Oct. 20 Hail in Mesa & Chandler: What to Check on Your Roof

On the evening of Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026, a supercell thunderstorm moved from near the city of Maricopa toward Chandler and Mesa. The National Weather Service (NWS) in Phoenix says it produced "large hail up to 1 to 2 inches in diameter and wind damage." If your home was in that path, here's what the official reports show, what you can check from the ground, and when an inspection makes sense.

What happened in Mesa and Chandler on Oct. 20, 2026?

A storm formed near Maricopa in Pinal County and became a supercell as it moved northeast into Chandler and Mesa on the evening of Oct. 20, 2026. NWS Phoenix says it dropped hail up to 1 to 2 inches across and caused wind damage, including an estimated 25 to 30 uprooted trees at a Chandler park.

In Mesa, about 5 large trees were uprooted at a church. NWS Phoenix's event summary calls the Oct. 20 to 22 storms "the most significant severe weather event in Arizona since early October 2010." Across Arizona over those three days, NWS issued 158 Severe Thunderstorm Warnings.

Where was hail reported?

NWS Phoenix storm reports placed hail in Chandler, including Arizona Avenue and Elliot Road, and across Mesa between about 10:05 and 10:25 PM. The largest stones, about 1 to 2 inches, were reported in Mesa near Brown and Gilbert Roads. Times below are Arizona time (MST), and report locations are approximate.

Time (MST)	Where	What was reported	Reported by
10:05 PM	About 3 miles northwest of Chandler	Hail 1/2 to 3/4 inch that "rapidly accumulated," and a 0.88 inch report	Trained spotter
10:10 PM	Arizona Avenue and Elliot Road, Chandler	Dime to quarter size hail	Trained spotter
10:10 PM	About 3 miles southwest of Mesa	Quarter size (1 inch) hail	Public (mPING)
10:20 PM	About 2 miles east northeast of Mesa	Power lines down (SRP report)	Utility
10:22 PM	About 3 miles east northeast of Mesa	Measured 1 inch hailstone	Public
10:25 PM	About 3 miles east northeast of Mesa	Pile of hailstones about 1 to 2 inches across	Trained spotter

The NWS event page also shows a photo of 1 to 2 inch hail near Brown and Gilbert Roads in Mesa, and carport and vehicle damage near Gilbert Road and University Drive. NWS put Phoenix, Mesa, Chandler, Scottsdale, Gilbert and Tempe under a Severe Thunderstorm Warning at 9:49 PM. It listed 60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail, and said "wind damage to roofs, siding, and trees" was possible. A second warning at 10:28 PM covered Mesa, East Mesa and Fountain Hills.

A report near you doesn't mean your roof was damaged, and no report doesn't mean it wasn't. Hail can vary a lot from one street to the next.

Can 1 to 2 inch hail damage a roof?

It can. The NWS warnings for this storm named quarter size (1 inch) hail, and spotters reported stones up to about 2 inches. Engineers writing for the National Roofing Contractors Association list rough sizes where damage can start, from 1 inch on three-tab shingles to 1¾ inches on concrete tile. Only a close look at the roof can confirm damage.

Those sizes are starting points, not rules. Our hail damage guide has the full table.

What can I check from the ground?

Stay off the roof. From the yard, the street or inside the house, look for dents or spatter marks on gutters, the AC unit and metal patio covers, broken or slipped tile, shingle pieces near downspouts, broken limbs on the roof, and new ceiling stains. Take dated photos of anything you find. Here's more on each:

• Dents and spatter marks on metal. Look at gutters, downspouts, the AC unit, metal patio covers and roof vents you can see from the yard. Spatter marks are spots where hail knocked dirt or oxidation off a surface.
• Broken or slipped tile. From the street or yard, look for tile pieces on the ground, cracked tiles along the edges, or gaps in a row.
• Shingle pieces or heavy granules. Check the ground near downspouts for shingle pieces or a heavy wash of granules. Granules alone don't prove hail damage, but they're worth noting.
• Tree and debris damage. Look for broken limbs on or near the roof, and damaged screens, fences or patio furniture.
• Inside. Look for new ceiling stains or leaks, especially after the next rain.

When should I get a roof inspection after the Oct. 20 storm?

Get an inspection if you were near the reported hail and see any of the signs above, or if no one has looked at your roof since the storm. We recommend one once a year and after big storms. We walk the roof, take photos and give you a written report. It usually takes under an hour, at no charge.

If your tile roof is older, an inspection after a storm is also a good time to check the underlayment. On most East Valley tile roofs, the underlayment wears out long before the tile does.

How should I document hail damage for insurance?

Write down the storm date, Oct. 20, 2026, keep a link to the NWS Phoenix event page, and save your dated ground photos. You file the claim, and your insurer or agent answers coverage questions. With your permission, we meet the adjuster at your home and send our photos and reports to your insurer at your request. We can't promise coverage.

NRCA's engineers note that spatter marks typically last about a year, which can help show when a storm hit. That's one more reason to photograph them early.

Frequently asked questions

Did the Oct. 20, 2026 storm hit Gilbert?

NWS's 9:49 PM warning listed Gilbert. The hail reports we found in NWS storm reports name locations in Chandler and Mesa, including Arizona Avenue and Elliot Road in Chandler. If you're in north or west Gilbert, check from the ground and look at your gutters and AC unit.

Was the Oct. 21 hail in my area?

The second supercell, on the afternoon of Oct. 21, 2026, hit Central Phoenix along Interstate 17, not the East Valley. NWS reported hail up to 2 inches and winds over 60 mph there.

Should I get on my roof to look?

No. Wet or damaged tile and shingles are easy to slip on, and walking on tile can crack it. Check from the ground and leave the roof to an inspector.

Will my insurance cover hail damage?

Only your insurer or agent can answer that. We document what we find on the roof, with photos and a written report, so you have clear information when you talk to them.

Book an inspection with us

If your home was in the Oct. 20 storm path, call us at (602) 806-6806 or request an inspection. We answer 24/7. All Storm Roofing is a licensed Arizona contractor (ROC #345156) based in Gilbert.

Sources

• NWS Phoenix, Severe Weather Outbreak: October 20 to 22, 2026, event summary (read Oct. 31, 2026).
• NWS Phoenix local storm reports and Severe Thunderstorm Warnings 140 and 141, Oct. 20, 2026, via the Iowa Environmental Mesonet archive (read Oct. 31, 2026).
• NOAA Storm Prediction Center, storm reports for Oct. 20, 2026 (read Oct. 31, 2026).
• National Roofing Contractors Association, Professional Roofing hail damage article, as cited in our hail damage guide.