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Hail history for Rock Falls, IL

Last hail within 10 milesApr 2, 20261.5 in (ping pong ball)

Hail days, last 12 months1

Largest hail since 20062 in (hen egg)Feb 28, 2017

Hail days since 200628

Days with hail 1 inch or larger13

Tornadoes within 10 miles12

Damaging wind reports within 10 miles74

Hail has been reported within 10 miles of Rock Falls on 28 days since 2006. The largest stones measured 2 in (hen egg) on Feb 28, 2017. Hail is most common here in May and April.

Recent hail near Rock Falls

Date	Hail size	Where	Source
Apr 2, 2026	1.5 in ping pong ball	Sterling Airport 1 hail report · closest 4 mi from Rock Falls	NOAA Storm Events
Jul 10, 2025	1.75 in golf ball	Nelson 1 hail report · closest 6 mi from Rock Falls	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 Rock Falls by year

When hail season peaks near Rock Falls

Of the 28 hail days since 2006, most fell in May (7) and April (5).

Largest hail storms near Rock Falls

Feb 28, 2017 · 2 in (hen egg) · Sterling (1 mi from Rock Falls)

National Weather Service description (English): A spotter reported hail slightly larger than golf balls.

Aug 5, 2024 · 1.75 in (golf ball) · Penrose (8 mi from Rock Falls)

National Weather Service description (English): Golf ball size hail was reported near Penrose, Illinois. The time was estimated from radar data.

Jul 10, 2025 · 1.75 in (golf ball) · Nelson (6 mi from Rock Falls)

Apr 2, 2026 · 1.5 in (ping pong ball) · Sterling Airport (4 mi from Rock Falls)

Oct 2, 2006 · 1.25 in (half dollar) · Sterling (1 mi from Rock Falls)

Tornadoes within 10 miles of Rock Falls

Date	Rating	Where	Path
Apr 2, 2026	EF1	Douglas Park 3 mi from Rock Falls	3.7 mi long, 75 yd wide
Apr 2, 2026	EF1	Penrose 6 mi from Rock Falls	0.1 mi long, 250 yd wide
Apr 2, 2026	EF1	Prairieville 6 mi from Rock Falls	6.2 mi long, 250 yd wide
Jul 8, 2020	EF?	Sterling 3 mi from Rock Falls	0.3 mi long, 10 yd wide
Feb 28, 2017	EF1	Coleta 8 mi from Rock Falls	2.6 mi long, 75 yd wide
Mar 15, 2016	EF0	Deer Grove 8 mi from Rock Falls	1.8 mi long, 50 yd wide
Jul 16, 2015	EF0	Sterling Airport 4 mi from Rock Falls	0.6 mi long, 10 yd wide
Jun 22, 2015	EF1	Yeoward Addition 4 mi from Rock Falls	1.7 mi long, 50 yd wide
Jun 22, 2015	EF0	Van Petten 5 mi from Rock Falls	0.8 mi long, 50 yd wide
Jun 22, 2015	EF1	Harmon 6 mi from Rock Falls	7.4 mi long, 50 yd wide
Jun 22, 2015	EF1	Sterling 1 mi from Rock Falls	2.2 mi long, 75 yd wide
Jun 24, 2013	EF0	Harmon 9 mi from Rock Falls	2.8 mi long, 100 yd wide

Damaging thunderstorm winds near Rock Falls

74 reports of damaging thunderstorm wind within 10 miles of Rock Falls since 2006, on 46 days. The strongest measured gust was 92 mph on Aug 10, 2020.

Date	Strongest gust	Where	Source
Aug 12, 2026	71 mph, measured	Rock Falls 1 wind report	NWS storm report (preliminary)
Jun 24, 2026	60 mph, estimated	Douglas Park, Sterling 2 wind reports	NOAA Storm Events
Jun 3, 2025	70 mph, estimated	Yeoward Addition 1 wind report	NOAA Storm Events
May 21, 2024	58 mph, estimated	Sterling 1 wind report	NOAA Storm Events
May 4, 2024	59 mph, measured	Sterling Airport 1 wind report	NOAA Storm Events
Apr 20, 2023	81 mph, estimated	Malvern 1 wind report	NOAA Storm Events
Apr 4, 2023	69 mph, estimated	Harmon, Woodland Shores 2 wind reports	NOAA Storm Events
Nov 5, 2022	64 mph, estimated	Rock Falls, Tampico 2 wind reports	NOAA Storm Events
Jul 5, 2022	60 mph, estimated	Sterling 1 wind report	NOAA Storm Events
Apr 30, 2022	59 mph, measured	Sterling Airport 1 wind report	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 Rock Falls; 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 Rock Falls.

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