Ping pong ball hail (1.5in) confirmed near Mendota, La Salle County, IL

On the evening of Thursday, August 21, 2026, a severe thunderstorm swept through north-central Illinois, delivering ping pong ball-size hail to communities across La Salle County. The National Weather Service office in Chicago confirmed hailstones measuring 1.50 inches in diameter — approximately the size of a ping pong ball — striking an area roughly three miles north of Mendota at approximately 6:05 PM CDT. Multiple photographs of the hailstones were received and the event time was confirmed through radar analysis.

La Salle County lies approximately 65 miles southwest of Oak Brook, Illinois, squarely within the Allied Emergency Services service area. Communities including Mendota, Seneca, Ottawa, and Streator were in or near the storm’s path. If your home or business was affected, this article outlines what the National Weather Service officially confirmed, what to inspect, and what to do next if you discover damage to your property.

What the National Weather Service Confirmed

The National Weather Service Chicago office (call sign LOT) logged this event in the Storm Prediction Center’s storm reports archive, publicly available at weather.gov. According to that record, hailstones measuring 1.50 inches — ping pong ball-size — were observed approximately 3 miles north of Mendota in La Salle County, Illinois. The report was attributed to NWS Chicago, with the event time of approximately 6:05 PM CDT on August 21, 2026 estimated from radar data and corroborated by multiple submitted photographs of the hailstones.

Hail reaching 1.50 inches in diameter is classified as significant severe weather. At this size, hailstones carry sufficient kinetic energy to cause meaningful damage to common residential building materials, including:

• Granule loss, impact bruising, and micro-fracturing on asphalt shingle roofing
• Cracks, dents, or punctures in aluminum and vinyl siding panels
• Damage to gutters, downspouts, and gutter screens
• Cracked or shattered skylights and exterior light fixtures
• Visible dents on vehicles, air conditioning condensers, and metal trim

Storm intensity and hailstone size can vary within a single storm cell, so properties throughout the affected area — including those in Mendota, Seneca, Ottawa, and Streator — may have experienced different levels of impact depending on their exact location. Roofing damage, in particular, is not always visible from the ground or immediately apparent after the storm. Granule loss, micro-fractures in shingles, and compromised metal flashing can lead to water intrusion weeks or months later if damage goes undetected and unrepaired.

What Homeowners in Mendota, Seneca, Ottawa, and Streator Should Check Now

You do not need to climb on your roof to begin a post-storm assessment. A careful ground-level visual inspection combined with an interior walkthrough can reveal a great deal about potential damage. Here is what to look for:

Roof (From the Ground)

• Shingles: Look for missing shingles, lifted edges, or dark circular bruising on asphalt shingles. Binoculars can help if your roofline is not easily visible from grade.
• Granule discharge: Check at the base of your downspouts and on any adjacent concrete or soil. Heavy granule accumulation after a storm is a strong indicator that shingles have been compromised.
• Ridge cap and flashing: Hail frequently damages the metal flashing around chimneys, pipe boots, vents, and skylights. Even small dents or cracks in flashing can allow water to penetrate.

Siding

• Walk the full perimeter of your home and look for cracks, chips, or impact dents in vinyl or aluminum siding panels.
• Pay close attention to panels facing north and west, which typically receive the greatest impact during midwest storm events.
• Also inspect window screens, shutters, exterior trim, and any wood or fiber cement accents for damage.

Gutters and Downspouts

• Hail leaves visible dents in aluminum and steel gutters and downspouts — these are often easy to spot and serve as a useful proxy for storm severity at your location.
• Confirm that gutters remain properly attached to the fascia and that downspouts are directing water away from your foundation.

Trees and Landscaping

• Stripped bark on tree trunks, shredded leaves, and broken branches are reliable indicators of hail intensity in your immediate area.
• Remove any fallen branches resting against or near your home as soon as it is safe to do so, and keep an eye on any storm-damaged trees that may pose a future hazard.

Interior

• If your attic is accessible, walk through it and look for daylight penetration, moisture on the decking or insulation, or any staining that was not there before the storm.
• Check ceilings on upper floors and near skylights or exterior walls for new water stains or soft spots.
• Document any new interior water intrusion immediately with dated photographs.

If You Find Damage

If your inspection reveals signs of hail damage, the most important action you can take is to document everything thoroughly before any cleanup or repair work begins. Photograph all areas of concern from multiple angles using your smartphone. Capture images of dented gutters, cracked siding, interior staining, and any debris on the ground. Note the date and location for each photo — this documentation is valuable when reporting a claim.

Contact your homeowner’s insurance carrier to report the potential claim. Your insurer will assign an adjuster to conduct their own inspection of the property. In Illinois, a licensed restoration contractor — such as Allied Emergency Services — can document the damage in professional detail, prepare a comprehensive repair estimate, and meet with your adjuster on-site to help ensure that all affected areas are properly identified during the inspection. Allied Emergency Services is a licensed restoration contractor; it does not negotiate, settle, or adjust insurance claims on behalf of homeowners — that authority rests with your insurer and, where applicable, a separately licensed public adjuster.

While waiting for your adjuster’s visit, take reasonable precautions to prevent further damage — placing a bucket under an active interior leak, or carefully covering a broken skylight with heavy plastic sheeting if it is safe to access. Retain all receipts for any emergency mitigation expenses, as many policies allow for reimbursement of reasonable protective measures.

Exercise caution with contractors who approach you unsolicited or who ask you to sign a broad assignment-of-benefits agreement before your insurer has completed their inspection. Always verify that any contractor you hire can provide proof of Illinois licensure. Allied Emergency Services holds Illinois Roofing Contractor License #104.019029 and has been providing storm damage restoration services across the Greater Midwest for 27 years. Our team is IICRC certified, EPA Lead-Safe certified, and carries full insurance coverage on every job.

If you want professional eyes on your property before your adjuster arrives, an experienced storm damage restoration inspection can give you a clear picture of what was affected and what repairs are needed.

Contact Allied Emergency Services — We Serve La Salle County

Allied Emergency Services responds to storm damage events throughout La Salle County and the broader Greater Midwest service area — including Mendota, Seneca, Ottawa, Streator, and the surrounding communities. Our team is licensed, fully insured, and available around the clock, because hailstorms don’t wait for business hours and neither do we.

Call us 24/7: (800) 792-0212
Text ESTIMATE to (844) 907-2546

If your property may have been in the path of the August 21, 2026 La Salle County hailstorm, don’t delay. Early damage documentation protects your insurance claim, and timely repairs protect your home from the water damage that hail-compromised roofing and siding can invite. Contact our storm damage restoration team and let us help you assess your next steps.

This article is provided as general information only and does not constitute legal or insurance advice. Insurance policies vary; consult your carrier and, if needed, a licensed professional for guidance specific to your situation.