HailHistory › Hail by county › Arizona › Santa Cruz County
Arizona · county FIPS 04023
Hail history for Santa Cruz County, AZ
Santa Cruz County has 40 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 28 of them 1″ or larger. The largest on record: 1.75″ (golf ball) on October 21, 2018.
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 Santa Cruz County
Recorded events by month, 1950–present. The amber bar marks Santa Cruz County's peak: July.
Most recent recorded events
| Date | Size | Comparable to |
|---|---|---|
| 0.88″ | Nickel | |
| 0.75″ | Penny | |
| 1.25″ | Half dollar | |
| 1.0″ | Quarter | |
| 1.5″ | Ping-pong ball | |
| 1.0″ | Quarter | |
| 1.0″ | Quarter | |
| 1.0″ | Quarter |
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).
· 0.88″ (nickel)
Trained spotter estimated hail size of a nickel (0.88 inches in diameter) that damaged a skylight.
· 1.75″ (golf ball)
A severe thunderstorm produced large hail as it tracked westward across rural portions of southern Santa Cruz County. The largest hail reported by spotters was the size of golf balls at Kino Springs. No damage was reported.
· 1.75″ (golf ball)
An owner of a grape vineyard in Elgin reported hail for 15 minutes with the largest being golf ball size (1.75). Damage to the vineyard was extensive, with nearly all the 2010 grape crop lost. Crop losses at this one vineyard were estimated at six tons which translated to between 10 and 15 thousand dollars, ultimately resulting in a loss of wine valued at 100 to 150 thousand dollars.
Events by decade
| 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 14 | 12 | 10 |
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 — 40 hail events have been recorded for Santa Cruz County, AZ in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1974, including 28 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, AZ is September 25, 2025, with 0.88″ (nickel) 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 October 21, 2018. 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 Arizona hail history
- Maricopa County 227
- Pima County 189
- Yavapai County 183
- Coconino County 177
- Cochise County 125
- Mohave County 87
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.