NWS-Confirmed Quarter-Sized Hail Strikes Rock Island County IL Nov 11

Quarter-sized hail swept across Rock Island County, Illinois early on the morning of Wednesday, November 11, 2026, striking communities from Preemption and Coal Valley in the north to Rock Island, Milan, East Moline, and Moline along the Mississippi corridor. The National Weather Service office in Davenport confirmed the event through official Storm Prediction Center storm reports, documenting one of the more notable late-autumn severe weather episodes the Quad Cities area has seen in recent years.

The entire sequence compressed into roughly ten minutes — between approximately 8:09 and 8:19 AM Central Time — but hail damage does not always reveal itself on the day it falls. For property owners across the affected area, the window between now and the first hard freeze is the best opportunity to assess, document, and address any vulnerabilities before an Illinois winter turns a manageable repair into a far more costly problem.

What the National Weather Service Confirmed

NWS Davenport (station identifier DVN) confirmed hail up to 1.00 inch in diameter — the size of a U.S. quarter — at multiple Rock Island County locations on the morning of November 11, 2026. The following events are logged in the Storm Prediction Center storm report record and attributed to NWS Davenport:

• 3 N Preemption, Rock Island County — Quarter-sized hail confirmed at approximately 8:09 AM CT.
• Rock Island and Milan — Quarter-sized hail confirmed at approximately 8:09 AM CT.
• 2 N Coal Valley — Quarter-sized hail confirmed at approximately 8:19 AM CT.

The same storm system produced a 61 mph wind gust near Eldridge in Scott County, Iowa at approximately 8:07 AM CT — just two minutes before the first Rock Island County hail reports — also confirmed by NWS Davenport in SPC storm records. That rapid sequence points to a compact, fast-moving severe cell tracking southeastward across the region.

NWS attributed the activity to elevated thunderstorm development along a shortwave trough digging southeastward over the Upper Midwest toward the mid-Mississippi Valley. This type of late-season synoptic pattern can produce concentrated hail cores even when broader severe weather conditions are not immediately obvious on the ground — which is part of why events like this one catch property owners off guard in November.

As of November 11, 2026, NWS had not issued any tornado reports or formal damage surveys in connection with these Rock Island County events. The hail and wind reports are, however, well-documented in the official SPC storm report record — the same record insurance adjusters reference when evaluating storm-related claims.

What Homeowners in the Affected Towns Should Check Now

One-inch hail sits at the lower threshold of what roofing science considers significant for asphalt shingles — damage is not guaranteed, but it is a real possibility, particularly on systems more than a few years old or already showing wear. Homeowners in Rock Island, Milan, Coal Valley, Preemption, East Moline, and Moline should work through the following checklist and schedule a professional inspection if anything raises concern.

Roof

• Do not climb on your roof without proper training and equipment — wet or freshly impacted shingles can be slippery and brittle.
• From the ground or a safely braced ladder, look for displaced, lifted, or visibly missing shingles, especially along ridge lines and eave edges.
• Check roof vents, pipe boot flashings, and ridge cap shingles — these high-profile areas are common first-failure points after hail.
• Look for piles of dark granules in gutters or at downspout outlets — a telltale indicator of shingle surface damage.

Gutters and Downspouts

• Inspect gutter channels for dents along the top edge and confirm hangers are still properly fastened to the fascia.
• Check inside gutters for accumulated asphalt granules — consistent with shingle impacts from above.
• Confirm downspouts are attached and directing water well away from your foundation.

Siding, Windows, and Exterior

• Walk the full perimeter of your home and look for circular dents, cracks, or punctures in vinyl, aluminum, or fiber cement siding panels.
• Inspect window screens for tears or punctures — damaged screens often correspond directly to the size and trajectory of the hail that hit your home.
• Check window trim, fascia boards, shutters, and any exposed wood elements for splintering or impact marks.
• Look at any exterior A/C condenser units for bent or crushed fins — hail impact on condenser fins is frequently a covered item under standard homeowner’s policies.
• Check detached garages, sheds, and fencing for roofing or siding damage, and inspect any trees near the structure for hanging or broken limbs that could pose a hazard.

Interior Water Intrusion

• If you can safely access your attic, inspect the underside of the roof decking for daylight, wet insulation, or water staining on framing members.
• Check upper-floor ceilings over the next 24–48 hours for new water spots, soft drywall, or any discoloration that wasn’t there before.

November is a critical window for acting on hail damage. Unaddressed roof penetrations heading into an Illinois winter can compound through ice damming, freeze-thaw cycling in exposed decking, and added snow load on a weakened structure. Getting an inspection scheduled now — before temperatures lock in — is the right move.

If You Find Damage

Storm damage is stressful, but the process from here is manageable when you take a few organized steps in the right order.

Document everything before anything is touched or repaired. Walk your property with a phone or camera and photograph every area of concern — your roof from multiple angles, gutters, siding panels, A/C units, and any interior water marks. Date-stamp your images and note which part of the structure each photo shows. This documentation is essential when filing a claim with your insurance carrier.

Contact your insurance company promptly. Call your homeowner’s insurer to report potential storm damage. Ask about your policy’s claim reporting deadlines — most policies require timely notice after a qualifying weather event. The November 11 NWS-confirmed reports are on the official record and can support your claim date. Your carrier will assign an adjuster to inspect the property.

Hire a licensed Illinois restoration contractor. Illinois requires roofing contractors to hold a valid state license — verify credentials before signing anything. Allied Emergency Services holds Illinois Roofing Contractor License #104.019029 and has served Rock Island County and the broader Quad Cities area as a licensed storm damage restoration contractor since 2015. That is more than a decade of insurance-related roofing and restoration work in the region.

A qualified restoration contractor can document the damage in detail, prepare a comprehensive repair estimate, and meet with your insurance adjuster on-site to walk through the findings. What a contractor cannot do — and what Allied does not do — is negotiate, settle, or adjust your insurance claim on your behalf. That is the statutory role of a licensed public adjuster. Allied’s job is to perform quality, warranted repairs that return your property to pre-storm condition.

For homeowners in Rock Island, Moline, Milan, Coal Valley, Preemption, and East Moline, Allied estimators are familiar with local building codes, municipal permitting requirements, and the construction types most common in Rock Island County — meaning the scope we write reflects what it actually takes to get your home repaired correctly, not just patched.

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

Schedule Your Free Inspection

Allied Emergency Services responds 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If this morning’s storm left any question about the condition of your roof or exterior, do not wait for the next rain to find out the hard way.

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

Founded in 2015 and serving the Greater Midwest through more than a decade of storm seasons, Allied Emergency Services is here to make sure Rock Island County homeowners have the professional support they need to protect their properties this winter.