El Paso, TX Hail Storm – October 2026

A hail-producing storm moved through El Paso, Texas, on October 24, 2026, producing stones up to 2.86 inches in diameter and generating 28 NWS alerts across the metro. The event ran from early evening into late night with repeated radar-detected hail signatures and one spotter-verified report.

What Happened

The episode began at 5:20 PM CDT with a radar-detected hail signature and continued as a series of cells crossing the El Paso metro. NWS alerts ran from 5:20 PM CDT to 11:48 PM CDT, totaling 28 separate notifications that alternated between radar-detected hail, NWS warning only notices, and mixed radar plus spotter verification. Early radar returns at 5:20 PM and 5:24 PM indicated roughly 1.25-inch hail; stronger returns near 5:38 PM and 5:59 PM showed growth to roughly 1.75 inches. A sequence of dual-polarization radar detections between 6:36 PM and 7:02 PM included signatures estimating up to roughly 2.0 inches and 1.92 inches. Several later radar detections continued to show 1.0–1.5-inch hail signatures through the late evening.

At 5:38 PM CDT a public report noted quarter-sized hail in the neighborhood near Rudy's, which was logged as a spotter-verified observation. That local report aligns with radar returns in the same time window and location. Several of the NWS alerts during the event were issued as warning-only notices; others were generated from dual-polarization radar detection and a subset included both radar and spotter verification.

Damage Assessment

Field reports remain limited. The only ground-truth entry from local storm observers on October 24 was a public report of quarter-sized hail near Rudy's at 5:38 PM CDT. No additional local storm reports documented structural failures, widespread vehicle damage, or large-scale tree injury in the metropolitan area in the immediate aftermath. Radar-detected hail signatures indicate stronger hail potential along portions of the track where 1.5-inch and larger echoes returned, but those radar footprints did not translate into multiple spotter-verified damage reports in the available local storm report set.

Where damage evaluations are already under way, crews should prioritize properties and assets within the NWS warning areas issued during the 5:20 PM to 11:48 PM window. Specific streets and neighborhoods near the Rudy's report location should receive early attention for cosmetic shingle bruising, dents to parked vehicles, and possible damage to exposed rooftop equipment. Document condition with time-stamped photos and note whether vehicles were parked outdoors during the early evening period.

What Contractors Should Know

Inspect roofs along the radar-indicated hail swath and within the NWS warning areas first. Focus inspections on asphalt shingles for granule loss, bruising, and split tabs; check metal panels and rooftop HVAC housings for dents and punctures. In this event, the most credible ground report was quarter-sized hail near Rudy's at 5:38 PM CDT, but radar signatures indicate larger hail potential elsewhere along the track. Prioritize properties that report visible damage or have vehicles that were left outside during the event.