San Jose Hail — Storm History & NOAA Data for San Jose, CA

Data current as of 2026-10-16 · Sourced from NOAA Storm Events

Over the past five years, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has recorded 4 hail storms within 25 miles of San Jose, CA. The largest reported hail in this window was pea-sized, which can fracture shingle mat and dent metal flashing on contact. 2024 was the most active year on record locally, with 3 documented hail events.

Check Hail History for a Specific Address in San Jose

Hail Severity Breakdown — San Jose Area (Last 5 Years)

SeverityCountWhat it means for roofs
Minor4 eventsPea-size, unlikely to damage modern shingles

San Jose Hail Storms by Year

YearReported Hail Events Within 25 mi
20243 events
20231 event

2024 was the busiest hail year on record locally for San Jose, with 3 documented events inside the 25-mile radius. Storm activity in San Jose typically peaks in spring and early summer, when the jet stream pushes Gulf moisture into the area and supercell thunderstorms become more frequent.

Recent Hail Events Near San Jose

DateLocationSeveritySizeNOAA Comments
2024-03-30 COYOTE, CA Minor 0.25" Pea-sized hail and lightning reported on southbound US Highway 101 near Bailey Ave via social media.
2024-03-30 CHEMEKETA PARK, CA Minor 0.25" Approximate location. Pea sized hail was reported in the Lexington Hills/Redwood Estates area.
2024-03-30 (SQL)SAN CARLOS ARPT, CA Minor 0.25" Approximate location. Pea-sized hail was reported on by various parties on social media.
2023-03-29 SCOTTS VLY, CA Minor 0.25" Social media report of accumulating pea-sized hail in Scotts Valley.

Wind Storm History — San Jose Area (Last 5 Years)

NOAA has recorded 8 high-wind events within 25 miles of San Jose, CA in the past five years. Of those, 6 reached severe-thunderstorm thresholds (58+ mph). The highest measured gust was 90 mph.

SeverityCount
Severe4 events
Significant2 events
Moderate1 event
Minor1 event

Recent Wind Events Near San Jose

DateLocationGust (mph)SeverityNOAA Comments
2025-12-25 REDWOOD GROVE, CA 67 Severe A tree was reported down on all lanes of California Highway 9 at Douglas Avenue.
2025-12-25 HOLY CITY, CA 90 Severe The PG&E station on Mount Umunhum reported a gust of 90 mph.
2025-12-24 PERMANENTE, CA 67 Severe The PG&E station on Monte Bello Road West reported a gust of 67 mph.
2025-12-24 LOS ALTOS HILLS, CA 75 Severe The PG&E station on Black Mountain reported a gust of 75 mph.
2024-04-04 CAPITOLA, CA 58 Significant A large pine tree was blown down near Soquel.
2024-02-19 WILDWOOD, CA 58 Significant A 3 foot diameter tree fell onto the roadway at California Route 236 and China Grade Road.
2024-02-04 EVERGREEN, CA 23 Minor Three inch tree limbs were broken, and power lines were downed.
2024-02-04 SAN CARLOS, CA 30 Moderate Three inch tree limbs were broken, and power lines were downed.

Frequently Asked Questions About San Jose Hail

When was the last major hail storm in San Jose, CA?

NOAA has not recorded a quarter-size-or-larger hail storm within 25 miles of San Jose in the past five years. Smaller hail can still cause cosmetic damage, and unreported storms may exist.

How often does it hail in San Jose?

San Jose averages roughly 1 reported hail event per year within a 25-mile radius. Significant storms (quarter-size or larger) account for 0 of the 4 events recorded over the last five years.

How big does hail typically get in San Jose?

The largest documented hail near San Jose in the last five years was pea-sized. Most San Jose-area hail falls in the marble-to-quarter range, with destructive storms (egg-size or larger) appearing roughly once every few years.

Does my insurance cover hail damage in CA?

Most homeowners insurance policies in CA cover hail damage to roofs, siding, and gutters under the dwelling and other-structures coverage. Coverage typically requires the damage to be tied to a verifiable storm date — which is where the NOAA hail history above (and a HAAG-style test square validation) becomes important for the claim file.

How do I check hail history for a specific San Jose address?

Use the HailCheck address search to enter any street address in or near San Jose. HailCheck returns every NOAA hail event within a configurable radius, along with severity bands, dates, and storm narratives for Pro members.

What a HAAG-Style Test Square Validation Means in San Jose

If your property in or near San Jose took on hail during one of the storms above, the standard process for documenting damage is a 10×10 foot test square inspection. A HAAG-trained reviewer counts impact indicators — granule displacement, mat fractures, and bruising — within the marked square and produces a PASS or FAIL document for the claim file.

HailCheck offers a $99 photo-based HAAG-style test square validation. You submit photos from the field, our reviewer evaluates the impact indicators and cross-references the NOAA storm dates listed above, and a written PASS/FAIL determination is returned within one business day. We do not send anyone to the roof — the validation is built around the photos you submit.

Learn About $99 HAAG-Style Validation

Why San Jose's Location Matters for Hail

San Jose sits east of the traditional hail alley, where hail events are less frequent than the central plains but tend to be associated with strong squall lines and tropical systems. Local roof systems are less commonly hardened for hail, which can mean even moderate impacts produce claim-worthy damage.

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