Vernon Hills Hail — Storm History & NOAA Data for Vernon Hills, 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 161 hail storms within 25 miles of Vernon Hills, IL. Of those, 159 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. 2023 was the most active year on record locally, with 60 documented hail events.

Check Hail History for a Specific Address in Vernon Hills

Hail Severity Breakdown — Vernon Hills Area (Last 5 Years)

SeverityCountWhat it means for roofs
Destructive3 eventsEgg-size, expect mat fractures and gutter damage
Severe32 eventsPing pong-size, granule loss and bruising common
Significant124 eventsQuarter-size, the standard insurance damage threshold
Moderate2 eventsMarble-size, possible cosmetic damage

Vernon Hills Hail Storms by Year

YearReported Hail Events Within 25 mi
202644 events
202523 events
202418 events
202360 events
202216 events

2023 was the busiest hail year on record locally for Vernon Hills, with 60 documented events inside the 25-mile radius. Storm activity in Vernon Hills 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 Vernon Hills Hail Storms

Recent Hail Events Near Vernon Hills

DateLocationSeveritySizeNOAA Comments
2026-08-10 Vernon Hills, IL Significant 1.00" Trained spotter reports quarter size hail ongoing in Vernon Hills.
2026-07-27 1 NW Roselle, IL Significant 1.25" Report from mPING: Half Dollar (1.25 in.).
2026-07-27 1 ENE Carol Stream, IL Severe 1.75" Quarter size hail in Carol Stream. Location approximate.
2026-07-27 1 E Glendale Heights, IL Severe 1.50" Relayed via mping.
2026-07-27 1 S Hanover Park, IL Significant 1.00" Public report of quarter size hail relayed via mping.
2026-07-27 1 W Medinah, IL Significant 1.00" Relayed via mping.
2026-07-27 Elmhurst, IL Significant 1.00" Relayed via mping. Time estimated by radar.
2026-07-27 1 N Oakbrook Terrace, IL Severe 1.50" Public report of ping pong ball size hail at Oakbrook Terrace. Time estimated by radar.
2026-07-27 1 NW Villa Park, IL Significant 1.00" Public report of nickel to quarter size hail in Villa Park. Some melting occurred prior to measurement. Time estimated by radar.
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 1 NW West Ridge - Chica, IL Significant 1.00" A brief period of 1-inch diameter hail near Kedzie and Touhy. Time estimated from radar.
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.

Wind Storm History — Vernon Hills Area (Last 5 Years)

NOAA has recorded 500 high-wind events within 25 miles of Vernon Hills, IL in the past five years. Of those, 497 reached severe-thunderstorm thresholds (58+ mph). The highest measured gust was 96 mph.

SeverityCount
Severe163 events
Significant334 events
Moderate3 events

Recent Wind Events Near Vernon Hills

DateLocationGust (mph)SeverityNOAA Comments
2026-08-11 1 SSE South Barrington, IL 81 Severe Private weather station.
2026-07-27 1 NE Bensenville, IL 62 Significant ASOS site ORD Chicago Ohare Airport reported 62 mph peak gust.
2026-07-27 1 N Oakbrook Terrace, IL 72 Severe —
2026-07-27 North Park - Chicago, IL 59 Significant Private weather station KILCHICA929 reported 59 mph gust.
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 1 NE Montrose Harbor, IL 57 Significant Mesonet station XMTB Montrose Beach Light.
2026-07-03 Ohare Airport, IL 63 Significant Peak wind gust of 55 kt measured at runway sensor 27 left. Peak gust of 47 kt at ASOS.
2026-07-03 1 W Elmhurst, IL 66 Severe Personal weather station measured wind gust.
2026-07-03 Ohare Airport, IL 53 Significant Peak wind gust of 53 mph measured at ORD.
2026-07-03 1 S Elmhurst, IL 56 Significant Personal weather station measured wind gust.
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.
2026-06-28 1 NE Montrose Harbor, IL 44 Moderate Montrose Harbor observation of 37.8 kt or 44 mph.
2026-06-28 1 SE Wheeling, IL 45 Moderate Measured at KPWK.
2026-06-24 HANOVER PARK, IL 58 Significant Tree limbs, fence posts and fence panels were blown down. A six inch diameter tree limb was blown down on Ring Court. A nearby personal weather station measured a wind gust to 58 mph.

Frequently Asked Questions About Vernon Hills Hail

When was the last major hail storm in Vernon Hills, IL?

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

Vernon Hills averages roughly 32 reported hail events per year within a 25-mile radius. Significant storms (quarter-size or larger) account for 159 of the 161 events recorded over the last five years.

How big does hail typically get in Vernon Hills?

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

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

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

Vernon Hills 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.

Other Cities in IL