Happy Camp, CA Hail Storm – July 2025

On July 30, 2025, a concluded hail storm over Happy Camp, CA produced verified hail up to 1.25 inches. Five NWS alerts tracked the storm from late afternoon into early evening.

What Happened

The first hail alert came at 4:29 PM PDT with a 1-inch hail call from dual-polarization radar confidence. A second 1-inch alert followed at 4:41 PM PDT.

The storm strengthened through the late afternoon. At 5:17 PM PDT, radar confidence supported 1.25-inch hail. Another 1-inch alert came at 5:28 PM PDT, then a final 1.25-inch alert at 5:43 PM PDT. The sequence shows repeated hail detection across the same storm system as it moved through the Happy Camp area.

All five alerts were tied to dual-polarization radar with NEXRAD hail detection confidence. The event is concluded.

Damage Assessment

Hail in the 1-inch to 1.25-inch range can affect roofs, siding, gutters, vents, skylights, and soft metal trim. In a mountain community like Happy Camp, exposed vehicles, outbuildings, and older roofing materials can show scattered impact marks even when nearby structures appear intact.

At 1.25 inches, the hail is large enough to leave visible bruising on asphalt shingles and dent thinner metal surfaces. Window screens, patio covers, and exterior HVAC fins can also show impact damage. The repeated hail calls during the storm suggest multiple bursts of severe hail rather than a single short pulse.

Contractors should expect mixed field conditions after a storm like this. One block can show only minor cosmetic marks while another nearby roof has concentrated strike patterns. Inspections should cover ridge lines, valleys, soft metals, roof penetrations, and vehicle lots first. Crews should also check tree limbs, gutters, and siding on windward exposures, since hail from a moving storm often concentrates along the storm path.

What Contractors Should Know

Schedule canvass work for the full warning area, not just the center of town. The storm produced five separate hail alerts between 4:29 PM PDT and 5:43 PM PDT, which points to a multi-burst event with changing hail intensity. Property checks should account for both 1-inch and 1.25-inch hail footprints.

For roof inspections, prioritize asphalt shingle slopes with direct exposure, then move to soft metal flashings, vents, pipe boots, and skylight frames. Document every impact field with date-stamped photos and note the time of the first visible damage if homeowners can provide it. On exterior claims, include gutters, downspouts, AC condenser fins, and vehicle panels in the initial walk-around.

Keep crews focused on consistent documentation. Use the same angle, lighting, and reference object at each property. Separate cosmetic marks from functional damage in the field notes. In a short-duration storm with repeated hail alerts, the difference often appears in the distribution of impacts rather than the peak stone size alone.