Park Forest Hail — Storm History & NOAA Data for Park Forest, 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 157 hail storms within 25 miles of Park Forest, IL. Of those, 152 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 87 documented hail events.

Check Hail History for a Specific Address in Park Forest

Hail Severity Breakdown — Park Forest Area (Last 5 Years)

SeverityCountWhat it means for roofs
Catastrophic3 eventsBaseball+ size, structural roof damage likely
Destructive10 eventsEgg-size, expect mat fractures and gutter damage
Severe29 eventsPing pong-size, granule loss and bruising common
Significant110 eventsQuarter-size, the standard insurance damage threshold
Moderate5 eventsMarble-size, possible cosmetic damage

Park Forest Hail Storms by Year

YearReported Hail Events Within 25 mi
202687 events
20258 events
202450 events
202310 events
20222 events

2026 was the busiest hail year on record locally for Park Forest, with 87 documented events inside the 25-mile radius. Storm activity in Park Forest 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 Park Forest Hail Storms

Recent Hail Events Near Park Forest

DateLocationSeveritySizeNOAA Comments
2026-08-11 Cedar Lake, IN Moderate 0.88" —
2026-08-11 1 S Crown Point, IN Significant 1.00" Report from mPING: Quarter (1.00 in.).
2026-07-27 Park Forest, IL Significant 1.00" Pea to Quarter sized hail.
2026-07-27 2 W Frankfort, IL Significant 1.00" Public report of quarter size hail on the west side of Frankfort. Time estimated by radar.
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 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.
2026-07-27 2 NE Mokena, IL Severe 1.75" Relayed via mping. Time estimated by radar.
2026-07-27 Oak Forest, IL Significant 1.00" Also estimated 60 mph winds.
2026-07-27 1 W Midlothian, IL Significant 1.00" Relayed via mping. Time estimated by radar.
2026-07-27 Darien, IL Significant 1.00" Relayed via mping. Time estimated by radar.
2026-07-27 1 WSW Willowbrook, IL Significant 1.25" Photo shared to social media shows half dollar size hail near 67th Street and Clarendon Hills Road. Time estimated by radar.
2026-07-27 1 W Oak Forest, IL Significant 1.00" Relayed via mping.
2026-07-27 1 SSW Merrionette Park, IL Significant 1.00" Photo of hail in Alsip. Time estimated by radar.
2026-07-27 1 ENE Willowbrook, IL Severe 1.75" Golf ball size hail near 63rd Street and County Line Road. Relayed via amateur radio. Time estimated by radar.
2026-07-27 3 NW Homer Glen, IL Significant 1.25" Relayed via mping. Time estimated by radar.
2026-07-27 1 E Greater Grand Cross, IL Severe 1.50" Relayed via mping. Time estimated by radar.
2026-07-27 1 NW Countryside, IL Significant 1.25" Public report of hail up to half dollar size near 55th Street and Willow Springs Road. Most hail stones nickel size.
2026-07-27 2 SE Lemont, IL Severe 1.75" Relayed via mping. Time estimated by radar.

Wind Storm History — Park Forest Area (Last 5 Years)

NOAA has recorded 500 high-wind events within 25 miles of Park Forest, IL in the past five years. Of those, 498 reached severe-thunderstorm thresholds (58+ mph). The highest measured gust was 99 mph.

SeverityCount
Destructive1 event
Severe254 events
Significant243 events
Moderate1 event
Minor1 event

Recent Wind Events Near Park Forest

DateLocationGust (mph)SeverityNOAA Comments
2026-08-12 3 NE Bradley, IL 60 Significant Personal weather station measured a wind gust of 60 mph.
2026-08-11 Peotone, IL 87 Severe Peak wind gust of 87 mph. Secondary sensor reported a wind gust of 78 mph prior to power loss. Widespread tree damage reported as well.
2026-08-11 Frankfort, IL 75 Severe Sustained winds estimated 55 mph with gusts in excess of 75 mph.
2026-08-11 1 N Beecher, IL 54 Significant Private weather station.
2026-08-11 3 NE Bradley, IL 91 Severe Private weather station.
2026-08-11 1 NNW Crown Point, IN 70 Severe Private weather station.
2026-08-11 2 NE Cedar Lake, IN 73 Severe Private weather station: KINCEDAR5.
2026-08-11 St. John, IN 80 Severe —
2026-08-11 1 ESE St. John, IN 72 Severe Private weather station: KINSAINT.
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 1 SSE South Chicago, IL 45 Moderate Calumet Harbor peak gust of 39 knots.
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 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 Gary Airport, IN 99 Destructive Peak gust of 86 kt or 99 mph measured at Gary Airport Tower.
2026-08-11 Munster, IN 76 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 Midway Airport, IL 74 Severe —
2026-07-27 1 NNE Homer Glen, IL 60 Significant Private weather station KILHOMER4 reported 60 mph gust.

Frequently Asked Questions About Park Forest Hail

When was the last major hail storm in Park Forest, IL?

The most recent quarter-size-or-larger hail storm recorded by NOAA within 25 miles of Park Forest was on August 11, 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 Park Forest?

Park Forest averages roughly 31 reported hail events per year within a 25-mile radius. Significant storms (quarter-size or larger) account for 152 of the 157 events recorded over the last five years.

How big does hail typically get in Park Forest?

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

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

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

Park Forest 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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