Short answer: On Wednesday, October 21, 2026, golf-ball-size hail and 60 mph winds hit north Phoenix along Peoria Avenue between 19th and 35th Avenues, FOX 10 and 12News reported. AP reported 2- to 3-inch hail across northern and central Arizona in a rare storm. You can check for signs of damage from the ground, without a ladder.
What happened in north Phoenix on October 21, 2026?
On Wednesday, October 21, 2026, golf-ball-size hail and 60 mph winds hit north Phoenix along Peoria Avenue, between 19th and 35th Avenues. FOX 10 Phoenix and 12News both reported it.
It was one part of a wider storm. AP reported 2- to 3-inch hail across northern and central Arizona in what it called a rare storm, as severe thunderstorms moved through the state overnight Tuesday and into Wednesday.
It is not the first October hailstorm there. 12News reported that, according to the National Weather Service, an October 2010 hailstorm in the same area caused $2.7 billion in insured damage.
Which areas were hit?
- North Phoenix, along Peoria Avenue between 19th and 35th Avenues: golf-ball-size hail and 60 mph winds (FOX 10, 12News).
- Mesa: storm damage, AZFamily reported, from a storm late Tuesday night, October 20.
- Chandler: heavy rain and wind (AZFamily).
- Northern and central Arizona: 2- to 3-inch hail in a rare storm (AP).
A report near you is not the same as damage on your roof. Hail from one storm often falls in a strip a few miles wide, so your neighbor's roof and yours can come out differently.
How can I check my roof safely from the ground?
Stay off the roof. Everything below can be checked from the ground, without a ladder.
- Gutters and downspouts. Look for fresh dents in the metal.
- Vents and flashing. From the yard, look for dents in the metal on the roof.
- The ground around the house. Look for pieces of broken tile or shingle, or loose granules where the downspouts drain.
- Windows, screens and the AC unit. Look for torn screens, cracked glass, or dented fins on the AC unit.
- Your car and patio furniture. If they took dents, the roof may have been in the hail too.
- Ceilings inside. New water stains after the rain can point to a leak above.
- Photos, with the date. Photograph anything you find before it is cleaned up or repaired.
If you find something, or you just want a straight answer, book a free inspection. The honest answer may be that your roof is fine. More about roofing in the Valley.
Sources: FOX 10 Phoenix, 12News, AP and AZFamily, each checked on October 24, 2026.