StormProof → hail seasons → Chicago
Which month does Chicago get hail?
Hail is most common in Chicago in April — 245 of 1,168 NWS-recorded ≥1-inch hail reports since 1996 (21%) fell in April. Most severe hail near Chicago falls between February–June: about 72% of all ≥1-inch reports since 1996 land in those months.
Hail by month near Chicago
Every NWS-recorded ≥1″ hail report within 45 miles of Chicago since 1996, grouped by the calendar month it fell in.
| Month | ≥1″ reports | Share |
|---|---|---|
| January | 5 | 0% |
| February | 43 | 4% |
| March | 123 | 11% |
| April (peak) | 245 | 21% |
| May | 224 | 19% |
| June | 203 | 17% |
| July | 129 | 11% |
| August | 127 | 11% |
| September | 27 | 2% |
| October | 36 | 3% |
| November | 6 | 1% |
| December | 0 | 0% |
Chicago hail, season by season
Every NWS-recorded hail report of 1″ or larger within 45 miles of Chicago, grouped by season — 1,168 reports since 1996, the largest 4.80" (2026-03-10). Source: NCEI Storm Events (vintage c20260918); the current season also carries preliminary SPC reports, labeled.
| Season | ≥1″ reports | Storm days | Max hail |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 (in progress) | 77 | 8 | 4.80" |
| 2025 | 44 | 6 | 2.50" |
| 2024 | 84 | 11 | 3.50" |
| 2023 | 128 | 10 | 3.00" |
| 2022 | 22 | 6 | 1.75" |
| 2021 | 9 | 4 | 1.25" |
| 2020 | 34 | 8 | 2.75" |
| 2019 | 52 | 10 | 2.50" |
| 2018 | 11 | 4 | 2.25" |
| 2017 | 48 | 12 | 1.75" |
| 2016 | 15 | 5 | 1.75" |
| 2015 | 60 | 7 | 4.75" |
| 2014 | 51 | 9 | 2.00" |
| 2013 | 49 | 15 | 2.75" |
| 2012 | 39 | 10 | 2.50" |
| 2011 | 71 | 10 | 2.75" |
| 2010 | 33 | 7 | 2.75" |
| 2009 | 14 | 5 | 1.50" |
| 2008 | 18 | 10 | 2.50" |
| 2007 | 17 | 7 | 1.75" |
| 2006 | 53 | 13 | 2.00" |
| 2005 | 33 | 7 | 1.75" |
| 2004 | 24 | 10 | 1.75" |
| 2003 | 90 | 10 | 2.50" |
| 2002 | 4 | 3 | 2.00" |
| 2001 | 8 | 6 | 2.00" |
| 2000 | 29 | 5 | 3.50" |
| 1999 | 12 | 6 | 1.75" |
| 1998 | 3 | 2 | 2.00" |
| 1997 | 10 | 4 | 2.00" |
| 1996 | 26 | 5 | 1.75" |
NWS records are point and path observations. The absence of a nearby report does NOT prove that no hail fell at this address — it means no observation was logged nearby. A report of nearby hail documents the event; it does not by itself prove damage to a specific structure.
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