Richvale, CA Hail Storm – April 2026

What Happened

Richvale, CA saw a concluded hail storm on April 9, 2026, with peak hail reaching 1 inch. The event was tracked in the Chico metro area during the evening.

Two NWS alerts covered this storm. The first came at 7:32 PM PDT, followed by a second at 7:39 PM PDT. Both alerts carried 1-inch hail language and were supported by dual-polarization radar detection.

The timing points to a short-lived but organized hail core moving through the warning area in the early evening. The repeated 1-inch signals within seven minutes kept the hail threat focused on the same general corridor.

Damage Assessment

One-inch hail can break weaker roof materials, dent soft metals, and leave impact marks on vehicle panels and trim. The most common field findings after a storm at this size are bruised shingles, chipped exposed paint, cracked skylights, and pitting on gutters or vent caps.

In Richvale, the hail size places this event above nuisance level. Inspections should focus on roof slopes facing the storm approach, flat roofs with exposed membrane, and any site with older composition shingles, lightweight panels, or unprotected vehicles. Even where visible damage is limited, collateral issues often show up in seams, flashing, and edge metal.

Contractors should treat this as a spot-check storm rather than a broad total-loss event. The key work is to separate cosmetic marks from functional roof damage and to document only the hail-related impacts tied to the storm path.

What Contractors Should Know

Start with the structures closest to the hail path through Richvale and the Chico metro area. Prioritize roofs with aging asphalt, translucent panels, painted metal, and exposed HVAC equipment. Small hail can still leave serviceable but reportable damage on soft metals and rooftop accessories. Look for granule loss, denting on ridge caps, and impact marks on drip edge, box vents, and gutters.

Use the evening timing to narrow canvass windows and cross-check calls against both alert times. A 7:32 PM PDT alert followed by a 7:39 PM PDT update suggests a tight sequence. That helps separate this event from later rainfall or unrelated roof complaints. Document dates, addresses, surface type, and the specific side of the structure facing the storm approach. Photos should show scale, direction of impact, and matching damage across multiple components.

For vehicle and exterior claims, inspect hood lines, mirror housings, window trim, and any horizontal surface with direct exposure. One-inch hail can leave scattered dents that are easy to miss from ground level. Property owners often report damage first on skylights, greenhouse panels, patio covers, and decorative metal finishes. Those elements should be checked early because they often show the clearest evidence.

Field teams should keep the report tight and location-specific. Note whether the hail affected one parcel, a cluster of nearby addresses, or a wider strip through the warning area. Match each observation to the storm date and local time. Avoid mixing this event with older April hail reports in Butte County.