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Butler County, NE hail & severe wind history

130 storm reports on file for Butler County between 2010-06-05 and 2026-06-09 — 84 hail and 46 severe thunderstorm wind. That averages 7.6 reports a year, and Jun is the busiest month.

Hail reports

4.9 per year

Largest hail

grapefruit size · 2018-05-01

Strongest gust

85 mph

74 kt · 2024-05-21

Reported damage

property + crop, as filed

Storm days

distinct days with a report

Busiest year

2011

17 reports

Search every Butler County report

Filter the full record below — pick a year, narrow to a month, or drag the hail-size slider to see only the storms big enough to dent a roof (1" and up is the usual threshold insurers care about).

Event type

Year

Month

Min hail size: any

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130 of 130 reports match.

Reports by month for the current filter — the shape of Butler County’s storm season.

Date	Type	Size / gust	Nearest location	Report detail
2026-06-09 20:35	Wind	52 kt 60 mph	0 mi N of David City	Trained spotter report of several trees down in David City, NE with estimated wind gusts of 60 mph. Time estimated from radar.
2026-04-15 12:17	Hail	1" quarter	3.9 mi ESE of Ulysses	Public report of hail estimated at 1.00 inch in diameter.
2026-04-15 12:22	Hail	2" hen egg	1.73 mi SW of Dwight	Trained spotter report of hail estimated at 2.00 inches in diameter.
2026-04-15 12:26	Hail	1.5" ping pong	0 mi N of Dwight	Delayed report from emergency management of hail up to ping pong ball sized with wind-driven damage to windows and siding.
2026-04-15 12:26	Hail	1.75" golf ball	0 mi N of Dwight	Emergency management report of hail estimated at 1.75 inches in diameter with lots of quarter sized hail mixed in. Hail caused damage to vinyl siding.
2026-04-15 12:26	Hail	1.5" ping pong	0 mi N of Dwight	Trained spotter report of hail measured at 1.50 inches in diameter with corresponding photographs shared on social media.
2026-04-15 12:26	Hail	1.25" half dollar	0 mi N of Dwight	Public report of hail estimated at 1.25 inches in diameter.
2025-09-14 14:36	Wind	65 kt 75 mph	3.12 mi W of Brainard	Photos shared via social media of a destroyed outbuilding and a large, downed tree branch which did damage to the roof of a home. Time estimated based on radar.
2025-07-15 21:22	Wind	52 kt 60 mph	.86 mi SE of Bellwood	Law enforcement report of several trees uprooted and branches broken. Wind speed estimated at 60-65 mph along the outflow boundary of a thunderstorm.
2025-07-15 21:49	Wind	52 kt 60 mph	0 mi N of Nimburg	Mesonet measured wind gust of 60 mph along the outflow boundary of a thunderstorm.
2025-07-15 21:53	Wind	56 kt 64 mph	2.08 mi NW of Brainard	Personal weather station measured wind gust of 65 mph along the outflow boundary of a thunderstorm.
2025-05-19 15:23	Hail	1.75" golf ball	2.32 mi NNW of Millers Fld Arpt	NWS Employee report of hail measured up to 1.75 in diameter.
2025-05-19 17:05	Wind	52 kt 60 mph	2.08 mi E of Bruno	Trained spotter report of wind gusts estimated at 50 to 60 mph along with pea sized hail.
2025-04-17 16:56	Hail	2.5" tennis ball	2.59 mi NE of David City	Public report of hail estimated up to 2.4 in diameter. Delayed report with the time estimated from radar.
2025-04-01 20:25	Wind	71 kt 82 mph	2.59 mi NE of David City	Personal weather station measured gust of 82 mph.
2024-05-21 04:06	Wind	74 kt 85 mph	4 mi W of Bellwood	The Butler County Emergency Manager reported several center pivots overturned and multiple power poles snapped from the intersection of U.S. Highway 80 and State Highway 64 East towards Bellwood. A damage survey also found an empty grain bin that had been blown off its foundation and smashed against the side of a farm…
2024-04-26 13:35	Hail	1.75" golf ball	0 mi N of Ulysses	The Butler County Emergency Manager reported golf ball sized hail in downtown Ulysses.
2023-10-03 18:20	Wind	52 kt 60 mph	1.04 mi E of Surprise	Emergency Manager relayed a report of a center pivot that had flipped in the storm. The time was estimated by radar.
2023-10-03 18:20	Wind	52 kt 60 mph	1.71 mi ESE of Surprise	Emergency Manager reported a roof ripped off of a shed. The time was estimated by radar.
2023-07-04 17:03	Wind	55 kt 63 mph	.52 mi W of Octavia	Public reported a measured 63 mph wind gust via social media.
2023-07-04 17:17	Wind	55 kt 63 mph	3.41 mi ENE of David City	Personal weather station measured a peak wind gust of 63 mph.
2022-06-25 07:32	Hail	2.75" baseball	0 mi N of David City	Public reported 2.75 inch hail via social media.
2022-06-25 07:35	Hail	1.5" ping pong	1.38 mi N of David City	Public reported 1.5 inch hail.
2022-06-25 07:36	Hail	1.75" golf ball	0 mi N of David City	Public reported an estimated 1.75 inch hail via social media.
2022-06-25 08:13	Hail	1.75" golf ball	4.18 mi S of Bellwood	Public reported 1.75 inch hail.
2022-06-15 00:20	Hail	1" quarter	0 mi N of Dwight	Law enforcement reported 1-inch hail.
2022-06-15 02:25	Hail	1.75" golf ball	0 mi N of David City	Law enforcement reported 1.75-inch hail.
2022-06-07 19:05	Hail	2" hen egg	6.3 mi N of Millers Fld Arpt	Public reported 2 inch hail via mPing.
2022-06-07 19:23	Hail	1.75" golf ball	.52 mi E of Garrison	Public reported 1.75 inch hail.
2022-06-04 18:11	Hail	1" quarter	1.38 mi N of Abie	Public reported 1 inch hail.
2022-06-04 18:51	Hail	1" quarter	6.3 mi N of Millers Fld Arpt	Public reported via mPing 1 inch hail.
2022-06-04 19:00	Hail	1" quarter	4.21 mi W of Bellwood	Trained spotter reported 1 inch hail.
2022-06-04 19:30	Hail	2" hen egg	2.59 mi SE of Millers Fld Arpt	Public reported 2 inch hail.
2022-06-04 20:02	Hail	1.25" half dollar	0 mi N of Rising City	Public reported 1.25 inch hail.
2022-05-12 16:40	Wind	61 kt 70 mph	2.19 mi WNW of Rising City	Emergency manager reported several structures at a dairy cow confinement facility blown to the northeast of the property.
2022-05-12 16:43	Wind	61 kt 70 mph	2.95 mi NNW of Rising City	Emergency manager reported several center pivots overturned.
2022-04-12 17:51	Hail	1" quarter	0 mi N of Dwight	Public reported 1 inch hail via social media.
2021-12-15 15:15	Wind	73 kt 84 mph	2.59 mi NE of David City	Personal weather station measured a peak wind gust of 84 mph.
2021-08-07 17:55	Hail	1" quarter	2.95 mi SSW of Rising City	Storm chaser reported 1 inch hail.
2021-08-07 18:08	Hail	1.5" ping pong	2.08 mi E of Rising City	Storm chaser reported 1.5 inch hail.
2021-08-07 18:15	Hail	1" quarter	1.73 mi SW of Bongers Arpt	Public reported 1-inch hail.
2021-08-07 19:15	Hail	1.25" half dollar	.52 mi W of Millers Fld Arpt	Public reported 1.25 inch hail.
2021-05-02 18:45	Wind	52 kt 60 mph	3.79 mi SW of Rising City	Fire department estimated wind at 60 mph.
2021-05-02 18:45	Hail	1.5" ping pong	3.79 mi SW of Rising City	Fire department reported 1.5 inch hail covering the ground.
2020-08-16 16:39	Hail	1" quarter	.69 mi N of David City	Public reported 1 inch hail.
2020-08-16 16:52	Hail	1" quarter	1.38 mi S of David City Arpt	Public reported 1 inch hail.
2020-06-30 22:14	Wind	61 kt 70 mph	0 mi N of David City	Trained spotter reported several 4 to 8 inch tree limbs down.
2020-06-30 22:15	Wind	56 kt 64 mph	.86 mi SE of Bellwood	Utility Company reported large limbs down on power lines causing power outages.
2020-06-30 22:20	Wind	56 kt 64 mph	.52 mi W of David City	Utility company reported trees and large limbs down on power lines causing power outages.
2020-06-30 22:22	Wind	52 kt 60 mph	1.56 mi E of David City	Utility company reported large limbs down on power lines.
2020-06-04 23:11	Wind	52 kt 60 mph	2.14 mi NNE of Surprise	Public reported damage to agriculture buildings on farm.
2019-05-05 14:30	Hail	1.75" golf ball	.52 mi W of Brainard	No narrative filed · source: Emergency Manager
2019-05-05 15:10	Hail	1.75" golf ball	2.6 mi W of Dwight	The public reported hail dime to golf ball size.
2018-06-09 01:40	Wind	61 kt 70 mph	3.49 mi S of Rising City	A large tree was blown down 3 miles south of Rising City.
2018-06-06 19:03	Hail	1" quarter	2.32 mi NNW of Bellwood	No narrative filed · source: Trained Spotter
2018-06-06 19:10	Wind	56 kt 64 mph	.86 mi SE of Bellwood	Large tree limbs and power lines down throughout Bellwood.
2018-06-06 19:32	Wind	61 kt 70 mph	0 mi N of Rising City	Trees and power lines were down in Rising City.
2018-06-06 19:42	Hail	1" quarter	.69 mi S of Garrison	No narrative filed · source: Trained Spotter
2018-06-06 19:43	Wind	61 kt 70 mph	0 mi N of Brainard	Trees and power lines were down in Brainard.
2018-05-01 15:48	Hail	4" grapefruit	1.04 mi W of Octavia	Grapefruit size hail was reported 1 mile west of Octavia.
2018-05-01 15:48	Hail	2.75" baseball	2.07 mi W of Octavia	Baseball size hail was reported by the Butler County Emergency Manager 2 miles west of Octavia.
2018-05-01 15:51	Hail	2" hen egg	4.16 mi SE of Bellwood	No narrative filed · source: Public
2018-05-01 15:51	Hail	1.75" golf ball	.52 mi W of Octavia	There was a report of a large amount of golfball size hail.
2018-05-01 15:59	Hail	2" hen egg	2.08 mi NW of Abie	No narrative filed · source: Public
2018-05-01 16:00	Hail	1.75" golf ball	1.25 mi ESE of Linwood	No narrative filed · source: Emergency Manager
2018-05-01 16:16	Hail	1.75" golf ball	1.25 mi ESE of Linwood	No narrative filed · source: Public
2017-06-13 19:21	Wind	52 kt 60 mph	.86 mi SE of Bellwood	An estimated 60 mph wind gust was reported near Bellwood.
2017-06-13 19:42	Wind	52 kt 60 mph	2.94 mi NW of Rising City	An estimated 60 mph wind gust was reported 3 miles northwest of Rising City.
2017-06-13 20:05	Hail	1" quarter	0 mi N of Rising City	No narrative filed · source: Emergency Manager
2017-06-13 20:20	Hail	0.88" nickel	.86 mi SE of Bellwood	No narrative filed · source: Emergency Manager
2017-06-13 20:24	Hail	1" quarter	1.04 mi E of Ulysses	One inch hail was relayed by Butler County Emergency Management.
2017-06-13 22:00	Wind	61 kt 70 mph	0 mi N of David City	Trees and large limbs down due to damaging winds . Roof damage to one building and most of the town of David City was without power.
2016-08-02 01:25	Wind	52 kt 60 mph	1.71 mi WNW of Loma	Some tree damage around town was noted from the observer from the wind gusts.
2016-07-31 08:08	Wind	52 kt 60 mph	0 mi N of Brainard	Tree branches, some 6 to 8 inches in diameter were downed at the high school.
2016-07-05 19:50	Wind	56 kt 64 mph	5.87 mi WNW of Bellwood	Law enforcement reported that trees and power poles were knocked down by the wind.
2016-07-05 19:50	Wind	52 kt 60 mph	5.55 mi N of Millers Fld Arpt	A semi was reported blown over along Highway 81 to the south of Columbus.
2015-09-18 07:48	Hail	0.88" nickel	2.94 mi NW of Rising City	No narrative filed · source: Trained Spotter
2015-08-02 17:45	Wind	50 kt 58 mph	1.04 mi W of Bongers Arpt	Three sections of the center pivot were overturned in a field.
2015-04-12 16:54	Hail	1.75" golf ball	6.15 mi N of Millers Fld Arpt	The hail produced siding and roof damage to homes and cars in the area.
2015-04-12 17:20	Hail	0.88" nickel	0 mi N of Rising City	Pea to nickel size hail was covering the ground.
2015-04-12 17:37	Hail	0.75" penny	2.14 mi NNW of David City	No narrative filed · source: Emergency Manager
2014-08-31 16:46	Hail	1.75" golf ball	3.61 mi SSE of Millerton	No narrative filed · source: Trained Spotter
2014-08-31 16:57	Hail	1.75" golf ball	.52 mi E of Garrison	No narrative filed · source: Emergency Manager
2014-08-31 16:59	Hail	1" quarter	0 mi N of David City	Local law enforcement reported hail ranging from nickle to quarter size in the city of David City.
2014-07-26 14:26	Hail	1.75" golf ball	0 mi N of Rising City	Several reports from trained spotters and the public reported hail up to golf ball size from Rising City to just south of the city of Rising City.
2014-07-26 14:45	Hail	2.75" baseball	2.14 mi NNE of Surprise	A trained spotter just north of the town of Surprise reported hail up to baseball size. The hail continued south into town where reports of golf ball to hen egg size hail were reported.
2014-07-07 16:55	Hail	0.75" penny	.86 mi SE of Bellwood	No narrative filed · source: Trained Spotter
2014-06-03 17:36	Wind	52 kt 60 mph	1.25 mi WNW of Bellwood	Wind gusts were estimated to 60 mph.
2014-06-03 17:53	Hail	1.75" golf ball	0 mi N of David City	No narrative filed · source: Emergency Manager
2014-06-03 17:53	Wind	61 kt 70 mph	0 mi N of David City	The emergency management reported winds to 70 mph.
2014-06-03 17:53	Hail	1.75" golf ball	0 mi N of David City	No narrative filed · source: Emergency Manager
2014-06-03 18:03	Hail	0.88" nickel	.52 mi E of Bruno	No narrative filed · source: Trained Spotter
2014-06-03 19:15	Hail	0.88" nickel	1.04 mi E of Ulysses	No narrative filed · source: Trained Spotter
2014-06-03 19:42	Wind	52 kt 60 mph	0 mi N of Rising City	The emergency manager estimated winds to 60 mph.
2013-06-25 06:02	Hail	1" quarter	5.37 mi ENE of Bellwood	No narrative filed · source: Trained Spotter
2013-05-29 16:35	Hail	0.88" nickel	2.76 mi N of Rising City	No narrative filed · source: Emergency Manager
2013-05-29 16:50	Wind	60 kt 69 mph	1.73 mi SW of Surprise	Center pivot was flipped over and a grain bin was damaged.
2013-04-09 16:45	Hail	1" quarter	0 mi N of David City	The hail was mostly nickel-size, but a few stones reached around quarter-size.
2012-06-14 15:15	Hail	0.75" penny	4.32 mi NW of David City	Hail up to 3/4 inch in diameter was reported from a little northwest of David City into town.
2012-06-14 15:45	Hail	0.88" nickel	3.12 mi E of Brainard	Hail just under quarter-size was reported east of Brainard.
2012-06-14 15:55	Hail	0.75" penny	4.65 mi ESE of Garrison	Hail up to penny-size was observed a little east southeast of Garrison.
2012-06-14 16:15	Hail	1" quarter	1.48 mi NNE of Loma	Rainfall of 1.80 inches fell along with hail that reached quarter-size.
2012-06-14 16:16	Hail	0.88" nickel	0 mi N of Dwight	Hail up to nickel-size was reported near Dwight.
2012-05-27 17:45	Hail	2.5" tennis ball	0 mi N of Ulysses	A few hail stones around tennis ball-size fell in the Ulysses area.
2012-05-27 17:52	Hail	1.75" golf ball	0 mi N of David City	Hail up to golf ball-size but mostly 1 to 1.5 inches in diameter fell in the David City area. The hail was accompanied by winds that were estimated at 60 mph.
2012-05-27 17:52	Wind	52 kt 60 mph	0 mi N of David City	Thunderstorm wind gusts estimated at 60 mph flipped a trampoline several times and caused some minor tree damage in the David City area. The winds were accompanied by a few hailstones up to golf ball-size.
2012-05-23 18:00	Hail	1" quarter	1.71 mi ENE of Dwight	No narrative filed · source: Emergency Manager
2012-05-23 18:06	Hail	0.75" penny	2.95 mi SSE of David City Arpt	No narrative filed · source: Emergency Manager
2012-05-23 18:10	Hail	1.5" ping pong	1.87 mi SE of Dwight	Hail up to 1.5 inches in diameter fell for several minutes southeast through northeast of Dwight.
2012-05-23 18:10	Wind	55 kt 63 mph	2.6 mi SE of Dwight	Thunderstorm winds estimated at over 60 mph downed trees and power lines near county roads 21, P and U southeast of Dwight. The winds were accompanied by hail that reached up to 1.5 inches in diameter.
2012-05-19 17:55	Hail	1" quarter	1.48 mi NNE of Loma	No narrative filed · source: Public
2011-08-06 17:33	Hail	1" quarter	2.19 mi WSW of Bongers Arpt	No narrative filed · source: Public
2011-07-10 23:01	Wind	52 kt 60 mph	2.32 mi NNW of David City	A thunderstorm wind gust was estimated at around 60 mph near David City by the fire chief.
2011-07-10 23:13	Hail	1" quarter	0 mi N of David City	No narrative filed · source: Public
2011-06-20 01:30	Wind	52 kt 60 mph	.86 mi SE of Bellwood	Thunderstorm wind gusts were estimated at around 60 mph in the Bellwood area.
2011-06-20 01:35	Hail	1.75" golf ball	.86 mi SE of Bellwood	Hail up to golf ball-size was accompanied by thunderstorm winds estimated at 60 mph.
2011-06-14 20:00	Hail	1" quarter	1.56 mi W of Octavia	The hail was mostly nickel-size but a few up to quarter-size fell west through northwest of Octavia.
2011-05-30 21:20	Wind	60 kt 69 mph	2 mi ENE of Bellwood	Thunderstorm wind gusts estimated at around 70 mph broke power poles and did tree damage along the Platte River north of Bellwood.
2011-05-21 16:20	Hail	1.75" golf ball	1.56 mi W of Surprise	Golf ball-size hail fell near Surprise from the first of 2 supercell thunderstorms that hit the area within an hour and half or so. The hail from the storms covered the ground several inches deep that stayed on the ground for a few hours.
2011-05-21 16:24	Hail	1" quarter	2.6 mi W of Rising City	Hail of around an inch in diameter fell in and west of Rising City.
2011-05-21 16:49	Hail	1" quarter	0 mi N of David City	Most hail stones in town were 1/2 inch or so in diameter, although some hailstones were around quarter-size or perhaps even a bit larger.
2011-05-21 18:20	Hail	1.25" half dollar	.52 mi E of Bruno	Hail around half dollar-size, or perhaps a bit larger, was reported in the Bruno area.
2011-05-12 19:12	Hail	1" quarter	.52 mi E of Surprise	No narrative filed · source: Trained Spotter
2011-05-12 19:50	Wind	52 kt 60 mph	.52 mi E of Garrison	Thunderstorms winds estimated at around 60 mph downed some 2 to 3 inch in diameter tree branches near Garrison.
2011-05-11 14:20	Wind	55 kt 63 mph	0 mi N of David City	Thunderstorm wind gusts estimated at over 60 mph downed a tree on 10th Street that just missed a mailman's Jeep.
2011-04-09 18:12	Hail	0.75" penny	3.46 mi NW of David City	Hail up to dime-size was reported northwest of David City.
2011-04-09 18:27	Hail	1" quarter	4.72 mi E of Bellwood	No narrative filed · source: Trained Spotter
2011-04-09 18:35	Hail	0.88" nickel	2.07 mi W of Edholm	South of Schuyler in far northern Butler county.
2010-07-14 17:15	Wind	52 kt 60 mph	1.25 mi ESE of Linwood	A spotter estimated thunderstorm wind gusts around 60 mph which knocked down large branches and at least one healthy tree near Linwood.
2010-06-05 00:28	Wind	52 kt 60 mph	0 mi N of David City	Thunderstorm wind gusts estimated at around 60 mph downed some large tree branches and power poles in town.

Worst storm days in Butler County

Date	Reports that day	Largest hail	Peak gust
2018-05-01	7	4" (grapefruit)	—
2014-06-03	7	1.75" (golf ball)	70 mph
2026-04-15	6	2" (hen egg)	—
2017-06-13	6	1" (quarter)	70 mph
2022-06-04	5	2" (hen egg)	—
2018-06-06	5	1" (quarter)	70 mph
2012-06-14	5	1" (quarter)	—
2022-06-25	4	2.75" (baseball)	—
2011-05-21	4	1.75" (golf ball)	—
2021-08-07	4	1.5" (ping pong ball)	—

Reports by year

Report counts are driven partly by how many people were around to report a storm, so recent years tend to look busier than the early 2010s. Treat the trend as a reporting trend, not purely a weather trend.

Notable large-hail events (2" and up)

Date	Size	Near	What was reported
2026-04-15	2" hen egg	1.73 mi SW of Dwight	Trained spotter report of hail estimated at 2.00 inches in diameter.
2025-04-17	2.5" tennis ball	2.59 mi NE of David City	Public report of hail estimated up to 2.4 in diameter. Delayed report with the time estimated from radar.
2022-06-25	2.75" baseball	0 mi N of David City	Public reported 2.75 inch hail via social media.
2022-06-07	2" hen egg	6.3 mi N of Millers Fld Arpt	Public reported 2 inch hail via mPing.
2022-06-04	2" hen egg	2.59 mi SE of Millers Fld Arpt	Public reported 2 inch hail.
2018-05-01	4" grapefruit	1.04 mi W of Octavia	Grapefruit size hail was reported 1 mile west of Octavia.
2018-05-01	2.75" baseball	2.07 mi W of Octavia	Baseball size hail was reported by the Butler County Emergency Manager 2 miles west of Octavia.
2018-05-01	2" hen egg	4.16 mi SE of Bellwood	No narrative filed

When does hail hit Butler County?

Across 17 years of records, June produced the most reports (48), followed by the months either side of it. Monthly totals:

Month	Reports	Share
January	0	0.0%
February	0	0.0%
March	0	0.0%
April	17	13.1%
May	34	26.2%
June	48	36.9%
July	14	10.8%
August	12	9.2%
September	2	1.5%
October	2	1.5%
November	0	0.0%
December	1	0.8%

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About these numbers

Every row above is a report filed with the National Weather Service and archived in the NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (FIPS 31023). Reports are eyewitness, trained-spotter and damage-survey observations, so they cluster near roads and towns and miss storms over empty country. Hail sizes are estimates. Damage figures are preliminary as filed and are never revised in this archive. Use this page for background, not for an insurance claim, a legal filing, or a roof assessment — for those, get the official record from NOAA directly.