Massive Hailstone from Tuesday's Storms Could Set Illinois Record

National Weather Service investigating a 6-inch hailstone that fell in Kankakee as a potential new state record.

Published on Mar. 12, 2026

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A massive hailstone that fell during Tuesday's severe storms in Illinois may have been of record-setting size for the state, according to the National Weather Service. Several reports indicate hailstones larger than the current 4.75-inch record from 2015, with a 6-inch hailstone in Kankakee being investigated as a potential new state record.

Why it matters

Hailstorms can cause significant property damage, and the potential for record-breaking hail raises concerns about the increasing intensity of severe weather events in the region due to climate change.

The details

The National Weather Service said the 6-inch hailstone that fell in Kankakee on Tuesday is being investigated as a new state record, surpassing the previous record of 4.75 inches set in Minooka in 2015. Homes and vehicles across the Chicago area and northwest Indiana were damaged, with reports of shattered windows and dents.

  • The severe storms occurred on Tuesday, March 12, 2026.
  • The current Illinois hailstone record of 4.75 inches was set in June 2015.

The players

National Weather Service

The federal agency responsible for weather forecasting and monitoring severe weather events.

Minooka

A town in Illinois where the previous state hailstone record of 4.75 inches was set in 2015.

Kankakee

A city in Illinois where a 6-inch hailstone was reported during the March 2026 storms, potentially setting a new state record.

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What they’re saying

“Though the record is not officially declared, there were several reports of hailstones that fell Tuesday that were larger than the 4.75 inch hailstone from Minooka in June 2015 that currently holds the state's record.”

— National Weather Service (nbcchicago.com)

What’s next

The National Weather Service is investigating the 6-inch hailstone from Kankakee to determine if it will officially become the new Illinois state record.

The takeaway

This severe hailstorm highlights the increasing intensity of extreme weather events in the region, likely driven by climate change. It underscores the need for communities to be prepared for and resilient to the impacts of these types of destructive storms.