Hail history for Santa Cruz County, CA

Santa Cruz County has 21 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 3 of them 1″ or larger. The largest on record: 1.75″ (golf ball) on April 1, 1965.

Records 1950–present Data through April 2026 Peak month March

Core sample · every recorded event, 1955–2026

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.

Recorded events 21 since 1965

1″ or larger 3 NWS severe threshold

2″ or larger 0 hen egg class and up

Largest recorded 1.75″ golf ball · April 1, 1965

Read the record honestly: Storm Events contains what was reported to the National Weather Service. Sparse or rural counties under-report, and coverage improved sharply after the mid-1990s — a quiet-looking stretch is not proof nothing fell.

When it hails in Santa Cruz County

Recorded events by month, 1950–present. The amber bar marks Santa Cruz County's peak: March.

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 21 recorded events · data through April 2026
Date	Size	Comparable to
March 29, 2023	0.25″	Pea
March 10, 2021	0.25″	Pea
March 10, 2021	0.25″	Pea
March 26, 2020	0.25″	Pea
January 16, 2020	0.25″	Pea
January 16, 2020	0.25″	Pea
January 16, 2020	0.25″	Pea
February 15, 2019	0.25″	Pea

Looking for a specific storm? Use the did-it-hail date lookup for Santa Cruz County.

From the storm reports

Narratives as filed with the NOAA Storm Events Database (public records; lightly trimmed for length).

March 29, 2023 · 0.25″ (pea)

Social media report of accumulating pea-sized hail in Scotts Valley.

January 20, 2010 · 1.0″ (quarter)

A hail storm occurred in the mountains of Santa Cruz County. A report of one inch diameter hail came from a motorist traveling along Eureka canyon Road north of Corralitos.

December 20, 2001 · 0.75″ (penny)

From the same storm system 3/4 inch hail was reported covering the ground 2 nm n of Watsonville. The hail damaged a large greenhouse. In a separate report there was golf ball sized hail reported in the same area.

Events by decade

1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
0	1	0	0	0	4	9	7

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 Santa Cruz County

Has it ever hailed in Santa Cruz County?

Yes — 21 hail events have been recorded for Santa Cruz County, CA in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1965, including 3 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Santa Cruz County?

The most recent recorded hail event for Santa Cruz County, CA is March 29, 2023, with 0.25″ (pea) 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 Santa Cruz County?

1.75″ (golf ball), recorded on April 1, 1965. 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

All 58 California counties, ranked by recorded hail →

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.