On March 10, 2026, a severe storm in Illinois produced a record-breaking hailstone, now confirmed as the largest ever recorded in the state. Representatives from the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety visited Northern Illinois University (NIU) to verify the extraordinary find. The Dorris family discovered the hailstone in Kankakee, and NIU meteorology professor Victor Gensini conducted detailed measurements and a 3-D model analysis. The storm's unique conditions allowed the hailstones to remain largely intact, though many landed in mud, making them difficult to locate.