McHenry Hail — Storm History & NOAA Data for McHenry, 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 115 hail storms within 25 miles of McHenry, IL. Of those, 112 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 44 documented hail events.

Check Hail History for a Specific Address in McHenry

Hail Severity Breakdown — McHenry Area (Last 5 Years)

Severity	Count	What it means for roofs
Destructive	3 events	Egg-size, expect mat fractures and gutter damage
Severe	19 events	Ping pong-size, granule loss and bruising common
Significant	90 events	Quarter-size, the standard insurance damage threshold
Moderate	3 events	Marble-size, possible cosmetic damage

McHenry Hail Storms by Year

Year	Reported Hail Events Within 25 mi
2026	44 events
2025	12 events
2024	18 events
2023	29 events
2022	12 events

2026 was the busiest hail year on record locally for McHenry, with 44 documented events inside the 25-mile radius. Storm activity in McHenry 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 McHenry Hail Storms

August 10, 2026 — Significant hail (quarter-sized or larger) reported near Vernon Hills. This storm met the quarter-size insurance damage threshold and is a candidate date when filing a claim for McHenry-area properties.
August 10, 2026 — Significant hail (quarter-sized or larger) reported near 3 SSE Fontana-on-Geneva. This storm met the quarter-size insurance damage threshold and is a candidate date when filing a claim for McHenry-area properties.
August 10, 2026 — Significant hail (quarter-sized or larger) reported near 3 SW Lake Geneva. This storm met the quarter-size insurance damage threshold and is a candidate date when filing a claim for McHenry-area properties.
August 10, 2026 — Severe hail (ping pong ball-sized) reported near 2 W Pell Lake. This storm met the quarter-size insurance damage threshold and is a candidate date when filing a claim for McHenry-area properties.
August 10, 2026 — Significant hail (quarter-sized or larger) reported near 1 SSW Lake Geneva. This storm met the quarter-size insurance damage threshold and is a candidate date when filing a claim for McHenry-area properties.

Recent Hail Events Near McHenry

Date	Location	Severity	Size	NOAA Comments
2026-08-10	Vernon Hills, IL	Significant	1.00"	Trained spotter reports quarter size hail ongoing in Vernon Hills.
2026-08-10	3 SSE Fontana-on-Geneva, WI	Significant	1.00"	—
2026-08-10	3 SW Lake Geneva, WI	Significant	1.25"	Report from mPING: Half Dollar (1.25 in.).
2026-08-10	2 W Pell Lake, WI	Severe	1.50"	Report from mPING: Ping Pong Ball (1.50 in.).
2026-08-10	1 SSW Lake Geneva, WI	Significant	1.00"	—
2026-07-27	2 SE Wauconda, IL	Significant	1.00"	Relayed via mping. Time estimated by radar.
2026-07-27	1 SE Schaumburg, IL	Significant	1.25"	Report from mPING: Half Dollar (1.25 in.).
2026-07-27	1 W West Dundee, IL	Significant	1.00"	Report from mPING: Quarter (1.00 in.).
2026-07-27	1 S West Dundee, IL	Significant	1.00"	Report from mPING: Quarter (1.00 in.).
2026-07-27	1 SE Schaumburg, IL	Significant	1.00"	Report from mPING: Quarter (1.00 in.).
2026-07-27	Browns Lake, WI	Significant	1.00"	—
2026-07-27	1 NE Bristol, WI	Significant	1.00"	Delayed report: Via social media quarter in hail reported between the interstate and CTH D on Hwy 50. Time estimated based on radar.
2026-06-24	ALGONQUIN, IL	Significant	1.00"	—
2026-06-24	ALGONQUIN, IL	Significant	1.00"	—
2026-06-24	ALGONQUIN, IL	Significant	1.00"	Multiple reports of quarter size hail were received from Algonquin.
2026-06-24	Algonquin, IL	Significant	1.00"	Multiple public reports of quarter size hail near Algonquin. Relayed via mping.
2026-06-24	HUNTLEY, IL	Significant	1.00"	—
2026-06-24	1 SSW Lake in the Hills, IL	Significant	1.00"	McHenry County EMA reports quarter size hail near Randall Road and Harnish Drive.
2026-06-24	2 E Huntley, IL	Severe	1.50"	Public report of 1.5 inch hail near Huntly. Relayed via mping.
2026-06-24	LAKE IN THE HILLS, IL	Significant	1.00"	Quarter size hail was reported near Randall Road and Harnish Drive.

Wind Storm History — McHenry Area (Last 5 Years)

NOAA has recorded 382 high-wind events within 25 miles of McHenry, IL in the past five years. Of those, 380 reached severe-thunderstorm thresholds (58+ mph). The highest measured gust was 82 mph.

Severity	Count
Severe	135 events
Significant	245 events
Moderate	2 events

Recent Wind Events Near McHenry

Date	Location	Gust (mph)	Severity	NOAA Comments
2026-08-11	1 SSE South Barrington, IL	81	Severe	Private weather station.
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.
2026-07-03	2 NNE Hanover Park, IL	56	Significant	Personal weather station measured wind gusts as storms passed over just east of Streamwood, IL.
2026-07-03	1 ENE Prospect Heights, IL	61	Significant	Peak wind gust of 53 kt.
2026-07-03	1 WSW Wheeling, IL	60	Significant	Personal weather station peak wind gust of 59.8 mph.
2026-07-03	3 N Pleasant Prairie, WI	58	Significant	ASOS measure 50 kts.
2026-06-28	3 NNW Marengo, IL	53	Significant	Personal weather station measured a wind gust of 53.2 mph.
2026-06-28	3 NNW Marengo, IL	60	Significant	Personal weather station measured a wind gust of 60.4 mph.
2026-06-28	1 SE Wheeling, IL	45	Moderate	Measured at KPWK.
2026-06-24	BARTLETT, IL	81	Severe	Trees, tree limbs and power lines were blown down in Bartlett with at least one tree that fell on a garage. A photo showed numerous large tree limbs blown down at the Bartlett Hills Golf Course with one large tree snapped at its base. A large oak tree estimated to be 250 years old was blown down near North Avenue and Eastern Avenue.
2026-06-24	HANOVER PARK, IL	63	Significant	A large tree limb was snapped and fell onto multiple parked vehicles. Other tree limbs were blown down nearby.
2026-06-24	ELGIN, IL	75	Severe	Large trees were blown down, some of the trees were snapped. Tree limbs and power lines were also blown down.
2026-06-24	1 N West Dundee, IL	55	Significant	Private weather station KILCARPE8 reported 55 mph gust.
2026-06-24	ELGIN, IL	63	Significant	Tree limbs were blown down in Lords Park.
2026-06-24	ELGIN, IL	75	Severe	A photo showed a large tree that was blown down and crushed a pickup truck between Ford Avenue and Elma Avenue.
2026-06-24	STREAMWOOD, IL	81	Severe	Multiple photos and videos showed trees blown down, some uprooted, others snapped across the Streamwood area. At least one tree fell on a home causing a partial roof collapse. Numerous other large tree limbs and power lines were also blown down.

Frequently Asked Questions About McHenry Hail

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

The most recent quarter-size-or-larger hail storm recorded by NOAA within 25 miles of McHenry 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 McHenry?

McHenry averages roughly 23 reported hail events per year within a 25-mile radius. Significant storms (quarter-size or larger) account for 112 of the 115 events recorded over the last five years.

How big does hail typically get in McHenry?

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

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

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

McHenry 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.