Hail history for Jefferson County, NE

Jefferson County has 284 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 193 of them 1″ or larger and 24 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 3.5″ (softball) on May 20, 1957.

Records 1950–present Data through April 2026 Peak month May

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 284 since 1957

1″ or larger 193 NWS severe threshold

2″ or larger 24 hen egg class and up

Largest recorded 3.5″ softball · May 20, 1957

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 Jefferson County

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

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 284 recorded events · data through April 2026
Date	Size	Comparable to
April 23, 2026	2.0″	Hen egg
April 23, 2026	1.75″	Golf ball
April 23, 2026	1.0″	Quarter
April 23, 2026	1.75″	Golf ball
April 23, 2026	1.0″	Quarter
March 6, 2026	1.25″	Half dollar
March 6, 2026	1.0″	Quarter
March 6, 2026	2.0″	Hen egg

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

From the storm reports

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

April 23, 2026 · 1.0″ (quarter)

Emergency management report of hail estimated up to 1 inch in diameter in Fairbury, NE.

June 16, 2017 · 2.75″ (baseball)

Golf ball to baseball size hail was reported at this location.

June 17, 2009 · 3.0″ (tea cup)

Hail between 1 inch and 3 inches in diameter fell from around 5 miles southwest of Fairbury into Fairbury. The hail fell from a multi-updraft supercell thunderstorm that moved across the area this afternoon and caused house and automobile damage.

Events by decade

1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
1	5	6	12	19	125	86	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 Jefferson County

Has it ever hailed in Jefferson County?

Yes — 284 hail events have been recorded for Jefferson County, NE in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1957, including 193 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Jefferson County?

The most recent recorded hail event for Jefferson County, NE is April 23, 2026, with 2.0″ (hen egg) 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 Jefferson County?

3.5″ (softball), recorded on May 20, 1957. 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.