Nokomis, IL Hail Storm – September 2025

What Happened

A severe hail storm moved through Nokomis, Illinois, on September 20, 2025, producing 1-inch stones during the afternoon and early evening. The event was concluded with three NWS alerts in the warning area and one spotter-verified ground report at 3:49 PM CDT.

The first alert came at 3:47 PM CDT with a 1-inch hail threat and warning-only confidence. One minute later, at 3:48 PM CDT, radar and spotter data both supported the same hail size. A later alert at 6:26 PM CDT again carried a 1-inch hail threat, extending the severe hail signal into the evening.

Field reporting lined up closely with the alert sequence. At 3:49 PM CDT, an mPING report came in from the Nokomis area calling for quarter-size hail at 1.00 inch. The timing placed the verified stone size inside the first round of warning activity and confirmed that hail reached the ground during the late-afternoon core of the storm.

The sequence shows a compact hail event with multiple warning touches across the same day. Radar-derived confidence rose quickly after the first alert, and the spotter report followed within minutes. The later evening alert kept the hail threat active after the initial round of verified reports.

Damage Assessment

The ground reports show a brief hail impact window rather than a broad field of widespread surface damage. The only verified field observation provided for Nokomis was the 3:49 PM CDT mPING report of 1.00-inch hail. No additional local storm reports were listed in the event set.

For contractors, that profile usually points to isolated roof and siding checks rather than a countywide inspection campaign. In town centers like Nokomis, the first places to examine are south- and west-facing roof slopes, soft metals, vinyl trim, and exterior condensers. Hail around 1 inch can mark painted metal, dent vents, and leave testable wear on asphalt shingles without producing obvious failures at street level.

The report timing matters. The spotter entry came during the first warning cycle, not hours later. That means inspection work should focus on the homes and light commercial properties under the initial afternoon path, then expand only if additional customer leads tie back to the later evening alert. A short event window can leave patchy damage, with one block showing clear impacts and the next block showing none.

The mix of warning-only and radar plus spotter confidence suggests a storm that was observed well enough to support targeted canvassing. That usually helps field crews prioritize a smaller set of roofs, detached metal structures, and exposed vehicle fleets near the warning path rather than sending broad-area inspection teams across the metro.

What Contractors Should Know

Start with the storm timing. The first verified hail report landed at 3:49 PM CDT, just after the initial warning pair. Crews should anchor inspection calls to that afternoon window and then check properties that were inside the warning area at the time of the first hail confirmation. Late-day follow-up can still matter if customers were under the 6:26 PM CDT alert.