Hail history for Garden County, NE

Garden County has 313 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 234 of them 1″ or larger and 41 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 4.5″ (grapefruit) on October 15, 1980.

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 313 since 1961

1″ or larger 234 NWS severe threshold

2″ or larger 41 hen egg class and up

Largest recorded 4.5″ grapefruit · October 15, 1980

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 Garden County

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

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 313 recorded events · data through April 2026
Date	Size	Comparable to
July 7, 2025	1.5″	Ping-pong ball
May 23, 2024	1.5″	Ping-pong ball
May 23, 2024	1.5″	Ping-pong ball
August 8, 2023	1.5″	Ping-pong ball
July 16, 2023	2.5″	Tennis ball
June 27, 2023	2.0″	Hen egg
June 27, 2023	2.5″	Tennis ball
June 27, 2023	2.75″	Baseball

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

From the storm reports

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

July 16, 2023 · 2.5″ (tennis ball)

Fire chief reported tennis ball size hail near Crescent Lake NWR.

May 23, 2021 · 2.75″ (baseball)

Golf ball, goose egg and baseball sized hail reported at this location.

August 6, 2018 · 2.75″ (baseball)

Extensive damage was reported at the property, including broken windows and siding.

Events by decade

1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
0	2	4	8	66	103	100	30

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 Garden County

Has it ever hailed in Garden County?

Yes — 313 hail events have been recorded for Garden County, NE in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1961, including 234 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Garden County?

The most recent recorded hail event for Garden County, NE is July 7, 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 Garden County?

4.5″ (grapefruit), recorded on October 15, 1980. 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.