Secor, IL Hail Storm – August 2026

Secor, IL — August 13, 2026. A storm producing up to 1.43" hail is active and tracking through the Secor area, generating a series of NWS alerts and radar returns across midday into late evening.

What Happened

The event began around midday and is continuing to produce hail into the evening hours. NWS issued 17 alerts tied to the same multicell line on Aug 13, ranging from NWS warning-only advisories to radar-detected and spotter-verified reports. Key radar-detected returns include a 1.3" signature detected by dual-polarization NEXRAD at 12:50 PM CDT and a 1.12" radar return at 2:22 PM CDT. A field spotter reported 0.75" hail at 3:54 PM CDT inside the warning area. The majority of alerts were NWS warning-only notifications issued between 12:31 PM CDT and 10:57 PM CDT, with several 1.0" and 0.75" values cited in those advisories.

Storm structure has been variable. Radar indicates compact cores producing stronger hail returns embedded within a broader line of convection. The storm is continuing to produce hail and is being tracked by regional radar networks and spotter reports. The latest NWS advisory near 10:57 PM CDT included a 1.5" hail value in a warning-only alert; that value is part of the warning sequence rather than a radar-detected or spotter-verified measurement.

Damage Assessment

Observed sizes on this storm span roughly 0.75" to the upper radar returns near 1.3". Hail in the 1.0"–1.5" range can dent painted metal, impact vehicle glass under repeated strikes, and compromise older or compromised asphalt shingles. Radar-detected 1.3" and 1.12" returns indicate cores capable of producing denting on sheet metal and edge damage to composite roofing. The spotter-verified 0.75" report establishes ground-truth for localized, smaller-size impacts within the warning area.

Localized variation is expected. NWS warning-only entries with repeated 1.0" and 0.75" values denote areas under advisory but not independently measured by radar or spotters. Documented impacts are most likely where radar signatures and spotter reports coincide. Photographs, timestamps, and location metadata will be necessary to attribute observed damage to this event in Secor.

What Contractors Should Know

Safety and access: the storm is active. Do not conduct rooftop inspections until the storm has passed and conditions are safe. Coordinate on-site safety with local crews and confirm clearing of any ongoing lightning risk before dispatch. Once safe, prioritize photographic documentation with date/time stamps and GPS coordinates for every affected structure and vehicle.

Assessment and repair guidance: triage by roof type and visible impact. Inspect composition shingles for bruising along edges and granule loss, and metal panels for denting and punctures. Check vehicle panels for clustered dents and inspect skylights, vents, and soft metals. For insurance workflows, compile high-resolution photos, a concise damage log tied to locations inside the NWS warning area, and note whether impacts align with radar-detected cores or spotter reports.