Baseball-sized hail detected near Champaign, IL on August 11, 2026
Hail was detected at a radar-indicated point within the Champaign monitoring area. Actual impact can vary by neighborhood, so nearby homes should use this as a signal to check roofs, gutters, siding, and vehicles.
Damage assessment
The radar-confirmed strike center sits approximately 11 miles west of downtown Champaign, with one hail report logged in Champaign County that day. At 2.75 inches, hail this size causes functional damage to architectural asphalt shingles — not cosmetic bruising, but cracked, displaced, or granule-stripped shingles that compromise the roof's ability to shed water. Roofs older than 10–12 years are especially vulnerable; aged shingles lose the flexibility and granule adhesion needed to absorb high-energy impacts. The county's largest recorded event was 3.25 inches on June 29, 2023, so this storm is the second-largest on record for the area.
On a $350,000 home with a 2% wind/hail deductible, you're looking at a $7,000 out-of-pocket threshold before insurance pays. Typical repair cost for a 2,000 sq ft roof after a hail event of this magnitude runs $7,794, with a range of $6,377 to $9,211 depending on pitch, access, and material pricing. Get a professional inspection before making any insurance decisions.
At these numbers, the typical repair cost exceeds a standard 2% deductible. Contact your insurer — damage at this level is likely worth filing before you pay out of pocket.
This storm may have damaged your roof — get a free Champaign inspection
Champaign repair cost reference
Historical context
This event ranks #2 of 84 hail events of 1 inch or greater recorded in Champaign County over the past 10 years, trailing only the 3.25-inch storm on June 29, 2023. With 84 qualifying events in the record, that ranking carries real weight. August sees an average of six such events per decade in this county — typical, not exceptional — while May is historically the peak month.
Storm system
This was not an isolated cell. The same storm system produced hail reports across a wide corridor on August 11, including 2.5 inches in Will County, IL; 2.75 inches in Tippecanoe County, IN; and 4 inches in St. Joseph County, IN — indicating a broad, organized system tracking northeast across the region.
Contractor guidance
Local contractor data shows current backlogs of 1–2 weeks in the Champaign market, and storm chaser activity is assessed as low for this area, with most out-of-area contractors coming from Illinois's larger metro markets rather than dedicated storm-following operations. Illinois requires roofing contractors to hold a state license under the Roofing Industry Licensing Act (225 ILCS 335), which mandates passing a licensing exam, carrying general liability insurance, maintaining workers' compensation coverage, and posting a surety bond. Verify any contractor's license through the IDFPR public database before signing anything. Illinois law also prohibits contractors from waiving or absorbing your deductible — any offer to do so is a violation of state law and a reason to walk away.
Permits & building code
At 2.75 inches, full roof replacement is a realistic outcome for older shingle systems, not just patch repairs. In Champaign, the contractor pulls the permit, inspection is required, and permit costs typically run $100–$250. Class 4 impact-resistant shingles qualify for a 10–20% discount with most Illinois insurers.
- 1Photograph all visible roof damage, gutters, downspouts, window trim, and any vehicles or exterior structures — date-stamp everything before conditions change.
- 2Schedule a professional roof inspection with a licensed Illinois contractor to document damage scope and get a written estimate.
- 3Contact your insurance carrier to report the loss and begin the claims process, given that repair costs may exceed your deductible.
- 4Verify any contractor's license status through the IDFPR public database and confirm they carry general liability and workers' compensation insurance before signing a contract.
- 5Keep copies of all inspection reports, estimates, photos, and correspondence with your insurer in a single file for reference throughout the claims process.
This storm may have damaged your roof — get a free Champaign inspection
Hail size and location data for this event are sourced from NOAA NEXRAD radar via the Severe Weather Data Inventory (SWDI) and are radar-confirmed, with a full NWS ground-truth write-up pending.