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Why hail matters here
Hail is not a rare event in the Metro East and St. Louis area. State Farm ranked Missouri second and Illinois third in the nation for hail claim payouts in 2025, according to Insurance Journal (April 23, 2026).
In Illinois alone, State Farm paid more than $899 million in hail claims in 2024 and more than $450 million in 2025, according to the State Farm newsroom (July 1, 2026).
Nationally, severe convective storms, the thunderstorms that bring hail, caused $51 billion in insured losses in 2025, the third straight year above $50 billion, according to Triple-I as reported by Digital Insurance (April 27, 2026).
Close to home, the National Weather Service reported hail of 3 to 3.75 inches over Madison County, including Edwardsville and Glen Carbon, on March 14, 2024.
None of these figures predicts what will happen to any one house. They do show why roofing choices here are worth making with hail in mind.
When is hail season in Illinois and Missouri?
Mostly spring. National Weather Service St. Louis found that 73% of significant hail reports, meaning hail 2 inches or larger, in Missouri and Illinois fall between March and June. They come most often in the afternoon and early evening.
That timing matters if your roof is near the end of its life. Replacing it before spring means the new roof is in place for the months when large hail is most likely, rather than waiting until a storm has already done the damage.
Hail can fall outside those months too, so a roof that came through the spring is still worth a look after any severe storm.
Is there a hail-proof roof?
No. Impact-rated roofing reduces damage from smaller hail, and it can hold up better than standard materials in many storms. Very large hail can damage any roof, whatever the rating. Be wary of anyone who calls a product hail proof.
The realistic goal is a roof that takes less damage from the storms this area sees most often, and a plan for checking it after the big ones.
Impact-resistant shingles and the independent ratings
Most impact-resistant shingles are sold with a UL 2218 Class 4 rating, which comes from a laboratory test that drops steel balls onto a roofing sample. Our Class 4 impact-resistant shingle guide explains what that test measures and where it falls short.
The Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) adds an independent check. It buys impact-resistant shingles from ordinary suppliers, the same way a roofer would, and fires lab-made hailstones at them to see how they hold up.
Its fourth edition of ratings, released November 19, 2025, covered 24 products, about 95% of the impact-resistant shingles sold. Most rated Good and none rated Excellent. IBHS advises against using products rated Marginal or Poor in hail-prone areas (IBHS).
The practical step: before you sign, check any shingle you are quoted against the IBHS impact-resistant shingle ratings. A Class 4 label on its own does not tell you how a product scored.
Metal roofs and hail
Metal roofs handle hail differently from shingles. Hail rarely punches through metal panels or lets water in, but it can dent them, and the dents may be visible from the ground. Very large hail can mark any metal roof.
After a big storm, the seams, fasteners and flashing are worth checking along with the panels themselves. We install standing-seam and exposed-fastener metal roofing for homes, barns and outbuildings.
What is a FORTIFIED roof?
FORTIFIED is a building standard from IBHS for roofs that stand up better to severe weather. Its hail supplement requires a shingle rated Good or Excellent in the IBHS hail ratings (FORTIFIED Home).
A FORTIFIED roof is more than the shingle. The installation must follow the program's requirements and be checked by a FORTIFIED evaluator. Whether it is available for your home, and what it involves, can be checked through fortifiedhome.org.
Protecting the rest of the house
The roof is not the only thing hail hits.
- Gutters and downspouts dent easily and can be crushed by large hail, which can stop them draining.
- Skylights and roof vents can crack, letting water in even when the shingles are sound.
- Siding can crack or be holed, especially on the side of the house facing the storm. See our siding page.
- Windows and screens can tear, chip or break.
Keep the gutters clear, too. Clean gutters let hail and storm debris drain away instead of piling up and backing water under the roof edge.
Before and after a hail storm
Before
- Have an older roof inspected before spring, so worn shingles and loose flashing are dealt with before the season starts.
- Trim limbs that overhang the roof.
- Clear the gutters and downspouts.
After
- Photograph damage from the ground: gutters, downspouts, vents, siding and screens.
- Stay off the roof.
- Book a free roof inspection with a photo report.
- If water is coming in, call for 24/7 emergency tarping.
To know what to look for, read our guides on what hail damage looks like on a roof and what size hail damages a roof.
Related services and guides
- Class 4 impact-resistant shingles
- Hail damage signs
- Hail size and roof damage
- Storm damage roof repair
- Free roof inspection
Sources
- Insurance Journal, State Farm hail claim rankings, April 23, 2026
- State Farm newsroom, Illinois severe weather data, July 1, 2026
- Digital Insurance, Triple-I severe convective storm losses, April 27, 2026
- National Weather Service St. Louis, March 14, 2024 event
- National Weather Service St. Louis, hail climatology
- IBHS impact-resistant shingle ratings, fourth edition, November 19, 2025
- FORTIFIED Home, hail supplement
What to do next
Hail Mary Roofing & Exteriors is based in Glen Carbon, Illinois, serving the Metro East and St. Louis area. Request a free roof inspection with a photo report to understand your roof's condition. Call (618) 806-9898; if water is coming in, we offer 24/7 emergency tarping.
Limited Lifetime Craftsmanship Warranty on asphalt shingle roofs, transferable to a new owner one time; 10-year craftsmanship warranty on all other work.
More homeowner guides
- How Much Does a Roof Replacement Cost in Illinois?
- How to Get Insurance to Help Pay for Roof Replacement
- How Long Does a Roof Replacement Take?
- What Does Hail Damage Look Like on a Roof?
- Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Hail Damage to a Roof?
- Impact-Resistant Shingles: Are Class 4 Shingles Worth It in Illinois and Missouri?
- What Size Hail Damages a Roof?
- Water Stain on the Ceiling? What It Means and What to Do
- Are Gutter Guards Worth It? An Honest Look for Metro East Homes
- How Much Does Roof Leak Repair Cost?