Hail history for Wheeler County, NE

Wheeler County has 147 recorded hail events in the NOAA Storm Events Database — 99 of them 1″ or larger and 8 at 2″ or larger. The largest on record: 4.5″ (grapefruit) on July 12, 2004.

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 147 since 1958

1″ or larger 99 NWS severe threshold

2″ or larger 8 hen egg class and up

Largest recorded 4.5″ grapefruit · July 12, 2004

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 Wheeler County

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

Most recent recorded events

Latest 8 of 147 recorded events · data through April 2026
Date	Size	Comparable to
June 9, 2023	1.25″	Half dollar
May 29, 2023	1.0″	Quarter
March 30, 2023	1.0″	Quarter
September 30, 2019	0.88″	Nickel
July 21, 2017	1.0″	Quarter
July 21, 2017	1.0″	Quarter
July 21, 2017	1.75″	Golf ball
July 21, 2017	2.75″	Baseball

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

From the storm reports

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

June 3, 2014 · 1.75″ (golf ball)

Tree branches were also broken from the hail and wind.

July 12, 2004 · 4.5″ (grapefruit)

Hail ranging in size from golf ball to softball was associated with a supercell thunderstorm that produced a tornado approximately 2 to 3 miles to the southeast.

Events by decade

1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
2	1	1	10	19	70	41	3

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 Wheeler County

Has it ever hailed in Wheeler County?

Yes — 147 hail events have been recorded for Wheeler County, NE in the NOAA Storm Events Database since 1958, including 99 of 1″ (quarter size) or larger.

When did it last hail in Wheeler County?

The most recent recorded hail event for Wheeler County, NE is June 9, 2023, 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 Wheeler County?

4.5″ (grapefruit), recorded on July 12, 2004. 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.