HailHistory › Hail by county › California › San Diego County
California · county FIPS 06073
Hail history for San Diego County, CA
San Diego County has 52 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 22 of them 1″ or larger. The largest on record: 1.75″ (golf ball) on September 11, 2008.
Mark size = measured hail diameter; slivers are events with no recorded size. Amber ≥2″, red ≥2.75″ (baseball class). Denser recent decades partly reflect better reporting, not only more storms.
When it hails in San Diego County
Recorded events by month, 1950–present. The amber bar marks San Diego County's peak: September.
Most recent recorded events
| Date | Size | Comparable to |
|---|---|---|
| 0.5″ | Mothball | |
| 0.5″ | Mothball | |
| 0.5″ | Mothball | |
| 0.75″ | Penny | |
| 0.25″ | Pea | |
| 0.5″ | Mothball | |
| 1.0″ | Quarter | |
| 0.5″ | Mothball |
Looking for a specific storm? Use the did-it-hail date lookup for San Diego County.
From the storm reports
Narratives as filed with the NOAA Storm Events Database (public records; lightly trimmed for length).
· 0.5″ (mothball)
NWS storm survey on August 12 showed leaves and debris along SR 78 at the entrance of Julian. The town of Julian live camera recorded hail for about 30 minutes. Hail was observed at 0.25 to 0.50 inch diameter.
· 1.0″ (quarter)
Measured hail 1 inch in diameter.
· 1.75″ (golf ball)
A trained spotter reported golf ball size hail in Ranchita.
Events by decade
| 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 24 | 10 | 9 |
The climb across decades is largely a reporting story: spotter networks, radar, and digital filing pulled far more storms into the record after the 1990s.
Questions about hail in San Diego County
Has it ever hailed in San Diego County?
Yes — 52 hail events have been recorded for San Diego County, CA in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1958, including 22 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.
When did it last hail in San Diego County?
The most recent recorded hail event for San Diego County, CA is August 11, 2024, with 0.5″ (mothball) hail. The database is currently updated through April 2026, so a storm from the last few weeks may not appear yet. To check a specific day, use the did-it-hail date lookup.
What is the largest hail ever recorded in San Diego County?
1.75″ (golf ball), recorded on September 11, 2008. Hail that size meets or exceeds the National Weather Service severe threshold. See how big that really is on the actual-size hail chart.
Does a recorded hail event mean my roof was damaged?
No. This page reports storm records, not damage. Hail size and damage vary block by block within a county, and only an inspection can establish what happened to a specific roof. If you suspect damage, talk to your insurer or a licensed roofer — they can pull the same NOAA records for your claim.
More California hail history
Source: NOAA/NCEI Storm Events Database, public domain, updated monthly by NCEI — this site's copy runs through April 2026. HailHistory reports records; it does not give insurance advice or assess damage.