Kearney hail storm history
Buffalo County·NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database·~75-day publication lag
Kearney in Buffalo County has experienced relatively limited hail activity over the past decade, with no recorded hail events of 1 inch or larger. However, Buffalo County as a whole has documented three hail events meeting the 1-inch threshold in the NOAA record, indicating that larger hail does occur in this region despite Kearney's specific exemption from severe hail impacts.
Hail risk in Kearney peaks during May and June, when the convergence of Gulf moisture, elevated mixed-layer convection, and the low-level jet create favorable conditions for large-hail supercells across central Nebraska. April and July represent secondary risk months, though the probability of damaging hail remains considerably lower than in peak season.
Annual frequency — last 10 years
When hail hits — monthly pattern
Avg events per month · all years · NOAA data
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.
Hail ranging in size from quarters up to two inches in diameter was reported along and within a few …
Hail ranging in size from quarters to two inches in diameter was reported across Holdrege.
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.
Pea to quarter size hail was reported in Axtell.
Hail up to the size of ping pong balls was reported across Kearney.
Quarter to golf ball size hail was reported in the area.
Hail to at least quarter size fell at Overton Golf Club.
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.
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…
Hail up to quarter size caused some damage to vehicles, buildings, and crops.
Hail up to 2 inches in diameter was reported.
Quarter to ping pong ball size hail was reported.
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 …
Hail ranging in size from peas to golf balls fell for approximately 45 minutes, ravaging a 45-acre m…
Hail ranging in size from 1 to 2 inches in diameter was reported across Kearney.
Hail the size of quarters to half dollars was reported.
Hail ranged in size from quarters to ping pong balls.
Quarter to golf ball size hail was reported.
Highway 40 was covered in hail.
Kearney's low event count reflects genuine hail frequency rather than reporting gaps—the city sits in an area where severe hail supercells are uncommon relative to other Nebraska locations. Neighboring Buffalo County has recorded three events of 1 inch or larger, with the largest occurring on May 19, 2025, indicating that while Kearney itself has been spared major hail events, the surrounding county remains within a region where marginal hail damage is possible. Current-year data is excluded from the annual frequency table until October, when NOAA's Storm Events Database has processed the full hail season accounting for the standard 75-day reporting lag.
NOAA Storm Events Database source