Illinois · NOAA storm reports
Hail and storm reports near Sterling, IL
NOAA records list 17 hail reports within 10 miles of Sterling since 2016. The biggest reported hail was 2.00 in (hen egg) on February 28, 2017. They also list 29 thunderstorm wind reports, with the strongest at 81 mph on April 20, 2023.
Preliminary reports from the NOAA Storm Prediction Center, not yet in the official database, add 0 hail reports and 1 wind report from August 1, 2026 to October 31, 2026.
- Official hail reports since 2016
- 17
- Biggest reported hail
- 2.00 in
- Most recent hail report
- April 2, 2026
- Strongest reported wind
- 81 mph
What these reports can and can’t tell you. Each one is a point observation: hail or wind someone saw or measured at one spot. They are not a full map of where hail fell. A report near you doesn’t mean your roof was damaged, and no report doesn’t mean it wasn’t. Distances are from the center of Sterling.
Hail reports since November 1, 2021
| Date | Hail size | Distance | County | Reported at | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 2, 2026 | 1.50 in (ping pong ball) | 5 mi | Whiteside, IL | Sterling Arpt | NCEI record |
| July 10, 2025 | 1.75 in (golf ball) | 5.5 mi | Lee, IL | Nelson | NCEI record |
| August 5, 2024 | 1.75 in (golf ball) | 6.2 mi | Whiteside, IL | Penrose | NCEI record |
| May 7, 2024 | 1.00 in (quarter) | 9.9 mi | Whiteside, IL | Tampico | NCEI record |
| May 7, 2024 | 1.00 in (quarter) | 2.8 mi | Whiteside, IL | Grimes Addition | NCEI record |
| March 4, 2024 | 1.00 in (quarter) | 2.4 mi | Whiteside, IL | Rock Falls | NCEI record |
| February 27, 2024 | 0.88 in (nickel) | 4.9 mi | Whiteside, IL | Sterling Arpt | NCEI record |
| February 27, 2024 | 0.88 in (nickel) | 4.9 mi | Whiteside, IL | Sterling Arpt | NCEI record |
| August 19, 2022 | 0.75 in (penny) | 6.5 mi | Whiteside, IL | Penrose | NCEI record |
Thunderstorm wind reports since November 1, 2021
Show 16 wind reports
| Date | Wind | Distance | County | Reported at | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| August 12, 2026 | 71 mph (as reported) | 1.4 mi | Whiteside, IL | Rock Falls | SPC day reportPreliminary |
| June 24, 2026 | 60 mph (estimated gust) | 2.7 mi | Whiteside, IL | Douglas Park | NCEI record |
| June 24, 2026 | 58 mph (estimated gust) | 0.2 mi | Whiteside, IL | Sterling | NCEI record |
| June 3, 2025 | 70 mph (estimated gust) | 7.8 mi | Whiteside, IL | Yeoward Addition | NCEI record |
| July 14, 2024 | 70 mph (estimated gust) | 9.6 mi | Whiteside, IL | Coleta | NCEI record |
| May 21, 2024 | 58 mph (estimated gust) | 0.3 mi | Whiteside, IL | Sterling | NCEI record |
| May 4, 2024 | 59 mph (measured gust) | 4.2 mi | Whiteside, IL | Sterling Arpt | NCEI record |
| April 20, 2023 | 81 mph (estimated gust) | 8.7 mi | Whiteside, IL | Malvern | NCEI record |
| April 4, 2023 | 69 mph (estimated gust) | 7.9 mi | Lee, IL | Harmon | NCEI record |
| April 4, 2023 | 69 mph (estimated gust) | 8.3 mi | Lee, IL | Woodland Shores | NCEI record |
| November 5, 2022 | 58 mph (measured gust) | 8.4 mi | Whiteside, IL | Tampico | NCEI record |
| November 5, 2022 | 64 mph (estimated gust) | 2.1 mi | Whiteside, IL | Rock Falls | NCEI record |
| July 5, 2022 | 60 mph (estimated gust) | 0.3 mi | Whiteside, IL | Sterling | NCEI record |
| April 30, 2022 | 59 mph (measured gust) | 4.2 mi | Whiteside, IL | Sterling Arpt | NCEI record |
| March 5, 2022 | 60 mph (estimated gust) | 4 mi | Whiteside, IL | Yeoward Addition | NCEI record |
| March 5, 2022 | 75 mph (measured gust) | 3.5 mi | Whiteside, IL | Sterling Arpt | NCEI record |
Official reports come from the NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, which currently runs through July 31, 2026. Reports marked preliminary come from the NOAA Storm Prediction Center and are not yet in the official database; they may change or be removed. Dates are the local report date. Data retrieved November 1, 2026. About this data.
What to do after a hail storm
A few calm steps in the first days can protect your home and your claim. Your policy and your state’s rules decide the details, so check your policy and ask your insurer when something is unclear.
For more on insurance claims, deductibles and storm chasers, read our guide to storm and hail damage.
1. Stay safe first
- Wait until the storm has passed before you look around outside.
- Stay off the roof. Look from the ground, or from a window.
- Keep away from downed power lines and report them to local authorities or your utility. Call 911 if anyone is hurt or in danger.
- Stay out of damaged buildings. Wear sturdy shoes and long sleeves around broken glass and debris.
2. Take photos before you clean up
- Take date-stamped photos or video of the roof from the ground.
- Photograph gutters, downspouts, siding, window screens, the fins on your outdoor AC unit, soft metal such as vents and flashing, and any cars.
- If you can do it safely, photograph a few hailstones next to a coin or a ruler.
- Write down the date and time of the storm and what you saw.
3. Prevent more damage
- Cover broken windows or openings to keep rain out, if it is safe.
- Keep every receipt for supplies and temporary repairs.
- Hold off on permanent repairs until you have talked with your insurer.
4. Start an insurance claim
- Read your policy. Note your deductible, and whether it has a separate wind or hail deductible.
- Most insurers have a time limit for reporting a claim. Check your policy for yours.
- Contact your insurer or agent to start a claim. An adjuster may come to inspect.
- Get written estimates, and keep copies of everything you send and receive.
- If you have questions about how a claim is handled, ask your insurer or your state’s insurance department.
5. Watch for storm-chaser scams
- Be careful with door knockers who show up right after a storm.
- Walk away from pressure to sign today, or a discount that only lasts if you sign now.
- Be wary of demands for a large payment up front, or for cash.
- Be wary of offers to cover or waive your deductible. Ask your insurer about it.
- Be wary of out-of-state plates, or no local address you can visit.
- Read any contract before you sign. Don’t sign over your insurance benefits or your insurance check before you understand what you are agreeing to. You don’t have to sign an assignment of benefits to get repairs done.
- Check the contractor’s license or registration where your state requires it. Your state’s licensing board can tell you.
- Get more than one written estimate, and a written contract.
Where this guidance comes from
- National Weather Service: What to Do After Severe Weather. Check your property only after the storm has passed, stay out of damaged buildings, contact local authorities about downed power lines, wear sturdy shoes and long sleeves around damage, and watch for insurance scammers. Retrieved November 1, 2026.
- NAIC: Navigating the Claims Process. Contact your agent or insurer as soon as possible, most insurers have a time limit for reporting a claim, take photos or video, make temporary repairs and keep receipts, an adjuster may inspect, get more than one bid, and do not feel rushed to sign. Retrieved November 1, 2026.
- NAIC: After the Storm, Read the Fine Print to Avoid Signing Away Your Insurance Benefits. Read the fine print before you sign an assignment of benefits. You are not required to sign one to have repairs done. Retrieved November 1, 2026.
- FTC: How To Avoid Scams After Weather Emergencies and Natural Disasters. Warning signs such as pressure to sign right away and demands to pay for everything up front, checking a license with your state or county, getting estimates from more than one contractor, getting a written contract, and never signing your insurance check over to a contractor. Retrieved November 1, 2026.
This is general information, not legal or insurance advice. Check your policy, ask your insurer, and check with your state’s licensing board or insurance department.
Roofers listed in Sterling
Our directory lists 1 roofing company in Sterling. Open a profile to see its phone, website and where each detail came from.
Compare roofing companies in Sterling, IL
A listing is not an endorsement. We haven’t checked any company’s license, insurance or work. Check current credentials with your state before you hire, and get more than one written estimate.