Hail history in San Diego, CA
On average, NOAA recorded hail within 15 miles of the center of San Diego on 0.3 days a year from 2016 to 2025, 0.0 of them with hail 1 inch or larger. NOAA recorded hail within 15 miles of the center of San Diego on 5 days since 2010. The largest hail reported was 0.75 in, in 2013. February has the most hail days, 1 since 2010. The most recent was December 12, 2022. NOAA also recorded high wind on 13 days, with gusts up to 68 mph.
Ranks #177 of 200 US cities for days with hail 1 inch or larger, 2016 to 2025.
- Hail days since 2010
- 5
- Largest hail
- 0.75 in
- Highest gust
- 68 mph
Source: NOAA/NWS Storm Prediction Center
Data through November 1, 2026
5 hail days within 15 miles since 2010, largest 0.75 in
Source: NOAA/NWS Storm Prediction Center
Data through November 1, 2026
Hail days by year
Bar chart of hail days per year, 2010 to 2026. 5 hail days in total; the most was 2 in 2013.
Hail days by month
Hail days by month since 2010: Jan 0, Feb 1, Mar 1, Apr 0, May 0, Jun 0, Jul 0, Aug 0, Sep 1, Oct 0, Nov 1, Dec 1.
Most recent hail days
| Date | Largest hail | Nearest report |
|---|---|---|
| Dec 12, 2022 | 0.5 in | 11.5 mi |
| Sep 24, 2021 | 0.25 in | 3.7 mi |
| Mar 3, 2021 | 0.5 in | 5.0 mi |
| Nov 22, 2013 | 0.75 in | 14.5 mi |
| Feb 8, 2013 | 0.25 in | 5.4 mi |
About this data
- Distances are from the center of San Diego, not from any one property. Look up a street address below for a single building.
- Reports come from trained spotters and the public, so they cluster near towns and roads.
- No report does not mean no hail. Hail can fall where no one is there to report it.
- This is not a damage or insurance assessment.
13 high-wind days within 15 miles since 2010, strongest gust 68 mph
Source: NOAA/NWS Storm Prediction Center
Data through November 1, 2026
Most recent high-wind days
| Date | Highest gust | Nearest report |
|---|---|---|
| Feb 17, 2026 | Not recorded | 13.9 mi |
| Mar 6, 2025 | 58 mph | 1.9 mi |
| Jan 22, 2024 | 40 mph | 6.0 mi |
| Nov 15, 2023 | 45 mph | 14.7 mi |
| Sep 24, 2021 | 60 mph | 8.1 mi |
| Dec 28, 2020 | 60 mph | 11.4 mi |
| Jan 31, 2016 | 68 mph | 3.4 mi |
| Jan 6, 2016 | 58 mph | 4.6 mi |
| Jul 18, 2015 | 60 mph | 1.2 mi |
| Sep 16, 2014 | 56 mph | 0.9 mi |
About this data
- Distances are from the center of San Diego, not from any one property. Look up a street address below for a single building.
- Reports come from trained spotters and the public, so they cluster near towns and roads.
- No report does not mean no hail. Hail can fall where no one is there to report it.
- Wind speed is the highest reported gust; some reports have no speed.
- This is not a damage or insurance assessment.
Gusts, tornadoes and hurricanes in San Diego
Estimated peak gusts
No day since October 1, 2021 had an estimated peak gust of 58 mph or more at San Diego.
Estimates: the highest gust of each storm day in NOAA’s hourly 2.5 km wind analysis (URMA), which fills in between weather stations. Analyses like this smooth out short thunderstorm gusts, so they are best for widespread wind (hurricanes, winter storms, high wind days); for thunderstorm wind, NOAA’s wind reports are the better record. Not a measurement at any building.
Tornadoes within 10 miles
NOAA recorded 6 tornadoes whose path came within 10 miles of San Diego since 1950; the strongest was rated EF1.
| Day | Rating | Path length | Closest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 19, 1991 | EF1 | 1 miles | 5.7 miles |
| Jan 13, 1990 | EF0 | 0.1 miles | 5.7 miles |
| Feb 4, 1985 | EF0 | 0.1 miles | 2.4 miles |
| Mar 17, 1982 | EF0 | 0.1 miles | 7.7 miles |
| Feb 20, 1980 | EF1 | 0.1 miles | 5.8 miles |
| Jan 18, 1979 | EF0 | 0.1 miles | 2.4 miles |
Source: NOAA/NWS Storm Prediction Center. Ratings before 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hurricanes and tropical storms
No hurricane or tropical storm in NOAA's records brought modeled tropical-storm-force winds (39 mph) to San Diego.
Modeled from NOAA’s best tracks for open, flat ground; not measurements. How we model hurricane winds
1 radar hail day within 15 miles since 2020, largest 0.75 in or more
Source: NOAA MRMS radar (MESH), from October 14, 2020. Estimates of the largest hail in each 1 km cell, not measurements.
0 days with radar hail 1 inch or larger, 0 at 2 inches or larger, within 15 miles of San Diego’s center.
Biggest radar hail days
- 0.75 in+
- 1.0 in+
- 1.5 in+
- 2.0 in+
- 2.5 in+
- 3.0 in+
Most recent radar hail days
| Date | Largest radar estimate |
|---|---|
| Jul 15, 2024 | 0.75 in or more |
Storms in San Diego
NWS San Diego says thunderstorms are rare in the city, averaging about three a year, and measurable hail is infrequent.1 The same NWS summary says strong winds and gales from Pacific or tropical storms are infrequent at San Diego's latitude, and 85 percent of the city's rain falls from November through March.1
Notable storms
- August 20, 2023Hilary came ashore in Baja California as a tropical storm. San Diego set a daily rainfall record of 1.82 inches, the San Diego River rose fast and flooded parts of Mission Valley, and several trees fell in the metro area.2
- February 17, 2017Strong southerly winds ahead of a Pacific cold front downed hundreds of trees across coastal San Diego County, with gusts of 50 to 60 mph in the metro area and 61 mph at Imperial Beach. NOAA's storm records list about $7 million in property damage.3
- January 20, 2017A severe squall produced a swath of 60 to 70 mph winds from Imperial Beach to Lawson Creek, including a 68 mph gust at Lawson Creek, and downed hundreds of trees.4
- January 31, 2016Thunderstorms brought a 68 mph gust at Mission Trails and widespread wind damage across the coast and valleys, and San Diego County took more than 500 calls about downed trees. In Pacific Beach, a falling pine tree killed a driver on Ingraham Street.5,6
- September 16, 2014Thunderstorms fed by moisture from Tropical Storm Odile brought winds a storm survey put at 60 to 65 mph. Montgomery Field measured a 56 mph gust as winds flipped several small planes there, and the City of San Diego reported 30 buildings damaged.7
- December 29, 2004Lindbergh Field recorded a 58 mph gust ahead of a squall line, the highest December gust measured there up to that time, and gusts over 60 mph blew down many trees. NOAA's storm records list about $5 million in property damage in the area.8
Warnings and alerts
NWS San Diego issues the forecasts and warnings for the city.9 San Diego County's AlertSanDiego sends emergency alerts by phone, email and text to people who register.10
Sources
- 1. NWS San Diego: San Diego Climate
- 2. NOAA National Hurricane Center: Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Hilary (EP092023)
- 3. NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: High Wind, San Diego County Coastal Areas, February 17, 2017
- 4. NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: Thunderstorm Wind, San Diego County, January 20, 2017
- 5. NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: Thunderstorm Wind, Mission Trails, January 31, 2016
- 6. NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: Thunderstorm Wind, Pacific Beach, January 31, 2016
- 7. NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: Thunderstorm Wind, Montgomery Field, September 16, 2014
- 8. NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: Thunderstorm Wind, San Diego County, December 29, 2004
- 9. NWS San Diego: Point Forecast: San Diego CA
- 10. County of San Diego: Alert San Diego
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Questions about hail in San Diego
Source: NOAA/NWS Storm Prediction Center
Data through November 1, 2026
- How often does it hail in San Diego?
- NOAA recorded hail within 15 miles of the center of San Diego on 0.3 days a year on average from 2016 to 2025, 0.0 of them with hail 1 inch or larger. Since 2010 it recorded 5 hail days.
- When is hail season in San Diego?
- February has the most hail days within 15 miles of the center of San Diego, 1 since 2010, then March (1) and September (1).
- What is the largest hail recorded in San Diego?
- 0.75 in, in 2013: the largest hail NOAA recorded within 15 miles of the center of San Diego since 2010.
- When did it last hail in San Diego?
- NOAA's most recent hail report within 15 miles of the center of San Diego is from December 12, 2022, with hail up to 0.5 in reported 11.5 miles from the center. Data through November 1, 2026.