Skip to content
HailIndex
Guides

Kearney hail storm history

Buffalo County·NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database·~75-day publication lag

Kearney, located in Buffalo County in central Nebraska, sits within a region where atmospheric conditions favor the development of large-hail supercells. The convergence of Gulf moisture, elevated mixed-layer convection, and the low-level jet creates a corridor of above-average hail risk during the late spring and early summer months.

Events ≥1" (10yr)
175
Significant ≥1.5" (10yr)
71
Avg per year (10yr)
17.5
Largest recorded
4"
Most recent
May 19, 2025
Total records
223
NOAA storm history
events (10 yr)175
≥1.5" significant71
peak year (37)2022
Free inspection estimate

Check if your roof was damaged by recent hail

Type of damage

How urgent?

Hail activity in Kearney peaks during May and June, when atmospheric instability and wind shear align to support rotating thunderstorms capable of producing severe hail. April and July also bring secondary risk, extending the vulnerable period across most of the late spring season. The specific geographic and meteorological conditions that favor large-hail development in this part of the state are most active during these months.

Annual frequency — last 10 years

2025
7
2024
31
2023
28
2022
37
2021
7
2020
7
2019
23
2018
14
2017
13
2016
8
≥2.0" severe≥1.5" significant≥1.0" marginal

When hail hits — monthly pattern

Avg events per month · all years · NOAA data

Jan0
Feb0
Mar3
Apr32
May51
Jun43
Jul50
Aug20
Sep13
Oct11
Nov0
Dec0

All recorded hail events

Of 223 recorded events, 71 (32%) reached 1.5" or larger — the threshold for likely functional damage on standard asphalt shingles.

Wind gusts were estimated to be near 75 MPH, and was accompanied by hail as large as half dollars. A…

Quarter to golf ball size hail was reported.

Jun 18, 20241"quarter

Hail ranging in size from quarters up to two inches in diameter was reported along and within a few …

May 21, 20241"quarter

Hail ranging in size from quarters to two inches in diameter was reported across Holdrege.

Apr 16, 20240.88"penny
Sep 21, 20231.75"golf ball

Most hail was nickel to golf ball size, with a few up to the size of tennis balls.

Tennis ball to baseball size hail was reported. Storm chaser reported a broken windshield.

Jun 16, 20231"quarter

Pea to quarter size hail was reported in Axtell.

Hail up to the size of ping pong balls was reported across Kearney.

Mar 31, 20230.75"penny

Quarter to golf ball size hail was reported in the area.

Hail to at least quarter size fell at Overton Golf Club.

Jul 6, 20220.88"penny

There were several reports of hail ranging in size from quarters to golf balls along and near a path…

There were several reports of hail ranging from 2-4 inch diameter in and near Ravenna. Widespread ho…

Hail ranging in size from quarters to golf balls was reported in the area.

May 13, 20220.88"penny
May 12, 20221"quarter

Dime to quarter size hail was accompanied by wind gusts estimated to be near 55 MPH.

Hail to up the size of ping pong balls was reported, accompanied by wind gust measured as high as 70…

Aug 23, 20211.75"golf ball

Hail up to quarter size caused some damage to vehicles, buildings, and crops.

Jun 25, 20211"quarter
Jun 16, 20212"egg

Hail up to 2 inches in diameter was reported.

May 3, 20211.75"golf ball
Aug 16, 20201.75"golf ball
Jul 30, 20200.75"penny

Quarter to ping pong ball size hail was reported.

Jul 1, 20201"quarter
Jun 28, 20200.88"penny

Hail ranged in size from nickels to half dollars. Enough hail fell to cover Interstate 80 and snow p…

Most hail stones along and near this path were quarter to half dollar size, but hail up to 2 inches …

Aug 21, 20191.75"golf ball

Hail ranging in size from peas to golf balls fell for approximately 45 minutes, ravaging a 45-acre m…

Jul 13, 20191"quarter
Jul 10, 20191"quarter
Jul 5, 20190.88"penny
Jun 21, 20191"quarter

Hail ranging in size from 1 to 2 inches in diameter was reported across Kearney.

May 24, 20191"quarter
May 23, 20190.88"penny
May 6, 20191"quarter
May 5, 20192"egg
Apr 27, 20191"quarter
Apr 22, 20191"quarter
Apr 7, 20191"quarter
Sep 1, 20180.88"penny
Aug 31, 20181"quarter
Aug 8, 20180.75"penny
Jul 20, 20181"quarter

Hail the size of quarters to half dollars was reported.

Jun 19, 20181.25"half dollar
Oct 3, 20171"quarter

Hail ranged in size from quarters to ping pong balls.

Aug 14, 20171"quarter
Jul 17, 20170.88"penny
May 16, 20171"quarter
May 10, 20170.75"penny

Quarter to golf ball size hail was reported.

Sep 16, 20161"quarter

Highway 40 was covered in hail.

Sep 15, 20161.5"ping pong ball
Jul 7, 20160.75"penny
Data source

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information Storm Events Database. Publication lag is approximately 75 days — current-year events may be incomplete.

NOAA Storm Events Database ↗