1.5-in hail and damaging winds hit Peoria, Tazewell & Woodford counties IL

On the evening of September 16, 2026, a severe thunderstorm swept across central Illinois, delivering ping-pong ball–sized hail and damaging winds to communities in Peoria, Tazewell, and Woodford counties. The National Weather Service office in Lincoln, Illinois (NWS ILX) confirmed multiple trained-spotter reports of significant hail strikes and widespread wind damage as the storm moved through the region into the overnight hours of September 17.

Towns including Alta, Brimfield, Congerville, Delavan, Mackinaw, and Peoria each experienced some combination of large hail, downed trees, and fallen power lines. For homeowners across these communities, the hours and days following this storm are the window to assess what was left behind — before the next rainfall turns minor damage into a much larger interior problem.

What the National Weather Service Confirmed

NWS Lincoln issued storm reports attributing the following confirmed damage to the September 16–17 severe weather event:

• 1.50-inch hail (ping-pong ball sized) in Alta, Peoria County. Two separate trained-spotter reports confirmed this hail size, logged at 2:15 AM and 2:22 AM CDT. Hail of this diameter carries enough kinetic energy to fracture asphalt shingles, dent metal surfaces, and crack vinyl siding on direct impact.
• 1.00-inch hail in Delavan, Tazewell County. NWS ILX confirmed a one-inch hail report in Delavan — still large enough to cause meaningful damage to roofing materials, gutters, and siding, particularly on structures with older or already-weathered surfaces.
• Downed powerlines and a grain bin near Mackinaw, Tazewell County. Damaging winds accompanying the storm system were confirmed by NWS as responsible for infrastructure damage in the Mackinaw area.
• Numerous trees and power lines blown down in Congerville, Woodford County. NWS ILX confirmed widespread wind damage in Congerville, with multiple trees and power lines down across the community.
• Trees and power lines down in the Brimfield area, Peoria County. Wind-driven damage was also confirmed in Brimfield, with downed trees and power lines reported to NWS.

These reports are sourced directly from the National Weather Service at weather.gov. No injuries were referenced in the NWS storm reports reviewed for this article.

What Homeowners in Brimfield, Alta, Mackinaw, Congerville, Delavan, and Peoria Should Check Now

After a storm that delivers 1.5-inch hail and damaging winds, a systematic exterior inspection is the right first move. You don’t need to climb on the roof — a careful ground-level walk-around can reveal significant clues. Here is what to look for across each part of your property:

Roof

• Asphalt shingles: Look for circular impact marks, areas where the granule surface has been knocked away, cracked or displaced shingles, or soft-spot bruising. Missing granules accumulate in gutters — that’s often the first place homeowners notice roof hail damage without leaving the ground.
• Metal roofing and metal components: Check ridge caps, pipe boots, vents, and flashing for dents or deformation. Metal components are among the clearest indicators of hail size and impact severity.
• Flat or low-slope roofing: TPO, EPDM, and built-up roofing systems can sustain punctures or membrane tears from large hail. Check for any pooling water or visible surface disruption.

Siding

• Walk the full perimeter of the structure. Vinyl siding frequently cracks or shatters on direct hail impact rather than denting — look closely at panel faces and edges.
• Aluminum and steel siding will show dings and dents consistent with hail size and storm track direction.
• Inspect window trim, shutters, fascia boards, and soffit panels for impact marks or cracking.

Gutters and Downspouts

• Hail at 1.50 inches can deform aluminum gutters noticeably. Look for dents, especially along exposed top edges.
• Check downspout discharge areas for granule deposits — if your shingles took significant hits, granules will wash into gutters and out through downspouts.

Trees, Landscaping, and Outbuildings

• Identify any broken or hanging limbs, especially branches positioned over the roofline or near utility lines. Do not attempt to remove limbs near power lines — contact your utility provider first.
• Inspect detached garages, sheds, barns, and other outbuildings; these structures are often overlooked but may be covered under your homeowners policy.

Windows, Doors, and Skylights

• Check window glass carefully for cracks, chips, or micro-fractures — impact damage may not be immediately obvious but can worsen with temperature changes.
• Inspect window and door frames and weatherstripping for gaps that could allow water intrusion.

Interior: Water Intrusion

• Check your attic within 24–48 hours of the storm for signs of water infiltration — wet insulation, water stains on sheathing, or daylight visible through the roof deck.
• Inspect ceilings in upper-floor rooms for staining or bubbling paint. Water travels along rafters before it drips, so interior stains may not appear directly below the roof penetration point.

Whether you’re in Alta, Brimfield, Congerville, Delavan, Mackinaw, or anywhere else in the three affected counties, completing this walk-around now — before the next rain event — can mean the difference between a straightforward insurance claim and a compounded problem.

If You Find Damage

Discovering storm damage can be stressful, but a methodical approach protects your property and your insurance claim from the start.

Step 1: Document before anything is touched

Take timestamped photos and video of every damaged area — roof surfaces (from the ground or a ladder if safely accessible), siding panels, gutters, windows, trees, and any outbuildings. Shoot wide establishing shots and close-up detail shots. Back up your documentation to a cloud account or email copies to yourself immediately.

Step 2: Prevent further damage where it’s safe

If an active roof leak is present, a temporary tarp over the affected area is a reasonable mitigation step. Most homeowners’ policies require you to prevent additional damage from occurring after a storm — but avoid making permanent repairs until your insurance carrier has had the opportunity to inspect. Check your specific policy for guidance, or contact your agent.

Step 3: File your claim promptly

Contact your insurance carrier to open a claim. Most policies include reporting deadlines, and delays can complicate the process. Your carrier will assign an adjuster to inspect the property and determine the covered scope of loss. For general emergency preparedness resources, ready.gov provides guidance on recovering from severe weather events.

Step 4: Work with a licensed restoration contractor

Allied Emergency Services is an Illinois-licensed roofing and storm damage restoration contractor (IL License #104.019029), founded in 2015, with more than a decade of experience serving homeowners and commercial property owners across the greater Midwest. We are a restoration contractor — not a public adjuster. We do not negotiate, settle, or adjust insurance claims on your behalf; that is the role of your licensed adjuster. What we can do is thoroughly document the damage, provide a detailed written repair estimate, be present on-site during the adjuster’s inspection so the full scope of damage is captured accurately, and perform the covered repairs once approved.

Homeowners in the Peoria area can learn more about our local services on our Peoria storm damage restoration page. Homeowners in Delavan can visit our Delavan storm damage restoration page for area-specific information.

A note on door-to-door contractors

Following any significant storm, out-of-area contractors often canvass neighborhoods. Before signing any contract, verify licensure. Illinois requires roofing contractors to hold a state license — ask for the license number and verify it through the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Allied’s Illinois roofing contractor license is #104.019029, active through December 31, 2027.

Get a Professional Assessment — 24/7

If you’re in Peoria, Tazewell, or Woodford County and want a professional eye on what the storm left behind, Allied Emergency Services is available around the clock. We serve communities throughout the greater Midwest and are ready to help you understand your damage and your options.

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

You can also learn more about our full range of services at our storm damage restoration page.

This article is provided as general public information following a weather event and is not legal or insurance advice. For guidance specific to your insurance policy or claim, consult your insurance carrier or a licensed public adjuster.