HailHistory › Hail by county › Nebraska › Phelps County
Nebraska · county FIPS 31137
Hail history for Phelps County, NE
Phelps County has 225 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 144 of them 1″ or larger and 20 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 2.75″ (baseball) on July 6, 2024.
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.
When it hails in Phelps County
Recorded events by month, 1950–present. The amber bar marks Phelps County's peak: May.
Most recent recorded events
| Date | Size | Comparable to |
|---|---|---|
| 1.25″ | Half dollar | |
| 1.75″ | Golf ball | |
| 2.75″ | Baseball | |
| 1.75″ | Golf ball | |
| 2.0″ | Hen egg | |
| 1.75″ | Golf ball | |
| 2.0″ | Hen egg | |
| 1.0″ | Quarter |
Looking for a specific storm? Use the did-it-hail date lookup for Phelps County.
From the storm reports
Narratives as filed with the NOAA Storm Events Database (public records; lightly trimmed for length).
· 1.25″ (half dollar)
Wind gusts were estimated to be near 75 MPH, and was accompanied by hail as large as half dollars. At least one irrigation pivot was flipped, and severe crop damage was reported.
· 2.0″ (hen egg)
Hail ranging in size from quarters to two inches in diameter was reported across Holdrege.
· 2.75″ (baseball)
Satellite imagery reveals a swath of golf ball size to isolated baseball size hail that stretched from extreme southeastern Gosper County to central Phelps County on the afternoon of June 30th. The path was about 2 to 3 miles wide. Within this swath, law enforcement reported baseball size hail 3 miles southeast of Loomis at 3:12 p.m. CST.
Events by decade
| 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 5 | 9 | 9 | 42 | 68 | 68 | 21 |
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 Phelps County
Has it ever hailed in Phelps County?
Yes — 225 hail events have been recorded for Phelps County, NE in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1959, including 144 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.
When did it last hail in Phelps County?
The most recent recorded hail event for Phelps County, NE is July 16, 2024, with 1.25″ (half dollar) 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 Phelps County?
2.75″ (baseball), recorded on July 6, 2024. 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
- Lincoln County 1,102
- Cherry County 940
- Custer County 832
- Holt County 560
- Sheridan County 546
- Scotts Bluff County 510
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.