Skip to content
HailIndex
Guides

Rockford hail storm history

Winnebago County·NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database·~75-day publication lag

Rockford sits in Winnebago County, a region where fast-moving frontal systems and squall lines from the Great Plains produce some of the highest hail frequency in Illinois. The county's position in northern Illinois places it directly in the path of spring and early-summer severe weather systems that track northward with seasonal jet stream shifts.

Events ≥1" (10yr)
98
Significant ≥1.5" (10yr)
32
Avg per year (10yr)
9.8
Largest recorded
3"
Most recent
Aug 16, 2025
Total records
112
NOAA storm history
events (10 yr)98
≥1.5" significant32
peak year (27)2020
Free inspection estimate

Check if your roof was damaged by recent hail

Type of damage

How urgent?

Hail risk in Rockford peaks during April, May, and June, when organized severe weather becomes most common across northern Illinois. Secondary risk extends into March and July as frontal boundaries remain active. Most events occur when cold-air masses collide with warm, moist air from the south, a pattern that intensifies as the jet stream migrates northward in spring.

Annual frequency — last 10 years

2025
13
2024
6
2023
16
2022
8
2021
2
2020
27
2019
2
2018
7
2017
13
2016
4
≥2.0" severe≥1.5" significant≥1.0" marginal

When hail hits — monthly pattern

Avg events per month · all years · NOAA data

Jan1
Feb3
Mar5
Apr36
May28
Jun14
Jul13
Aug7
Sep2
Oct0
Nov3
Dec0

All recorded hail events

Of 112 recorded events, 32 (29%) reached 1.5" or larger — the threshold for likely functional damage on standard asphalt shingles.

Hail lasted for 10 minutes with the largest hail 1.5 inches in diameter.

May 17, 20251"quarter
May 16, 20251"quarter
Apr 22, 20251"quarter

A photo was shared with quarter size hail next to a quarter coin.

May 4, 20241"quarter
Apr 27, 20240.75"penny
Mar 5, 20241"quarter

Quarter size hail was reported southwest of Kirkland. Some melting occurred prior to the observatio…

Mar 4, 20241"quarter

A photo shared on social media showed quarter size hail near Grand Detour.

Feb 28, 20241.5"ping pong ball

Dime to quarter sized hail.

Aug 17, 20231"quarter

Photos showed hail at least 2 inches in diameter.

Quarter size hail was reported between Loves Park and Rock Cut State Park.

Ping pong ball size hail was reported at Route 64 and Blackhawk Road.

Jul 23, 20221"quarter
May 14, 20221"quarter

Nickel to quarter size hail was reported near Center and Main Streets.

May 13, 20221"quarter

Quarter to ping pong ball size hail was reported.

Aug 10, 20210.88"penny

Brief penny to quarter size hail was reported.

Reported in Freeport from a separate supercell before the derecho straight-line wind damage occurred…

Jun 26, 20201.5"ping pong ball

Hail 2 inches in diameter was reported near Interstate 39.

Emergency management relayed public reports of 1 to 3 inch diameter hail.

Jul 14, 20190.88"penny

Golf ball size hail was reported on Interstate 88 near Ashton.

May 16, 20190.75"penny

A morning storm produced heavy rain and pea to penny size hail in Stephenson County.

Jun 15, 20180.88"penny

A trained spotter reported hail up to the size of pennies to quarters.

Hail ranging from 1.5 to 2.0 inches in diameter was reported from multiple locations around and to t…

Jan 22, 20180.75"penny

Hail was mostly pea size with some larger penny size hail stones.

Jul 23, 20171"quarter

Quarter size hail was reported at multiple locations.

Jul 20, 20171.75"golf ball
Jul 16, 20170.88"penny
Jul 5, 20171"quarter
Jun 29, 20171"quarter
Jun 14, 20171.25"half dollar

Quarter to half dollar size hail was reported in numerous locations including near north State Stree…

Nickel size hail was reported 2 miles north of Belvidere.

May 17, 20171.75"golf ball

There were multiple reports of quarter to golf ball size hail in Machesney Park. Damage to cars was…

Nickel size hail was reported at the intersection of East State Street and Regan Street.

Mar 1, 20170.88"penny

Nickel size hail was reported near Harrison Avenue and Mulford Road.

Jul 23, 20161"quarter

There were also reports of 55 to 60 mph winds and very heavy rainfall with visibilities around 200 f…

Quarter sized hail near Barker Rd.

Data source

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information Storm Events Database. Publication lag is approximately 75 days — current-year events may be incomplete.

NOAA Storm Events Database ↗