How big was the hail on May 15, 2025?

The maximum estimated stone size anywhere in the country that day was 2.00 inches, over Chicago, IL. Sizes vary street to street inside a single swath, so a city's figure is the largest radar estimated anywhere within about 5 miles of it.

Where does this hail data come from?

NOAA radar, ingested directly from the public NOAA archive. The estimated stone size runs about a quarter of an inch against ground truth, which makes it good for deciding where to look and not a substitute for an inspection.

Does this mean roofs were damaged?

Radar measures stone size, not damage. Whether a particular roof was damaged depends on stone size, wind direction, roof age and material — only an inspection settles it. These figures tell you where it is worth looking.

How do I see the actual swath on a map?

A HailMate plan puts a whole state on a real interactive map, with this swath and three years of others already on it. From $79/mo, and the canvassing tools come with it.

United States · May 15, 2025

Hail map — May 15, 2025

Name: US hail map — May 15, 2025
Creator: HailMate

NOAA radar detected hail of an inch or more over 91 cities across 10 states on May 15, 2025. The largest stones — 2.00″, hen egg size — fell over Chicago, IL.

Hail swath map for Chicago, IL on May 15, 2025 showing 2.00 inch hail. — Largest rendered swath of the day: Chicago, IL — 2.00″ hail. Each city below has its own map for this storm.

Roofing contractors

Claim your live interactive hail map

Every address in your state at once — three years of NOAA hail swaths drawn on a map you can zoom, filter and actually work.

HailMate's canvassing map: hail swaths colour-banded by stone size, from yellow through red to purple, laid over a satellite view of a Texas territory, with hail swath and territory controls.

$79/moall of your state, not one storm day

The May 15, 2025 swath — and every other storm since 2023 across your state
GPS door-knocking — pins, photos and who you have already hit
Jobs, contacts, estimates and invoices included
An alert the next time your state gets hit

See the hail map See a sample map first

HailTrace charges $229 for this one day, once. $79 here is all of your state, every day.

States hit: 10
Cities hit: 91
Largest stone: 2.00″; hen egg size
Impact rating: 7/10; from stone size

Sizes come from NOAA radar, which runs about ±0.25″ against ground truth. It is canvass-targeting quality, not claim evidence.

Homeowners

Did hail hit your address?

This page covers your area as a whole. Check your own address to see every storm on record for your roof — the date and the stone size for each one — and we'll email you the full report to keep.

Check my address

Free, and no account needed to look it up. If hail did hit, you'll have the date and the stone size in writing — which is the first thing an adjuster asks for.

States hit on May 15, 2025

Every state where NOAA radar put an inch or more of hail over a city that day, biggest stone first.

Illinois61 cities · 2.00″North Carolina3 cities · 2.00″Wisconsin17 cities · 1.50″Texas2 cities · 1.00″Virginia2 cities · 1.00″Michigan1 city · 1.00″South Carolina1 city · 1.00″Iowa1 city · 1.00″Minnesota2 cities · 1.00″Maine1 city · 1.00″

Hardest hit on May 15, 2025

Showing the 24 largest of 91 cities hit. The rest are under their state above.

What people on the ground measured in the US on May 15, 2025

15 reports filed with the National Weather Service — 2 from trained observers or officials. These are measured stones, not radar estimates, so they are the closest thing to proof that hail actually reached the ground.

4.00″ softball size Public
2 W Altoona, WI4:15 PM CDTEau Claire County
Relayed with photo by WQOW.
3.75″ baseball size Public
2 WSW Altoona, WI4:18 PM CDTEau Claire County
Email with picture.
3.50″ baseball size Public
Altoona, WI4:15 PM CDTEau Claire County
Relayed with photo from WQOW.
3.00″ baseball size Broadcast Media
2 WSW Altoona, WI4:19 PM CDTEau Claire County
3 inch diameter hail measured at the WEAU studios.
3.00″ baseball size Public
3 N Saunemin, IL7:41 PM CDTLivingston County
Photo shows 3 inch diameter hail near IL-47 and E 2100 N Road north of Saunemin. Time estimated by radar. Report relayed by broadcast media.
2.75″ baseball size Broadcast Media
3 SSW Altoona, WI4:18 PM CDTEau Claire County
Corrects previous hail report from 3 SSW Altoona. Corrects previous hail report from 3 SSW Altoona. measured at the WQOW studios.
2.75″ baseball size Public
Altoona, WI4:18 PM CDTEau Claire County
Report from mPING: Baseball (2.75 in.).
2.75″ baseball size Public
1 SE Emington, IL7:44 PM CDTLivingston County
Photo shared to social media shows baseball size hail near Emington. Time estimated by radar.
2.50″ hen egg size Trained Spotter
1 W Altoona, WI4:15 PM CDTEau Claire County
2.50″ hen egg size Public
1 W Altoona, WI4:16 PM CDTEau Claire County
Damage to siding reported as well.
2.50″ hen egg size Broadcast Media
Stokes, NC6:25 PM EDTPitt County
Pictures of tennis ball size hail near Stokes was sent by a viewer to WRAL.
2.50″ hen egg size Trained Spotter
4 W Waterford, WI6:13 PM CDTRacine County
Tennis-Baseball sized hail causing significant damage to vehicles in far western Waterford near Walworth county border.
2.50″ hen egg size Public
1 SE Ixonia, WI6:14 PM CDTJefferson County
Report from mPING: Tennis Ball (2.50 in.).
2.50″ hen egg size Public
1 W Normal, IL7:05 PM CDTMcLean County
Delayed report on social media with the time estimated by radar. A photo was provided.
2.50″ hen egg size Public
Saunemin, IL7:39 PM CDTLivingston County
Photo shared via social media shows tennis ball size hail near Saunemin. Time estimated by radar.

Showing the 15 largest of 297 hail reports filed that day.

Reports come from the National Weather Service Local Storm Report feed, ingested every 15 minutes. A report records where the observer was, not the full extent of the swath — treat it as evidence about the storm, not about any one roof.

Other hail days

September 30, 20261 city · 2.00″September 28, 20261 city · 1.00″September 27, 20264 cities · 1.00″September 26, 20261 city · 1.00″September 25, 20263 cities · 1.00″September 23, 20262 cities · 1.00″September 22, 202617 cities · 1.00″September 21, 202665 cities · 2.00″September 20, 20268 cities · 1.50″September 19, 202637 cities · 1.50″September 18, 202623 cities · 2.00″September 17, 202619 cities · 1.50″

Every state with hail on record →

FAQ

US hail on May 15, 2025

NOAA radar put hail of an inch or more over 91 cities across 10 states on May 15, 2025. The largest stones — 2.00 inches, hen egg size — were over Chicago, IL. Every state hit is listed on this page, and every city under it.

Knock the streets this storm hit

Your whole state at street level, with this swath already on the map — $79/mo, cancel anytime.

One state, everything included · from $79/mo · month-to-month, cancel anytime