On Wednesday, October 21, 2026, the National Weather Service in Phoenix issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning at 3:04 p.m. that listed Sun City West among the locations impacted. A second warning followed at 1:20 a.m. on Thursday, October 22. That one placed the storm “near Sun City West,” moving north at 40 mph. Both warnings were radar-indicated. Both named 60 mph wind gusts and quarter-size hail as the hazards.
What the warnings say, and what they do not
A warning means forecasters saw a storm on radar that could bring damaging hail or wind along its path. It is not a report that hail fell on your street.
The first warning ran until 3:45 p.m. A 3:18 p.m. update raised the hail threat to ping pong ball size, and Sun City West was still on its list. The overnight warning ran until 2 a.m. It also mentioned torrential rain and possible flash flooding.
Ground reports are a separate record. As of midday Thursday, the NWS Phoenix storm reports in the Iowa State archive showed Wednesday’s hail east of here, near Glendale, Peoria and Deer Valley. The largest was estimated at 2 inches near Glendale. None of those reports were placed in Sun City West. That does not mean nothing fell here. It means no report from here had been filed.
A calm check you can do from the ground
- Look at the soft metal first: roof vents, gutters, downspouts, patio covers and your car. Hail dents these before it harms a roof.
- Walk around the house. Look for broken or slipped tiles, debris on the roof, or granules piled at downspout outlets.
- If you have a flat or foam section you can see without climbing, look for water still standing a day after the rain.
- Check ceilings near outside walls, and the garage, for new stains after the overnight rain.
- Take dated photos now, even if all looks fine. They help if something shows up later.
- Stay off the roof. Tile can crack underfoot, and wet surfaces are slippery.
Our Valley-wide guide has the full post-hail checklist: Hail in the Valley this week: how to check your roof. Add this week’s photos to your roof file. Our Sun City West roof records guide explains what to keep.
If you do see something
An inspection can separate fresh damage from older wear. That matters if you speak with your insurer. Our roof insurance claims page explains the steps. Your own policy decides what is covered.
If you are away for part of the year, a neighbor or home watch service can take the photos for you.
For a free roof inspection, contact Apex Roofing Systems or call (480) 808-ROOF (7663). You can also read more on our Sun City West service page.
Sources: NWS Phoenix Severe Thunderstorm Warning 145, Oct. 21, 2026 (Iowa State IEM archive); NWS Phoenix Severe Thunderstorm Warning 151, Oct. 22, 2026 (Iowa State IEM archive); NWS local storm reports, Iowa State IEM; National Weather Service Phoenix.