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HailIndex

Lincoln hail storm history

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

Lincoln, located in Lancaster County, has experienced 7 documented hail events of 1 inch or larger over the past 10 years, with an average frequency of 0.7 events per year. The city sits within the Omaha-Lincoln corridor, one of the highest-frequency large-hail zones in the United States, where Gulf moisture and the dryline interact with the jet stream to produce frequent supercell thunderstorms.

Events ≥1" (10yr)
220
Significant ≥1.5"
85
Avg per year
22.0
Largest recorded
5"
Most recent
Sep 14, 2025
Total records
239
NOAA storm history
events (10 yr)198
≥1.5" significant77
peak year (56)2022

Hail in Lincoln occurs most frequently during May and June, with secondary activity in April and July. The concentration of storms during these months reflects the seasonal alignment of atmospheric conditions that favor supercell development across eastern Nebraska, when warm Gulf air collides with cool upper-level air masses.

Annual frequency — last 10 years

2025
19
2024
13
2023
24
2022
56
2021
3
2020
13
2019
33
2018
6
2017
43
≥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
Apr52
May58
Jun80
Jul10
Aug11
Sep18
Oct7
Nov0
Dec0

All recorded hail events

Of 239 recorded events, 85 (36%) reached 1.5" or larger — the threshold for likely functional damage on standard asphalt shingles.

Delayed public report of hail measured at 1 inch in diameter. Time estimated via radar.

Public report of hail estimated at 1 inch in diameter.

May 31, 20251"quarter

Public report received via social media of hail estimated up to 1 in diameter.

May 20, 20251"quarter

Public report of hail estimated up to 1 in diameter.

Emergency manager report of hail measured up to 1.75 in diameter.

Public report of hail estimated up to 2 in diameter.

Oct 30, 20241"quarter

The office received a public report of quarter sized hail.

The office received a public report form mPING of quarter sized hail.

Jul 2, 20241.25"half dollar

Reports from emergency management, trained spotters and the public was received by the office for a …

The office received an mPING report of half dollar sized hail in Valparaiso, Nebraska.

The office received a public report of quarter sized hail from mPING.

The office received a public report of tennis ball sized hail just to the east of Davey. The time of…

Public reported 1-inch hail.

Jul 15, 20231"quarter

Emergency management reported pea to quarter size hail.

Storm chaser reported 1.25-inch hail.

Emergency manager reported ping pong to tennis ball size hail at Highway 79 and Bluff Road.

Trained spotter reported 1.25-inch hail.

Public reported 1.25-inch hail via Mping.

Emergency manager reported 1.75-inch hail.

Public reported 1.75 inch hail.

Broadcast media relayed report of 2.25-inch hail at a Seward car wash.

Trained spotter reported quarter sized hail.

Public reported 2.5 inch hail accompanied with strong winds.

Public reported 1 inch hail.

Public reported 1.5 inch hail via social media.

Public reported 1 inch hail via social media.

Jun 11, 20211"quarter

Police reported 1 inch hail.

May 5, 20211.5"ping pong ball

Public reported 1.5 inch hail.

May 2, 20211"quarter

Report from mPing for 1 inch hail.

Aug 6, 20201"quarter

Public reported 1 inch hail.

Emergency management reported 1.5 inch hail.

Trained spotter reported 1 inch hail.

Jun 9, 20201"quarter

A utility company reported hail up to the size of quarters.

Public, via an image, reported 2 inch hailsouth of Yankee Hill Road on 70th Street in Lincoln.

Public reported 1 inch hail.

Sep 25, 20191.5"ping pong ball

The public reported hail up to 1.5 inches in diameter. Winds of 50 to 60 mph were also reported.

Penny size hail lasted for about 5 minutes northwest of Lincoln.

Quarter sized hail lasted for about 10 minutes near Holdrege Street and South 134th Street east of L…

Social media had reports of nickel to quarter size hail near Old Cheney Road and South 84th Street i…

The public reported nickel size hail southwest of Rokeby.

May 24, 20191"quarter

Hail in Pickrell.

This was a public report received via Twitter.

The public reported 1 inch hail on West Denton Road.

The public reported 1.5 hail.

Sep 18, 20181.75"golf ball
Sep 2, 20181"quarter
Aug 7, 20181.5"ping pong ball
Jun 12, 20181"quarter
Oct 7, 20171"quarter

One inch hail was reported west of Crete.

Jul 3, 20170.75"penny

Also 60 mph wind was reported at the same location.

Ping-pong ball hail last about 10 minutes.

Quarter size hail reported at 40th and Old Cheney Road.

Apr 15, 20171.75"golf ball
Aug 16, 20160.75"penny
May 10, 20161"quarter

Numerous reports giant hail from the southeast side of the city of Lincoln include a measured 5 inch…

Several reports of large hail and gusty winds were received from Lincoln. The hail size ranged from …

Mar 31, 20161"quarter
About this data

Lancaster County's NOAA record documents 10 hail events of 1 inch or larger, though the frequency remains relatively modest compared to western Nebraska hail corridors. The largest recorded hail in the county measured 1.25 inches on August 22, 2025, which represents a marginal damage threshold capable of causing granule loss on aging asphalt shingles but typically insufficient for structural roof damage. 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