Hail HistoryHome › California › Santa Cruz County › Santa Cruz
Hail history for Santa Cruz, CA
Hail has been reported within 10 miles of Santa Cruz on 9 days since 2006. The largest stones measured 0.75 in (penny) on Mar 10, 2006. Hail is most common here in March and January.
Santa Cruz ranks #1,064 for hail days among the 1,399 U.S. cities of 25,000 to 100,000 people. See the ranking →
Recent hail near Santa Cruz
No hail was reported within 10 miles of Santa Cruz in the last two years.
Hail days near Santa Cruz by year
When hail season peaks near Santa Cruz
Of the 9 hail days since 2006, most fell in March (6) and January (3).
Largest hail storms near Santa Cruz
Mar 10, 2006 · 0.75 in (penny) · Live Oak (4 mi from Santa Cruz)
Jan 19, 2017 · 0.25 in (pea) · Santa Cruz (2 mi from Santa Cruz)
Jan 23, 2017 · 0.25 in (pea) · Santa Cruz (1 mi from Santa Cruz)
Mar 2, 2018 · 0.25 in (pea) · Felton (6 mi from Santa Cruz)
Mar 17, 2018 · 0.25 in (pea) · Scotts Vly (6 mi from Santa Cruz)
Tornadoes within 10 miles of Santa Cruz
| Date | Rating | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Dec 14, 2024 | EF1 | Scotts Vly 5 mi from Santa Cruz |
| Jan 6, 2019 | EF0 | Santa Cruz 1 mi from Santa Cruz |
| Jan 6, 2019 | EF0 | Santa Cruz 1 mi from Santa Cruz |
Damaging thunderstorm winds near Santa Cruz
3 reports of damaging thunderstorm wind within 10 miles of Santa Cruz since 2006, on 3 days. The strongest measured gust was 91 mph on Dec 25, 2025.
| Date | Strongest gust | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Dec 25, 2025 | 91 mph, measured | Santa Cruz 1 wind report |
| Apr 4, 2024 | 58 mph, estimated | Capitola 1 wind report |
| Aug 16, 2020 | 46 mph, estimated | Ben Lomond 1 wind report |
Severe thunderstorm wind means gusts of 58 mph or more, or wind that caused damage. Measured gusts come from weather stations; estimated ones from spotters and damage surveys.
Filing a roof or car hail claim?
Insurers ask for the date of loss. The dates on this page are when hail was reported near Santa Cruz; hail can hit one street and miss the next, so a report is not proof of damage at your address. A licensed roofer or your insurance adjuster can inspect the roof. Many policies set a time limit for filing a claim — check yours.
Nearby cities
- Morgan Hill
5 hail days - Cupertino
12 hail days - San Jose
13 hail days - Santa Clara
12 hail days - Sunnyvale
9 hail days - Mountain View
5 hail days - Milpitas
8 hail days - Redwood City
5 hail days
Data: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (final records through Jun 30, 2026) and National Weather Service Local Storm Reports (preliminary, since then). Distances are measured from the center of Santa Cruz.
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