe Winds were out of the west.

Frequently Asked Questions About Freeport Hail

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

The most recent quarter-size-or-larger hail storm recorded by NOAA within 25 miles of Freeport was on July 3, 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 Freeport?

Freeport averages roughly 24 reported hail events per year within a 25-mile radius. Significant storms (quarter-size or larger) account for 109 of the 121 events recorded over the last five years.

How big does hail typically get in Freeport?

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

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

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

Freeport 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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