Nogales, AZ Hail Storm – September 2025

Nogales, AZ saw a concluded hail storm on 2025-09-18 with a maximum confirmed hail size of 1 inch. The event produced two NWS alerts in the late afternoon and early evening.

What Happened

The first alert came at 4:35 PM MST, with dual-polarization radar confidence tied to 1-inch hail. The second alert followed at 6:08 PM MST with NWS warning-only confidence for the same hail size.

The storm moved through the Nogales metro in multiple zones. The alert sequence shows two separate hail-producing periods during the same event, with the later warning extending the severe threat into early evening. The storm is no longer active.

Damage Assessment

One-inch hail is large enough to leave dents in vehicles, break lighter roof coverings, and damage gutters, vents, and window screens. It can also crack soft-surface materials, chip exterior trim, and leave impact marks on siding and patio cover panels.

In a metro setting like Nogales, the practical damage pattern often varies block by block. One area may show mostly vehicle and screen damage, while another sees more roof and roof-edge impact. The strongest signs usually appear on unprotected vehicles, older shingles, thin metal awnings, and exposed HVAC fins.

For roof work, the most useful field checks are fresh bruising in asphalt shingles, collateral hits on vents and flashing, and impact marks on ridge caps and soft metal accessories. On flat roofs, look for membrane punctures, scuffed seams, and debris impact near drains and parapet edges. On homes with tile, inspect broken or displaced tiles and the underlayment at impact points.

Vehicle claims in hail up to 1 inch often show up as shallow body dents, cracked windshield chips, and mirror housing damage. Crews should document panel-by-panel impact density and note whether the damage is isolated or spread across the full exposed surface.

What Contractors Should Know

Field teams in Nogales should work the storm track from the first confirmed hail zone outward. Start with the areas closest to the 4:35 PM MST alert, then check properties covered by the later 6:08 PM MST warning. That sequence can help separate the heaviest impact points from lighter fringe damage.

Crews should focus on fast exterior verification. Roof edges, soft metals, painted trim, skylights, AC units, and vehicles usually show the clearest early indicators. On commercial sites, examine gutters, downspouts, low-slope roof penetrations, and metal canopies. On residential work, note shingle bruising, tile breakage, and screen enclosure damage before any cleanup removes visible evidence.

Document time, address, and surface type on every visit. Photos should include wide shots for property context and close-ups for hail impact patterns. If multiple roofs in the same neighborhood were hit, compare damage on the same material type to separate true hail loss from older wear.