Hail history for Hayes County, NE

Hayes County has 231 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 161 of them 1″ or larger and 30 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 4.5″ (grapefruit) on May 21, 1998.

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 231 since 1957

1″ or larger 161 NWS severe threshold

2″ or larger 30 hen egg class and up

Largest recorded 4.5″ grapefruit · May 21, 1998

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 Hayes County

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

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 231 recorded events · data through April 2026
Date	Size	Comparable to
July 19, 2025	1.0″	Quarter
June 17, 2025	1.5″	Ping-pong ball
June 16, 2025	1.0″	Quarter
May 18, 2025	3.25″	Tea cup
May 18, 2025	0.75″	Penny
May 18, 2025	1.75″	Golf ball
September 9, 2023	1.75″	Golf ball
July 22, 2023	1.5″	Ping-pong ball

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

From the storm reports

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

July 22, 2023 · 1.5″ (ping-pong ball)

Public reported hail near golf ball size near Hamlet.

June 4, 2008 · 4.25″ (grapefruit)

A supercell thunderstorm produced very large hail that tore through the roof of the Hamlet Union Church and metal buildings, broke windows in vehicles and homes, and severely damaged siding on homes and bodies of vehicles.

June 4, 2008 · 4.0″ (softball)

A supercell storm moved through the area and dropped softball size hail. The hail severely damaged vehicles building roofs, broke windows, tore holes in the metal siding on homes, tore through the roof of a motel and through the roof of the newspaper building, The Times-Republican.

Events by decade

1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
2	7	5	2	45	74	73	23

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 Hayes County

Has it ever hailed in Hayes County?

Yes — 231 hail events have been recorded for Hayes County, NE in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1957, including 161 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Hayes County?

The most recent recorded hail event for Hayes County, NE is July 19, 2025, with 1.0″ (quarter) 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 Hayes County?

4.5″ (grapefruit), recorded on May 21, 1998. 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.