Hail history for Wayne County, NE

Wayne County has 94 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 69 of them 1″ or larger and 4 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 3.5″ (softball) on May 5, 1964.

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 94 since 1956

1″ or larger 69 NWS severe threshold

2″ or larger 4 hen egg class and up

Largest recorded 3.5″ softball · May 5, 1964

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 Wayne County

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

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 94 recorded events · data through April 2026
Date	Size	Comparable to
July 1, 2024	1.0″	Quarter
May 17, 2022	1.5″	Ping-pong ball
August 30, 2021	1.0″	Quarter
August 30, 2021	1.0″	Quarter
September 30, 2019	1.0″	Quarter
June 23, 2018	1.75″	Golf ball
June 23, 2018	1.0″	Quarter
June 23, 2018	1.0″	Quarter

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

From the storm reports

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

July 1, 2024 · 1.0″ (quarter)

The office received a couple reports of quarter sized hail in the town of Wayne from both public sources and emergency management.

August 31, 2014 · 1.75″ (golf ball)

Local fire department spotters reported hail ranging from quarter to golf ball size from northwest of the city of Carroll to north of Carroll.

May 27, 2012 · 1.75″ (golf ball)

Hail around golf ball-size was reported by the cooperative observer west of Wayne.

Events by decade

1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
2	4	4	8	8	35	29	4

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 Wayne County

Has it ever hailed in Wayne County?

Yes — 94 hail events have been recorded for Wayne County, NE in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1956, including 69 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Wayne County?

The most recent recorded hail event for Wayne County, NE is July 1, 2024, 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 Wayne County?

3.5″ (softball), recorded on May 5, 1964. 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.