Golf ball-sized hail detected near Joliet, IL on August 11, 2026
Hail was detected at a radar-indicated point within the Joliet 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 was located approximately 16 miles south of downtown Joliet, with one hail report logged in Will County that day. At 2.5 inches, golf ball-sized hail causes functional damage to architectural asphalt shingles — not just cosmetic bruising. Granule loss, cracked tabs, and fractured mat layers are likely on any roof more than 7–10 years old; newer shingles fare better but are not immune at this size. This event ties the largest hail ever recorded in Will County, matching the 2019-09-28 event.
On a $350,000 home with a 2% wind/hail deductible, the out-of-pocket threshold is $7,000. Typical repair cost for a 2,000 sq ft home runs $10,281, ranging from $8,412 to $12,151 depending on roof complexity and materials. 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 Joliet inspection
Joliet repair cost reference
Historical context
This event ranks #2 of 118 hail events of 1 inch or greater recorded in Will County over the past 10 years — the historical record is large enough to place that in clear context. It matches the county's largest recorded event, 2.5 inches on September 28, 2019. August historically produces only 4 such events per decade in this county, making this an atypical month for a storm of this magnitude.
Storm system
This was not an isolated event. The same storm system produced hail across a wide corridor, including 2.75-inch hail in Champaign County, IL and Tippecanoe County, IN, and 4-inch hail in St. Joseph County, IN — indicating a significant multi-county severe weather outbreak across the Midwest.
Contractor guidance
Local contractor data shows current backlogs running 4–8 weeks following significant regional events; scheduling sooner rather than later reduces exposure. The intake assessment rates storm chaser risk in Joliet as moderate following major regional hail — verify any contractor who contacts you unsolicited. Illinois requires roofing contractors to hold a state license under the Roofing Industry Licensing Act (225 ILCS 335), carry minimum general liability coverage, maintain workers' compensation insurance, and post a surety bond; check license status through the IDFPR public database before signing anything. Any contractor who offers to waive your deductible is violating Illinois law — that offer alone is reason to walk away.
Permits & building code
At 2.5 inches, full replacement rather than spot repair is the more likely outcome on standard architectural shingles, particularly on roofs older than a decade. The contractor pulls the permit in Joliet; expect a $150–$350 permit fee and a required inspection on completion. Class 4 impact-resistant shingles qualify for a 10–20% discount with most Illinois insurers.
- 1Photograph the roof, gutters, downspouts, and any exterior surfaces showing impact marks — date-stamp everything before conditions change.
- 2Contact your insurer to report potential damage and ask about your policy's claim reporting window.
- 3Schedule a professional roof inspection with a licensed Illinois contractor — verify their IDFPR license number before the appointment.
- 4Collect all contractor bids, inspection reports, and written estimates in one file for your records.
- 5If you receive unsolicited contractor visits or deductible-waiver offers, report them to the IDFPR and the Illinois Attorney General's office.
This storm may have damaged your roof — get a free Joliet inspection
Hail size and location data for this event are sourced from NOAA NEXRAD radar via the Severe Weather Data Inventory (SWDI); a full NWS storm survey write-up is pending.