Hail history for Box Butte County, NE

Box Butte County has 342 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 276 of them 1″ or larger and 51 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 4.3″ (grapefruit) on July 9, 2021.

Records 1950–present Data through April 2026 Peak month June

Core sample · every recorded event, 1955–2026

Mark size = measured hail diameter; slivers are events with no recorded size. Amber ≥2″, red ≥2.75″ (baseball class). Denser recent decades partly reflect better reporting, not only more storms.

Recorded events 342 since 1955

1″ or larger 276 NWS severe threshold

2″ or larger 51 hen egg class and up

Largest recorded 4.3″ grapefruit · July 9, 2021

Read the record honestly: Storm Events contains what was reported to the National Weather Service. Sparse or rural counties under-report, and coverage improved sharply after the mid-1990s — a quiet-looking stretch is not proof nothing fell.

When it hails in Box Butte County

Recorded events by month, 1950–present. The amber bar marks Box Butte County's peak: June.

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 342 recorded events · data through April 2026
Date	Size	Comparable to
July 6, 2025	1.5″	Ping-pong ball
July 6, 2025	1.25″	Half dollar
July 6, 2025	2.75″	Baseball
July 6, 2025	1.0″	Quarter
June 28, 2025	1.0″	Quarter
May 23, 2025	1.25″	Half dollar
May 23, 2025	1.75″	Golf ball
May 23, 2025	1.5″	Ping-pong ball

Looking for a specific storm? Use the did-it-hail date lookup for Box Butte County.

From the storm reports

Narratives as filed with the NOAA Storm Events Database (public records; lightly trimmed for length).

July 6, 2025 · 1.0″ (quarter)

Report from mPING of quarter size hail.

August 26, 2017 · 3.0″ (tea cup)

Hail slightly larger than baseballs was observed northeast of Hemingford.

June 25, 2015 · 4.25″ (grapefruit)

Softball size hail was observed six miles northeast of Alliance.

Events by decade

1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
6	12	11	15	58	72	120	48

The climb across decades is largely a reporting story: spotter networks, radar, and digital filing pulled far more storms into the record after the 1990s.

Questions about hail in Box Butte County

Has it ever hailed in Box Butte County?

Yes — 342 hail events have been recorded for Box Butte County, NE in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1955, including 276 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Box Butte County?

The most recent recorded hail event for Box Butte County, NE is July 6, 2025, with 1.5″ (ping-pong ball) hail. The database is currently updated through April 2026, so a storm from the last few weeks may not appear yet. To check a specific day, use the did-it-hail date lookup.

What is the largest hail ever recorded in Box Butte County?

4.3″ (grapefruit), recorded on July 9, 2021. Hail that size is destructive-class and typically damages roofs, vehicles, and siding. See how big that really is on the actual-size hail chart.

Does a recorded hail event mean my roof was damaged?

No. This page reports storm records, not damage. Hail size and damage vary block by block within a county, and only an inspection can establish what happened to a specific roof. If you suspect damage, talk to your insurer or a licensed roofer — they can pull the same NOAA records for your claim.

More Nebraska hail history

All 93 Nebraska counties, ranked by recorded hail →

Source: NOAA/NCEI Storm Events Database, public domain, updated monthly by NCEI — this site's copy runs through April 2026. HailHistory reports records; it does not give insurance advice or assess damage.