Hail History

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Hail history for Alton, IL

Last hail within 10 milesMay 3, 20261 in (quarter)
Hail days, last 12 months3
Largest hail since 20062.5 in (tennis ball)Jun 22, 2006
Hail days since 200654
Days with hail 1 inch or larger35
Tornadoes within 10 miles9
Damaging wind reports within 10 miles89

Hail has been reported within 10 miles of Alton on 54 days since 2006. The largest stones measured 2.5 in (tennis ball) on Jun 22, 2006. Hail is most common here in April and May.

Alton ranks #199 for hail days among the 1,399 U.S. cities of 25,000 to 100,000 people. See the ranking →

Recent hail near Alton

DateHail sizeWhereSource
May 3, 20262 in
hen egg		Fairmont, Milton, Godfrey
8 hail reports · closest 2 mi from Alton		NOAA Storm Events
Apr 27, 20262 in
hen egg		Forest Homes, Alton, Cottage Hills
11 hail reports · closest 2 mi from Alton		NOAA Storm Events
Mar 15, 20261 in
quarter		East Alton
1 hail report · closest 5 mi from Alton		NOAA Storm Events
Aug 12, 20251 in
quarter		Milton
1 hail report · closest 4 mi from Alton		NOAA Storm Events
May 19, 20252 in
hen egg		Wedgewood, Cross Keys
2 hail reports · closest 10 mi from Alton		NOAA Storm Events

One row per day: the largest hail reported that day within 10 miles, the places and the number of reports.

Hail days near Alton by year

5064075086091105114123132141152162175181912021122123124225326

When hail season peaks near Alton

Of the 54 hail days since 2006, most fell in April (18) and May (13).

Jan2Feb6Mar18Apr13May5Jun3Jul3Aug1Sep3OctNovDec

Largest hail storms near Alton

Jun 22, 2006 · 2.5 in (tennis ball) · Elsah (10 mi from Alton)

Feb 16, 2006 · 2 in (hen egg) · Bellefontaine Neighb (9 mi from Alton)

May 19, 2025 · 2 in (hen egg) · Wedgewood (10 mi from Alton)

National Weather Service description (English): The spotter also observed winds estimated around 40 mph.

Apr 27, 2026 · 2 in (hen egg) · Forest Homes (5 mi from Alton)

May 3, 2026 · 2 in (hen egg) · Fairmont (2 mi from Alton)

Tornadoes within 10 miles of Alton

DateRatingWherePath
Apr 27, 2026EF?Fort Bellefontaine
1 mi from Alton		0.6 mi long, 10 yd wide
Mar 14, 2025EF1Wedgewood
9 mi from Alton		4.4 mi long, 1,250 yd wide
Mar 14, 2025EF2West Alton
5 mi from Alton		4.2 mi long, 1,320 yd wide
Mar 14, 2025EF1Fairmont
1 mi from Alton		2.5 mi long, 430 yd wide
May 31, 2013EF1Larimore
6 mi from Alton		2.0 mi long, 50 yd wide
May 31, 2013EF3Oldenburg
7 mi from Alton		8.6 mi long, 150 yd wide
Aug 31, 2012EF0St Thomas
8 mi from Alton		0.2 mi long, 50 yd wide
May 4, 2007EF0Wood River
9 mi from Alton		0.0 mi long, 40 yd wide
May 24, 2006F0Stl Rgnl Airport Airport
10 mi from Alton		0.2 mi long, 50 yd wide

Damaging thunderstorm winds near Alton

89 reports of damaging thunderstorm wind within 10 miles of Alton since 2006, on 66 days. The strongest measured gust was 84 mph on May 23, 2011.

DateStrongest gustWhereSource
Jul 27, 2026damage reportedGodfrey
1 wind report		NWS storm report (preliminary)
Jul 10, 2026damage reportedElsah
1 wind report		NWS storm report (preliminary)
Mar 11, 202667 mph, measuredStl Rgnl Airport Airport
1 wind report		NOAA Storm Events
Aug 12, 202569 mph, estimatedMilton
1 wind report		NOAA Storm Events
Jul 16, 202558 mph, estimatedGodfrey
1 wind report		NOAA Storm Events
Jun 17, 202558 mph, estimatedCross Keys
1 wind report		NOAA Storm Events
May 19, 202558 mph, estimatedMelville
1 wind report		NOAA Storm Events
Mar 14, 202586 mph, estimatedCross Keys, Wedgewood, Castle Pt
4 wind reports		NOAA Storm Events
Jul 29, 202364 mph, estimatedEast Alton
1 wind report		NOAA Storm Events
Apr 15, 202370 mph, estimatedStl Rgnl Airport Airport, Roxana
2 wind reports		NOAA Storm Events

Severe thunderstorm wind means gusts of 58 mph or more, or wind that caused damage. Measured gusts come from weather stations; estimated ones from spotters and damage surveys.

Filing a roof or car hail claim?

Insurers ask for the date of loss. The dates on this page are when hail was reported near Alton; hail can hit one street and miss the next, so a report is not proof of damage at your address. A licensed roofer or your insurance adjuster can inspect the roof. Many policies set a time limit for filing a claim — check yours.

Nearby cities

Data: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (final records through Jun 30, 2026) and National Weather Service Local Storm Reports (preliminary, since then). Distances are measured from the center of Alton.

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