Hail history for Saunders County, NE

Saunders County has 283 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 187 of them 1″ or larger and 32 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 4.5″ (grapefruit) 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 283 since 1955

1″ or larger 187 NWS severe threshold

2″ or larger 32 hen egg class and up

Largest recorded 4.5″ grapefruit · 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 Saunders County

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

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 283 recorded events · data through April 2026
Date	Size	Comparable to
April 23, 2026	1.5″	Ping-pong ball
April 15, 2026	1.0″	Quarter
April 15, 2026	1.0″	Quarter
March 6, 2026	2.0″	Hen egg
March 6, 2026	1.0″	Quarter
September 22, 2025	1.75″	Golf ball
September 22, 2025	1.5″	Ping-pong ball
September 22, 2025	1.0″	Quarter

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

From the storm reports

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

April 23, 2026 · 1.5″ (ping-pong ball)

Public report shared via photo on social media of many quarter sized or slightly larger stones. Time estimated from radar.

June 3, 2014 · 3.0″ (tea cup)

The reports in this area ranged from baseball to tea cup size hail from both spotters and the emergency manager.

March 21, 2007 · 3.0″ (tea cup)

Very large hail was reported around the Ithaca area. A few stones were as large as 3 inches in diameter.

Events by decade

1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
3	8	8	26	25	97	75	41

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 Saunders County

Has it ever hailed in Saunders County?

Yes — 283 hail events have been recorded for Saunders County, NE in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1955, including 187 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Saunders County?

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

4.5″ (grapefruit), 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.