Aurora hail storm history
Kane County·NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database·~75-day publication lag
Aurora is located in Kane County, which has experienced 15 documented hail events of 1 inch or larger over the past 10 years. The city sits in the Chicago metropolitan area where suburban and exurban development patterns place it in a zone of moderate but consistent hail risk. Between April and June, atmospheric conditions across Kane County become favorable for hailstorm development.
Hail in Aurora peaks during April, May, and June, with March and July presenting secondary risk periods. Lake Michigan's presence moderates regional temperatures but does not prevent hail formation; the western suburbs of Chicago—where Aurora is located—experience more frequent severe storms than lakeshore communities because lake-breeze boundaries can locally intensify storm updrafts during late spring. The largest recorded hailstone in Kane County measured 2.5 inches and fell on June 8, 2025, a size capable of causing functional damage to all types of asphalt shingles.
Annual frequency — last 10 years
When hail hits — monthly pattern
Avg events per month · all years · NOAA data
All recorded hail events
Of 96 recorded events, 51 (53%) reached 1.5" or larger — the threshold for likely functional damage on standard asphalt shingles.
A report of 1.25 hail was relayed via mPING.
Dime to quarter size hail was reported near Route 34 and Game Farm Road.
Hail damage was reported to numerous vehicles in the 2300 block of Route 34.
A photo received shows hail larger than quarter size in Sheridan. Time was estimated by radar.
Multiple reports of hail ranging from 1 inch to 1.50 inches in diameter were received from Geneva.
Nickel to quarter size hail was reported.
Nickel to quarter size hail was reported in Oswego.
Golf ball sized hail was estimated in Yorkville with damage to siding on houses.
A train spotter measured hail 2.25 inches in diameter with a lot of golf ball size hail.
Quarter size hail was reported covering the ground near South 1st Street and Milner Avenue.
Hail between nickel and ping pong ball size was reported at multiple locations.
Nickel size hail was reported near Aurora.
Penny to nickel size hail was reported in DeKalb, including at the Northern Illinois University.
Kane County's hail record includes 11 events of 1.5 inches or larger, a threshold at which roof damage becomes likely on standard residential shingles. NOAA's Storm Events Database captures events reported by trained spotters and emergency managers; smaller hail events or those in sparsely populated areas may be underrepresented in the official count. Current-year data is excluded from the annual frequency table until October, when NOAA's Storm Events Database has processed the full hail season accounting for the standard 75-day reporting lag.
NOAA Storm Events Database source