Portage Hail — Storm History & NOAA Data for Portage, IN

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 57 hail storms within 25 miles of Portage, IN. Of those, 51 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 21 documented hail events.

Check Hail History for a Specific Address in Portage

Hail Severity Breakdown — Portage Area (Last 5 Years)

SeverityCountWhat it means for roofs
Catastrophic2 eventsBaseball+ size, structural roof damage likely
Destructive3 eventsEgg-size, expect mat fractures and gutter damage
Severe8 eventsPing pong-size, granule loss and bruising common
Significant38 eventsQuarter-size, the standard insurance damage threshold
Moderate6 eventsMarble-size, possible cosmetic damage

Portage Hail Storms by Year

YearReported Hail Events Within 25 mi
202621 events
202419 events
202314 events
20223 events

2026 was the busiest hail year on record locally for Portage, with 21 documented events inside the 25-mile radius. Storm activity in Portage 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 Portage Hail Storms

Recent Hail Events Near Portage

DateLocationSeveritySizeNOAA Comments
2026-08-11 1 ENE Lakes of the Four, IN Significant 1.00" relayed by media.
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.).
2026-06-25 Highland, IN Significant 1.00" Video shared to social media shows dime to quarter size hail near Ridge Road and 5th Street in Highland.
2026-06-24 HIGHLAND, IN Significant 1.00" Video showed dime to quarter size hail near Ridge Road and 5th Street.
2026-05-18 1 E Lakes of the Four S, IN Significant 1.00" Public report of 1.0 inch hail east of Winfield. Time estimated by radar.
2026-05-18 BEATRICE, IN Significant 1.00" —
2026-03-27 2 WSW La Porte, IN Moderate 0.88" Reported at West Elm Street and Marquette Street.
2026-03-26 1 E Lynwood, IN Moderate 0.75" Report from mPING: Dime (0.75 in.).
2026-03-26 2 NE Highland, IN Significant 1.00" —
2026-03-26 HIGHLAND, IN Significant 1.00" —
2026-03-26 2 SW La Porte, IN Significant 1.00" Report from mPING: Quarter (1.00 in.).
2026-03-11 1 W La Crosse, IN Moderate 0.70" —
2026-03-11 1 SE Hobart, IN Significant 1.00" Public report of quarter size hail lasting approximately 2 minutes in Hobart. Time estimated by radar.
2026-03-11 3 NW Westville, IN Significant 1.00" Relayed via mping.
2026-03-11 6 ESE Chesterton, IN Significant 1.00" Quarter size hail reported along I-90 near 550 East Road.
2026-03-10 HOBART, IN Significant 1.00" —
2026-03-10 BURDICK, IN Significant 1.00" —
2026-03-10 COBURG, IN Significant 1.00" —
2026-03-06 WESTVILLE, IN Severe 1.75" Received a report from the public of 1.75 inch diamater hail near Westville, IN.

Wind Storm History — Portage Area (Last 5 Years)

NOAA has recorded 306 high-wind events within 25 miles of Portage, IN in the past five years. Of those, 304 reached severe-thunderstorm thresholds (58+ mph). The highest measured gust was 99 mph.

SeverityCount
Destructive1 event
Severe156 events
Significant147 events
Moderate2 events

Recent Wind Events Near Portage

DateLocationGust (mph)SeverityNOAA Comments
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 1 SSE South Chicago, IL 45 Moderate Calumet Harbor peak gust of 39 knots.
2026-08-11 Gary Airport, IN 99 Destructive Peak gust of 86 kt or 99 mph measured at Gary Airport Tower.
2026-08-11 1 W Dune Acres, IN 60 Significant Private weather station.
2026-08-11 Munster, IN 76 Severe Private weather station.
2026-08-11 4 N Beverly Shores, IN 50 Significant Gust to 43 knots at the Michigan City Buoy.
2026-08-11 4 NE Beverly Shores, IN 75 Severe Gust to 65 knots at the Michigan City GLERL site.
2026-08-11 4 NNE Beverly Shores, IN 45 Moderate Michigan City Buoy peak gust of 39 kt.
2026-08-11 1 N La Porte, IN 60 Significant Small tree limbs down and estimated 60 mph wind gusts. Time estimated via radar.
2026-08-11 La Porte, IN 58 Significant —
2026-08-11 3 SSW La Porte, IN 58 Significant AWOS station KPPO La Porte.
2026-07-27 3 ESE Valparaiso, IN 64 Severe A peak wind gust of 64 mph was measured at KVPZ.
2026-07-27 1 WNW Dune Acres, IN 57 Significant Private weather station reported 57 mph gust near Dune Acres along the Lake Michigan shore.
2026-07-27 East Chicago, IN 55 Significant Private weather station reported 55 mph peak gust at East Chicago. Time estimated by radar.
2026-07-09 2 SE South Haven, IN 50 Significant A report on social media described 50 to 60 mph winds and small hail. There was a CoCoRaHS report of half inch hail in general vicinity, as well.
2026-07-03 Lynwood, IL 59 Significant Personal weather station 1.3 miles WSW of Lynwood.
2026-06-24 CALUMET CITY, IN 69 Severe Tree and power line damage was reported in neighborhoods near Chicago Street and Calumet Avenue.

Frequently Asked Questions About Portage Hail

When was the last major hail storm in Portage, IN?

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

Portage averages roughly 11 reported hail events per year within a 25-mile radius. Significant storms (quarter-size or larger) account for 51 of the 57 events recorded over the last five years.

How big does hail typically get in Portage?

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

Most homeowners insurance policies in IN 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 Portage address?

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

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

Portage 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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