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HailIndex

North Platte hail storm history

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

North Platte, located in Lincoln County, has experienced 25 hail events of 1 inch or larger over the past 10 years, averaging 2.5 events annually. The city sits in western Nebraska where terrain elevation and afternoon heating create conditions favorable for hail development. The largest recorded hail event in the county reached 4 inches on July 19, 2025, a size capable of severe damage to residential roofing.

Events ≥1" (10yr)
252
Significant ≥1.5"
133
Avg per year
25.2
Largest recorded
4"
Most recent
Sep 16, 2025
Total records
263
NOAA storm history
events (10 yr)211
≥1.5" significant113
peak year (38)2019

Hail in North Platte peaks during May, June, and July, with secondary activity in April and August. The area's location in western Nebraska places it along the path of severe storms tracking northeast from the Rocky Mountains. This geographic position, combined with afternoon heating over elevated terrain, produces organized convection that can generate significant hail through the summer months.

Annual frequency — last 10 years

2025
38
2024
15
2023
34
2022
20
2021
8
2020
29
2019
39
2018
16
2017
18
≥2.0" severe≥1.5" significant≥1.0" marginal

When hail hits — monthly pattern

Avg events per month · all years · NOAA data

Jan0
Feb0
Mar0
Apr3
May70
Jun53
Jul95
Aug23
Sep13
Oct6
Nov0
Dec0

All recorded hail events

Of 263 recorded events, 133 (51%) reached 1.5" or larger — the threshold for likely functional damage on standard asphalt shingles.

Sep 16, 20251"quarter

Public reports quarter sized hail along with torrential rainfall at this location.

EMS reports ping pong ball sized hail at this location.

Golf ball sized hail reported at the NWS office.

Jul 16, 20251"quarter

Photo of several 1 inch hail stones and a report of minor street flooding 538 to 548pm CST.

Hail covered the ground at this location. Leaves were stripped off of trees and pasture was damaged …

Jul 28, 20240.75"penny

Quarter sized hail covering the ground at this location.

Hail ranging in size from quarters to tennis balls was reported along this path.

Jun 29, 20242.5"tennis ball
May 24, 20241"quarter
May 23, 20241"quarter
May 15, 20241.25"half dollar
Sep 9, 20231"quarter
Aug 4, 20231"quarter
Jul 29, 20231"quarter

A cooperative weather observer reported quarter size hail west of Stapleton.

Jul 26, 20231.75"golf ball

Public reported hail ranging from quarter to golf ball size, which resulted in some stripping of the…

A storm chaser reported golf ball size hail on northwest side of North Platte.

Jul 22, 20231"quarter

Public reported quarter size hail southwest of Callaway.

Public reported ping pong ball size hail southwest of Stapleton.

An NWS employee reported quarter size hail in North Platte, along with tree limbs downed.

An NWS employee reported baseball size hail north of North Platte.

May 30, 20231"quarter
Apr 27, 20231"quarter

Time estimated by radar.

Jul 22, 20221"quarter

Quarter size hail was reported at Bailey Yard near North Platte.

Jun 25, 20221.75"golf ball
Jun 5, 20221"quarter

Car window broken out by ping pong ball size hail.

Aug 28, 20211.5"ping pong ball
Jul 14, 20211"quarter

Public reported hail up to quarter size north of Maxwell.

Time estimated by radar.

Quarter sized hail reported at this location.

Quarter sized hail reported at this location.

Aug 6, 20201.25"half dollar

A trained weather spotter reported hail up to baseball size and estimated winds at 80 mph.

Public reported golf ball size hail northeast of Elsie.

Jul 9, 20201"quarter

Public reported quarter size hail in Hershey.

Jun 8, 20201.75"golf ball
Jun 4, 20201.75"golf ball
Jun 2, 20201"quarter
May 21, 20201"quarter

Numerous cars with hail damage in Indian Hills Subdivision.

Sep 12, 20191"quarter
Aug 6, 20191.5"ping pong ball
Jul 5, 20191.5"ping pong ball

An NWS employee reported ping pong size hail.

Jun 17, 20191"quarter

A few car windshields broken at Bailey Yard on the northwest side of North Platte.

Time estimated from radar.

Baseball to golf ball sized hail reported at this location.

May 24, 20191.25"half dollar

Hail accumulated on the ground.

Aug 3, 20181"quarter
May 11, 20181.75"golf ball
Apr 30, 20181"quarter
Aug 14, 20171.75"golf ball
Aug 3, 20171.75"golf ball

Golf ball sized hail along with 40 to 50 MPH wind damaged siding on numerous houses, broke windows a…

Jul 12, 20171.5"ping pong ball
Apr 15, 20171.75"golf ball
Aug 1, 20161"quarter

Ground was covered with hail up to quarter size.

Public reported golf ball size hail with a picture on social media.

Jun 30, 20161"quarter

Hail broke out of couple of windows.

May 31, 20161.5"ping pong ball
May 29, 20161"quarter
May 27, 20160.88"penny

Baseball to golf ball sized hail broke a wind shield out of a fire vehicle.

Hail up to the size of quarters covered the ground.

About this data

North Platte's hail event count of 25 significant events over 10 years reflects strong NOAA Storm Events Database coverage for Lincoln County, where 38 total hail events of 1 inch or larger are documented, including 20 events at 1.5 inches or larger capable of functional roof damage. The county's reporting density is reliable for estimating local hail risk. 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