Whittier, CA Hail Storm – October 2026

Whittier, CA recorded 1.06 inches of hail on October 22, 2026, during a mid-morning convective pulse. The storm produced a compact hail core and prompted a single NWS severe thunderstorm warning.

What Happened

The line of convection moved through Whittier in the mid-morning hours on October 22. At 10:20 AM PDT the National Weather Service issued one severe thunderstorm warning for 0.75-inch hail. The warning carried NWS warning-only confidence. Dual-polarization radar showed a compact, northeast-moving hail core across the city during the warning period. The active convective pulse waned within an hour and the event is concluded.

Local radar-derived hail detection identified a concentrated swath of larger hail within the NWS warning area. Ground reports and radar match the timing of the warning but coverage of spotter confirmations within Whittier was limited. Storm motion was generally northeast at typical convective speeds for the region.

Damage Assessment

Hail reached sizes in the quarter-size range. Quarter-sized hail is defined as quarter-sized (1.00 in) under the NWS object scale. Hail of this size commonly dents vehicle body panels and can abrade exposed vinyl and soft metal trim on residential buildings. In Whittier neighborhoods, parked cars, skylights, and unshaded HVAC equipment were at greatest risk during the brief core passage.

Clay tile roofs, common in the area, typically resist small hail better than asphalt shingles but can suffer edge chipping where tiles are old or already weathered. Asphalt shingles can show bruising, granule loss, and surface impact marks from quarter-sized impacts. Solar panels and exterior glass should be inspected for surface pitting and cracked glazing following this event.

What Contractors Should Know

Prioritize visual roof inspections for asphalt-shingle properties and checks for chipped or fractured clay tiles. For roofs with visible granule loss or bruising, document each roof face with dated photos and note the compass orientation of the exposures. Inspect skylights, solar arrays, gauge-mounted HVAC condensers, and vehicle fleets photographed in place. Record the NWS warning time, weather station observations if available, and any client statements about when hail was observed.

When preparing estimates, separate cosmetic surface damage from functional failures. Photograph impacted materials against a scale and include close-ups of pitting or fractures. Use location tags and timestamps on every image. Field teams should cross-reference their inspection points with the radar-derived hail swath and warning area to prioritize canvass routes.

View the paid Strike Map for the radar-confirmed hail swath and the event damage zone.