Hail History

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Hail history for Sterling, 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 miles13
Damaging wind reports within 10 miles75

Hail has been reported within 10 miles of Sterling 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 Sterling

DateHail sizeWhereSource
Apr 2, 20261.5 in
ping pong ball		Sterling Airport
1 hail report · closest 4 mi from Sterling		NOAA Storm Events
Jul 10, 20251.75 in
golf ball		Nelson
1 hail report · closest 6 mi from Sterling		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 Sterling by year

50610740809103111213214115116217181192012112223424125126

When hail season peaks near Sterling

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

Jan2Feb2Mar5Apr7May4Jun2Jul3Aug2Sep1OctNovDec

Largest hail storms near Sterling

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

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

Aug 5, 2024 · 1.75 in (golf ball) · Penrose (7 mi from Sterling)

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 Sterling)

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

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

Tornadoes within 10 miles of Sterling

DateRatingWherePath
Apr 2, 2026EF1Douglas Park
2 mi from Sterling		3.7 mi long, 75 yd wide
Apr 2, 2026EF1Penrose
5 mi from Sterling		0.1 mi long, 250 yd wide
Apr 2, 2026EF1Prairieville
5 mi from Sterling		6.2 mi long, 250 yd wide
Jul 8, 2020EF?Sterling
3 mi from Sterling		0.3 mi long, 10 yd wide
May 23, 2020EF1Malvern
10 mi from Sterling		9.9 mi long, 30 yd wide
Feb 28, 2017EF1Coleta
7 mi from Sterling		2.6 mi long, 75 yd wide
Mar 15, 2016EF0Deer Grove
9 mi from Sterling		1.8 mi long, 50 yd wide
Jul 16, 2015EF0Sterling Airport
5 mi from Sterling		0.6 mi long, 10 yd wide
Jun 22, 2015EF1Yeoward Addition
4 mi from Sterling		1.7 mi long, 50 yd wide
Jun 22, 2015EF0Van Petten
6 mi from Sterling		0.8 mi long, 50 yd wide
Jun 22, 2015EF1Harmon
6 mi from Sterling		7.4 mi long, 50 yd wide
Jun 22, 2015EF1Sterling
1 mi from Sterling		2.2 mi long, 75 yd wide

Damaging thunderstorm winds near Sterling

75 reports of damaging thunderstorm wind within 10 miles of Sterling since 2006, on 46 days. The strongest measured gust was 79 mph on Nov 17, 2013.

DateStrongest gustWhereSource
Aug 12, 202671 mph, measuredRock Falls
1 wind report		NWS storm report (preliminary)
Jun 24, 202660 mph, estimatedDouglas Park, Sterling
2 wind reports		NOAA Storm Events
Jun 3, 202570 mph, estimatedYeoward Addition
1 wind report		NOAA Storm Events
May 21, 202458 mph, estimatedSterling
1 wind report		NOAA Storm Events
May 4, 202459 mph, measuredSterling Airport
1 wind report		NOAA Storm Events
Apr 20, 202381 mph, estimatedMalvern
1 wind report		NOAA Storm Events
Apr 4, 202369 mph, estimatedHarmon, Woodland Shores
2 wind reports		NOAA Storm Events
Nov 5, 202264 mph, estimatedRock Falls, Tampico
2 wind reports		NOAA Storm Events
Jul 5, 202260 mph, estimatedSterling
1 wind report		NOAA Storm Events
Apr 30, 202259 mph, measuredSterling 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 Sterling; 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 Sterling.

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