Racine is not hail alley, but it is not exempt either — the area averages about 4 hail-producing storms a year. When a cell does track over the county, the reports below tell you the date, the stone size, and how close it came.
Racine's Storm-Climate Context
Racine sits on Lake Michigan's western shore in southeastern Wisconsin, where lake-effect snow amplifies the already heavy regional snowfall. Annual snowfall averages 41.0 inches, placing substantial recurring snow load on residential and commercial roofs. The all-time temperature range spans from a record high of 107 F to a record low of -31 F, an extreme that drives aggressive freeze-thaw cycling through sealants, flashings, and granule-surfaced shingles. Cold winters, spring ice-dam risk, and the corrosive lake-humidity environment accelerate deterioration on older housing stock. With over 33,000 housing units recorded in the 2020 census, the replacement and maintenance pipeline is substantial.
Racine, with 77,816 residents per the 2020 census, is an established industrial and manufacturing city. Major employers headquartered here include S. C. Johnson & Son, Case IH, Modine Manufacturing, InSinkErator, and Dremel. The city has a dense older housing stock, with 33,871 housing units counted in the 2020 census. Aging roofs on mid-century industrial and residential buildings sustain a steady contractor workload, and the presence of large corporate campuses adds a commercial re-roofing segment.
Hail Events Near Racine by Date
July 27, 2026 — 1 report, hail up to 1.00″ (quarter size)
| Time (UTC) | Hail size | Location | Distance from Racine |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1623 | 1.00″ | Waterford, Racine County | 22.3 mi |
Preliminary Local Storm Reports from the NOAA Storm Prediction Center. Sizes are reported hailstone diameters; times are UTC. Reports can be added or corrected for about a day after each event. A quiet page section ≠ no hail — smaller or unreported events happen. The closest report in this window landed 22.3 miles from Racine's center.
View these 1 report on a map
Circle positions are the NOAA SPC report coordinates; tap a circle for the date and hail size.
Hail size: < 1″ 1–1.75″ ≥ 2″ not recorded
How Severe Was It? The NWS Yardstick, Applied to Racine's Reports
The National Weather Service calls hail severe at 1″ (quarter size) and significant at 2″ (hen-egg size). Scoring the 1 Racine-area report (filed in Racine County) against that scale: 1 of them met the severe 1″+ criterion — the size at which asphalt shingles start taking granule loss and bruising that shows up as leaks a season later. Damage at these sizes is rarely visible from the ground but is typically covered by homeowners insurance when documented promptly.
What to Do If Your Roof Was in the Hail Path
- Do a ground-level walk-around. Hail is rare enough around Racine that most homeowners never think to check — look for granules collecting at downspouts, dented gutters or screens, and battered plants after the July 27, 2026 report above. Stay off the roof itself.
- Photograph anything suspicious with dates. Even minor-looking marks matter later: this NOAA log plus dated photos connect the damage to a covered storm event instead of "gradual wear", which insurers exclude.
- Book a free inspection rather than guessing. Bruised shingles and granule loss are invisible from the ground; a written scope from a local roofer settles whether there is a claim at all.
- Only involve the insurer once you know the scope. If the inspection finds nothing, you have lost nothing; if it finds damage, file within your policy's window while the event date is easy to prove.
- Bring the written scope to the adjuster. Full walkthrough in the roof insurance claim guide.
Hail History in Racine — the 10-Year Picture
The county behind Racine has logged 18 hail events over the last decade — a pace of roughly 2 per year — with the most severe stone measured at 2.50″. Against that 10-year baseline, the 1 hail day in this 90-day window run above the long-term average rate. Racine averages 4 hail-producing storms per year — check hail risk lookup for your address.
Racine's county logged fewer hail events than the Wisconsin median (24 per county over 10 years), placing it on the lower end of the state's hail exposure spectrum — though individual storm cells can still produce damaging hail regardless of the long-term average.
Racine's County, Year by Year (NOAA Archive)
| Year | Recorded hail events | Largest stone |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 4 | 0.75″ |
| 2023 busiest largest stone | 6 | 2.50″ |
| 2019 | 1 | 1.00″ |
| 2017 | 4 | 1.00″ |
| 2016 | 3 | 1.00″ |
NOAA Storm Events archive, Racine's county. Years with no row logged no hail events.
2023 was the county's standout hail year on both counts: the most recorded events (6) and the largest stone (2.50″). Roofs installed before that season have already survived the local worst case — or absorbed damage that was never inspected.
Hail in Racine — Questions Homeowners Ask
Check Your Own ZIP in Racine
The county-level history above averages over the whole area. For a score tied to your address, run your ZIP through the hail risk lookup — Racine ZIP codes include 53401, 53402, 53403, 53406, 53407.
Racine Neighborhoods — Hail Exposure Varies by Area
Hail paths track with storm cell movement, not city limits. If you're in Racine City, Hull Street, North Avenue, Westward Ho or Mariners Park, check your specific street against the report locations above — distance from Racine's center is listed for each report.
More Resources
Roofing contractors in Racine · Storm damage repair in Racine · Insurance claim guide · Roof replacement costs in Racine · Emergency roof repair