Hail in California

Events

936

Deaths

2

Injuries

49

Damage

$220 million

• Excessive Heat and Wildfire in California, August 14 to 31, 20204 deaths · 18 injured · 61 kt wind · 29 eventsA prolonged and oppressive heat wave swept the Central Coast and Bay Area for almost a week from August 14th to August 19th with widespread record breaking temperatures observed across the region.
• Hail and Damaging Wind in California, June 3, 20092 deaths · 8 injured · $126,000 · 1 in hail · 5 eventsUnstable air ahead of an upper-level low centered just off the coast of Northern California triggered bands of elevated convection which stretched from San Diego to the San Bernardino County deserts.
• Debris Flows and Flooding in California, February 12 to 15, 20191 death · 2 injured · $23,000 · 79 kt wind · 167 eventsAn atmospheric river with an associated cold front moved through the region from February 12th to the 15th bringing widespread flooding and debris flows. Multiple mainstem rivers flooded prompting evacuations from local officials.
• Flooding and Hail in California, January 20 to 21, 20101 death · 1 injured · $21 million · 1 in hail · 27 eventsThe third in a series of significant storms brought strong winds and heavy rain to the San Francisco and Monterey Bay areas. This storm, the strongest of the week, developed over the Pacific Ocean with a strong parent low pressure based in the Gulf of Alaska.
• Hail and High Wind in California, December 26 to 28, 20061 death · 3 injured · $15 million · 1 in hail · 10 eventsIn late December, a fast-moving storm system moved through Southern California. The storm did not produce any significant rainfall, but did generate a severe thunderstorm with large hail in Sherman Oaks.
• Debris Flow and Flooding in California, February 17 to 22, 20242 deaths · 1 in hail · 17 eventsA winter storm mid-February brought several days of continued heavy snow, rain, and gusty winds. Periods of chain controls were observed in the mountains with local reports of flooding and minor wind damage.
• Flash Flood and Hail in California, October 24 to 25, 20142 deaths · 1 in hail · 3 eventsThunderstorms developed in the afternoon bringing locally heavy rain, and hail. There were also strong, gusty winds at times.
• Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in California, January 18 to 22, 20101 death · $3.2 million · EF0 · 30 eventsA series of powerful winter storms affected Central and Southern California between the 18th and 22nd of January. As this series of storms moved across the area, they brought heavy rain, flash flooding, gusty winds, heavy snow and even severe weather to the area.
• Heavy Snow and Hail in California, March 28 to 29, 19981 death · 6 injured · $300,000 · 61 kt wind · 9 eventsA deep, upper-level low pressure trough produced unusually cold, late season winter storm conditions throughout southwest California. Strong winds developed behind the surface cold front on the twenty- eighth, and continued in the mountains into the twenty-ninth.
• Flash Flooding and Hail in California, February 7 to 9, 19991 death · $1.0 million · 60 kt wind · 7 eventsWidespread rain of 4 to 6 inches fell over most of the North Bay Counties with nearly 5 inches in 24 hours near Napa and Santa Rosa.. The Upper Napa River at St Helena crested at 09:41 PST at 13.26 ft. .
• Flash Flooding and Hail in California, September 16, 20141 death · $850,000 · 1 in hail · 3 eventsAnother push of monsoon moisture fueled thunderstorms over the Mojave Desert. Several storms produced flash flooding, and isolated large hail also occurred.
• Flash Flooding and Flood in California, September 18 to 19, 20251 death · 1 injured · $56,000 · 0.75 in hail · 9 eventsMoisture from the remnants of Pacific Tropical Storm Mario fueled scattered thunderstorms, many of which produced flash flooding.
• Hail in California, March 6, 20001 death · $75,000 · 1.5 in hail · 1 eventHail ranging in diameter from the size of chick peas to golf balls, covered the ground to a depth of several inches. The Costa Mesa Freeway was closed for about 30 minutes. One motorist died when he lost control of his vehicle and was broadsided by semi-tractor trailer.
• Tornadoes and Flash Flood in California, May 22, 20081 injured · $855,000 · EF2 · 6 eventsA thunderstorm developed near Redlands around 3:30 PM and quickly became severe as it moved south-southwest toward Moreno Valley along the Elsinore Convergence Zone. This storm produced large swaths of hail, flash flooding, and at least four tornadoes.
• Flash Flooding and Flood in California, September 7 to 9, 20151 death · $33,000 · 1 in hail · 12 eventsSubtropical moisture from the remnants of Hurricane Linda brought widespread showers to most of the area, deserts included. The first isolated thunderstorm developed on the 6th in San Diego County as a moisture surge in monsoon warm upper level flow arrived.
• Tornado and Hail in California, March 5, 1994$51 million · F0 · 2 eventsPowerful thunderstorms rolled through the central San Joaquin Valley spawning a funnel cloud and a tornado along with damaging hail. The funnel cloud was reported by two weather spotters.
• Hail and Damaging Winds in California, April 7, 2001$41 million · 0.75 in hail · 5 eventsHeavy rain and hail (often less than 3/4-inch) accompanying widespread convective activity through Interior Central California late in the afternoon and early evening of Saturday, April 7th, caused extensive damage to agriculture.
• Flooding and Hail in California, January 19 to 20, 2017$20 million · 50 kt wind · 15 eventsThe second in a series of three storms between January 18-23. Storm two occurred January 19-20. Heavy rain, strong winds, and small hail were observed with this frontal system as well as lightning strikes in San Francisco.
• Flooding and Hail in California, June 6 to 7, 1998$28 million · 1 in hail · 8 eventsFresno and neighboring counties of Kings and Tulare received widespread convective activity during the late afternoon and early evening of Saturday, June 6th. Unofficial reports of golfball sized hail occurred in the Tulare County town of Dinuba.
• Winter Storm and Flooding in California, April 11 to 14, 2012$16 million · 1.75 in hail · 19 eventsAn upper-level short-wave moved into California on April 10th, flattening the ridge. This set the stage for back-to-back strong storms to move through the central California interior on the 11th, 12th, and 13th.
• Tornado and Heavy Snow in California, May 18 to 19, 2019$16 million · EF0 · 15 eventsA strong upper level low pressure system moved into central California during the afternoon of May 18.
• Hail in California, April 8, 1999$25 million · 1 in hail · 4 eventsBesides the frost and wind during early April, very active thunderstorms moved through the Fresno, Kings, and Tulare County areas early on the evening of April 8th. Hail up to 1-inch was reported in northeast Hanford with crop damage north and east of town.
• Hail in California, May 20, 2002$24 million · 1 in hail · 4 eventsHail damage to area agriculture was substantial during the course of this inclement weather day in the Central and Southern San Joaquin Valley.
• Winter Storm and Heavy Snow in California, November 26 to 27, 20191 death · $500 · 52 kt wind · 6 eventsAn anomalously cold upper low dropped south from British Columbia toward the coast of northwest California during late November. Wide spread wind damage occurred across the region, as well as mountain snow, and small hail near the coast.
• Flash Flooding and Hail in California, August 25, 20081 death · $10,000 · 0.88 in hail · 3 eventsAnother push of monsoon moisture brought severe thunderstorms and flash flooding to the Mojave Desert.

Hail everywhereEvery kind of event in California

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24.