Hail history for Otoe County, NE

Otoe County has 216 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 141 of them 1″ or larger and 14 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 3.5″ (softball) on April 27, 1989.

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 216 since 1961

1″ or larger 141 NWS severe threshold

2″ or larger 14 hen egg class and up

Largest recorded 3.5″ softball · April 27, 1989

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 Otoe County

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

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 216 recorded events · data through April 2026
Date	Size	Comparable to
April 23, 2026	1.0″	Quarter
March 29, 2025	1.0″	Quarter
October 30, 2024	1.0″	Quarter
July 10, 2024	1.0″	Quarter
May 21, 2024	2.0″	Hen egg
April 30, 2024	1.0″	Quarter
May 7, 2023	1.75″	Golf ball
May 7, 2023	2.0″	Hen egg

Looking for a specific storm? Use the did-it-hail date lookup for Otoe 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)

Delayed public report of hail estimated up to 1 inch in diameter in Talmage, NE. Time estimated with radar.

April 19, 2023 · 3.0″ (tea cup)

Over an approximately 20-minute period, several hail reports were received from in and near Nebraska City. The largest stone was 3-inches reported by the public. The Emergency Manager relayed several reports of golf ball sized hail across the town.

June 19, 2011 · 2.5″ (tennis ball)

Hail up to 2.5 inches in diameter fell for about 15 minutes from the second supercell thunderstorm that moved across the Nebraska City area this night.

Events by decade

1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
0	6	4	10	24	104	48	20

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 Otoe County

Has it ever hailed in Otoe County?

Yes — 216 hail events have been recorded for Otoe County, NE in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1961, including 141 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Otoe County?

The most recent recorded hail event for Otoe County, NE is April 23, 2026, 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 Otoe County?

3.5″ (softball), recorded on April 27, 1989. 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.