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Merrick County, NE hail & severe wind history
92 storm reports on file for Merrick County between 2010-06-01 and 2025-05-19 — 59 hail and 33 severe thunderstorm wind. That averages 5.8 reports a year, and Jun is the busiest month.
Hail reports
59
3.7 per year
Largest hail
3"
teacup size · 2020-08-16
Strongest gust
81 mph
70 kt · 2023-06-02
Reported damage
$32.9M
property + crop, as filed
Storm days
59
distinct days with a report
Busiest year
2011
14 reports
Search every Merrick 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).
92 of 92 reports match.
Reports by month for the current filter — the shape of Merrick County’s storm season.
| Date | Type | Size / gust | Nearest location | Report detail |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-05-19 13:55 | Hail | 1.75" golf ball | .09 mi SSW of Central City | No narrative filed · source: Trained Spotter |
| 2025-04-01 19:05 | Hail | 1.25" half dollar | 0 mi N of Central City | No narrative filed · source: Social Media |
| 2024-06-25 23:30 | Wind | 56 kt 64 mph | 0 mi N of Central City | A wind gust of 65 MPH was measured by a mesonet station located two miles south-southeast of Central City. Tree damage was reported in Central City, including a few larger downed branches. |
| 2024-06-21 20:45 | Wind | 50 kt 58 mph | 5.02 mi NE of Clarks | A wind gust of 58 MPH was measured by a mesonet station located four miles northeast of Clarks. |
| 2024-06-07 17:55 | Wind | 65 kt 75 mph | 4.45 mi NE of Archer | Wind gusts estimated to be near 75 MPH resulted in tree and crop damage in the area, as well as flipped irrigation pivots. Power outages were reported in the area, and trees were reported down in Clarks. A wind gust of 70 MPH was measured by a mesonet station located four miles west-southwest of Clarks, and a wind gus… |
| 2024-05-23 23:49 | Wind | 58 kt 67 mph | 5.02 mi NE of Clarks | A wind gust of 67 MPH was measured by a mesonet station located four miles northeast of Clarks. |
| 2024-05-03 22:35 | Wind | 56 kt 64 mph | 2.5 mi ENE of Worms | Wind gusts estimated to be near 65 MPH resulted in some power pole damage four miles west of Archer. Power outages were also reported in the Central City and Palmer areas. |
| 2023-07-17 03:55 | Wind | 61 kt 70 mph | 1.71 mi WNW of Central City | Tree damage was reported in the area, including downed limbs which damaged a home, and a power pole was also damaged. |
| 2023-07-04 16:45 | Hail | 1" quarter | 0 mi N of Silver Creek | No narrative filed · source: Fire Department/Rescue |
| 2023-06-02 16:01 | Wind | 50 kt 58 mph | 2.69 mi ENE of Archer | A wind gust of 58 MPH was captured by an unofficial mesonet station located three miles east-northeast of Archer. |
| 2023-06-02 16:03 | Wind | 70 kt 81 mph | 5.53 mi NE of Archer | Wind gusts were estimated to be near 80 MPH along this path. Several irrigation pivots were overturned and trees were damaged, including at least one that was uprooted. At one farmstead, a barn and nearby vehicle sustained minor damage. |
| 2022-06-04 18:00 | Hail | 0.88" nickel | 2 mi NNW of Clarks | No narrative filed · source: Trained Spotter |
| 2022-06-04 18:19 | Hail | 0.75" penny | 2 mi WNW of Central City | No narrative filed · source: Trained Spotter |
| 2022-06-04 19:00 | Hail | 1" quarter | 1 mi SW of Central City | No narrative filed · source: Trained Spotter |
| 2022-06-04 19:15 | Hail | 1.75" golf ball | 5 mi ENE of Chapman | No narrative filed · source: Trained Spotter |
| 2022-06-04 21:30 | Hail | 0.88" nickel | 0 mi N of Central City | No narrative filed · source: Social Media |
| 2022-04-22 01:24 | Wind | 56 kt 64 mph | 4 mi NE of Clarks | A wind gust of 65 MPH was measured by a mesonet station located four miles northeast of Clarks. |
| 2021-12-15 14:32 | Wind | 50 kt 58 mph | 4 mi N of Central City | A wind gust of 58 MPH was measured by a mesonet station located four miles north of Central City. |
| 2021-12-15 14:45 | Wind | 51 kt 59 mph | 4.48 mi WSW of Silver Creek | A wind gust of 59 MPH was measured by a mesonet station located approximately 5 miles southwest of Silver Creek. |
| 2021-07-09 21:40 | Wind | 57 kt 66 mph | 1.25 mi WSW of Chapman | A wind gust of 66 MPH was recorded by a mesonet station located two miles southwest of Chapman. |
| 2021-06-22 20:51 | Hail | 1" quarter | 3.75 mi WSW of Clarks | No narrative filed · source: Trained Spotter |
| 2020-08-16 17:20 | Hail | 3" teacup | .87 mi SW of Chapman | No narrative filed · source: Social Media |
| 2020-08-16 17:32 | Hail | 1.25" half dollar | 1 mi N of Central City | No narrative filed · source: Fire Department/Rescue |
| 2020-06-28 01:11 | Wind | 50 kt 58 mph | 2.67 mi W of Central City | No narrative filed · source: Mesonet |
| 2020-06-21 00:17 | Hail | 1" quarter | 0 mi N of Silver Creek | Observer reported mainly pea to nickel size hail, with occasional larger stones. Size of largest hail is unknown. |
| 2020-06-03 19:56 | Wind | 61 kt 70 mph | 3 mi NNW of Chapman | Emergency management reported several pivots were flipped over and mangled north of Chapman. At a convenience store in Chapman, a metal light pole was blown down, and a large metal ice chest was moved away from the main building into the parking lot. |
| 2020-06-03 20:05 | Hail | 1" quarter | 3 mi SW of Chapman | No narrative filed · source: Storm Chaser |
| 2020-06-03 20:30 | Wind | 52 kt 60 mph | 2 mi SW of Clarks | Wind gusts were estimated to be near 60 MPH. |
| 2019-09-30 20:02 | Hail | 0.88" nickel | 0 mi N of Chapman | No narrative filed · source: Social Media |
| 2019-05-05 14:20 | Hail | 1.25" half dollar | 2.08 mi W of Archer | No narrative filed · source: Trained Spotter |
| 2019-05-05 14:45 | Hail | 1.75" golf ball | 2 mi SW of Chapman | No narrative filed · source: Trained Spotter |
| 2018-09-01 01:26 | Wind | 60 kt 69 mph | 0 mi N of Central City | Tree limbs were downed in the area. |
| 2018-08-06 18:02 | Wind | 52 kt 60 mph | 4 mi S of Archer | Wind gusts estimated to be near 60 MPH knocked down a few large tree limbs. |
| 2018-08-06 18:02 | Hail | 1.75" golf ball | 4 mi S of Archer | No narrative filed · source: Fire Department/Rescue |
| 2018-08-06 18:20 | Wind | 52 kt 60 mph | 0 mi N of Central City | Wind gusts estimated to be near 60 MPH knocked down a few tree limbs in town. |
| 2018-08-06 18:29 | Hail | 1" quarter | 1 mi E of Central City | No narrative filed · source: Public |
| 2018-05-11 00:13 | Wind | 56 kt 64 mph | 0 mi N of Central City | Wind gusts estimated to be near 65 MPH resulted in tree damage in Central City. |
| 2017-08-15 18:45 | Hail | 0.88" nickel | 2.14 mi NNE of Palmer | No narrative filed · source: Public |
| 2017-08-15 18:48 | Hail | 1.5" ping pong | 2.07 mi N of Palmer | No narrative filed · source: Public |
| 2017-05-16 18:35 | Wind | 50 kt 58 mph | 9.53 mi SSW of Chapman | No narrative filed · source: Mesonet |
| 2017-03-23 21:28 | Wind | 58 kt 67 mph | 10.08 mi SW of Chapman | No narrative filed · source: Mesonet |
| 2016-07-30 06:46 | Hail | 1" quarter | 7.5 mi SW of Chapman | Penny to quarter size hail was reported on the Hall and Merrick County line. |
| 2016-07-05 18:36 | Hail | 0.88" nickel | 2 mi N of Chapman | No narrative filed · source: Storm Chaser |
| 2016-07-05 19:11 | Hail | 1.25" half dollar | 8.81 mi NW of Clarks | No narrative filed · source: Storm Chaser |
| 2016-07-05 19:12 | Hail | 0.88" nickel | 0 mi N of Clarks | No narrative filed · source: Trained Spotter |
| 2016-05-10 16:49 | Wind | 61 kt 70 mph | 2 mi NE of Chapman | Wind gusts estimated to be near 70 MPH resulted in some irrigation pivot damage in the area. Wind was accompanied by half dollar size hail. |
| 2016-05-10 17:00 | Hail | 1.25" half dollar | 2 mi NE of Chapman | Hail was accompanied by 60 MPH wind gusts. |
| 2015-08-27 20:00 | Wind | 61 kt 70 mph | 5 mi WSW of Silver Creek | Wind gusts estimated near 70 MPH blew over an irrigation pivot and resulted in significant crop damage within a localized area. |
| 2015-07-31 16:55 | Wind | 52 kt 60 mph | 0 mi N of Central City | Wind gusts estimated near 60 MPH knocked down tree limbs up to 5 inches in diameter. |
| 2015-07-24 15:25 | Hail | 1" quarter | 1.56 mi W of Chapman | No narrative filed · source: Trained Spotter |
| 2015-07-24 21:43 | Wind | 52 kt 60 mph | 2.5 mi ESE of Chapman | Wind gusts estimated to be near 60 MPH resulted in some tree damage and a flag pole being snapped. |
| 2015-06-10 18:50 | Wind | 56 kt 64 mph | 0 mi N of Central City | Wind gusts estimated to be near 65 MPH resulted in some tree damage in Central City, with power line and pole damage also reported. |
| 2015-06-04 19:04 | Hail | 1" quarter | 2.53 mi SW of Central City | Quarter size hail occurred 2 miles southwest of Central City on Highway 30. |
| 2015-06-04 19:10 | Hail | 1" quarter | 2.07 mi S of Central City | No narrative filed · source: Social Media |
| 2015-05-02 19:34 | Hail | 1" quarter | 0 mi N of Clarks | No narrative filed · source: Public |
| 2014-07-07 17:45 | Hail | 1.75" golf ball | 4 mi NE of Chapman | No narrative filed · source: Social Media |
| 2014-07-07 18:01 | Hail | 0.88" nickel | 2.81 mi S of Central City | Ground was almost completely covered by nickel size hail. |
| 2014-07-07 18:19 | Hail | 0.75" penny | 2 mi E of Chapman | No narrative filed · source: COOP Observer |
| 2014-06-14 18:07 | Hail | 1" quarter | 12 mi N of Central City | No narrative filed · source: Public |
| 2014-06-03 17:19 | Hail | 1" quarter | 4.65 mi NE of Silver Creek | Winds were estimated to be 35 to 45 mph. |
| 2014-06-03 19:00 | Hail | 1" quarter | .69 mi S of Central City | No narrative filed · source: Public |
| 2014-06-03 21:17 | Hail | 1.75" golf ball | 2.61 mi E of Chapman | No narrative filed · source: Public |
| 2014-04-13 11:20 | Hail | 0.75" penny | 3 mi NE of Chapman | No narrative filed · source: Storm Chaser |
| 2013-10-30 04:50 | Hail | 0.88" nickel | .69 mi S of Central City | This report of nickel size hail was received via Facebook. |
| 2013-10-30 04:54 | Hail | 0.88" nickel | .69 mi S of Central City | Nickel size hail was ongoing at the time of the report. |
| 2013-10-30 04:55 | Hail | 1" quarter | .69 mi N of Central City | This report of quarter size hail was received via an NERAIN (Nebraska Rainfall Assessment and Information Network) observer. |
| 2013-06-14 17:00 | Hail | 1.5" ping pong | 0 mi N of Silver Creek | No narrative filed · source: Public |
| 2013-05-27 05:10 | Hail | 0.75" penny | 0 mi N of Central City | No narrative filed · source: Public |
| 2013-04-09 01:20 | Hail | 1" quarter | 2 mi E of Chapman | Quarter size hail covered the ground. |
| 2013-04-09 01:30 | Hail | 1" quarter | 0 mi N of Central City | No narrative filed · source: Public |
| 2012-07-25 15:53 | Hail | 1.25" half dollar | 3 mi W of Chapman | No narrative filed · source: Trained Spotter |
| 2012-05-25 22:04 | Hail | 1.75" golf ball | 2 mi W of Palmer | Golf ball size hail reported on Arthur Road 2 miles west of Palmer. |
| 2012-05-25 22:16 | Hail | 2.75" baseball | 0 mi N of Palmer | No narrative filed · source: Law Enforcement |
| 2011-08-12 05:00 | Wind | 61 kt 70 mph | 0 mi N of Central City | Wind gusts estimated at 70 MPH resulted in tree damage in Central City as well as in the Willow Bend Lake area. The main tree damage occurred in the Willow Bend Lake area, where large tree limbs were knocked down and a 90 foot tree was uprooted, clipping the corner of the roof of a nearby home. Boats were also pulled… |
| 2011-08-06 17:10 | Hail | 1.75" golf ball | 2 mi E of Chapman | No narrative filed · source: Trained Spotter |
| 2011-07-15 20:40 | Wind | 52 kt 60 mph | 0 mi N of Silver Creek | Wind gusts were estimated at 60 MPH. |
| 2011-07-15 20:56 | Wind | 54 kt 62 mph | 0 mi N of Silver Creek | A few tree limbs up to 6 inches in diameter and power lines were knocked down. |
| 2011-07-13 18:10 | Hail | 1" quarter | 5 mi NW of Chapman | No narrative filed · source: Law Enforcement |
| 2011-07-10 22:03 | Wind | 52 kt 60 mph | 0 mi N of Palmer | Wind gusts estimated at 60 MPH caused tree damage in Palmer. |
| 2011-06-20 01:02 | Hail | 1.75" golf ball | 2 mi SW of Silver Creek | No narrative filed · source: Law Enforcement |
| 2011-06-20 02:27 | Wind | 52 kt 60 mph | 2 mi E of Chapman | Wind gusts were estimated at 65 MPH. |
| 2011-06-20 02:30 | Wind | 52 kt 60 mph | 0 mi N of Central City | Wind gusts were estimated at 60 MPH. |
| 2011-06-19 23:25 | Wind | 70 kt 81 mph | 1.45 mi N of Clarks | Wind gusts were estimated to be as high as 80 MPH. Along this path, an old grain elevator was destroyed, large trees branches were blown down, irrigation pivots were overturned, and a couple of power poles were broken. |
| 2011-06-14 19:27 | Hail | 1.5" ping pong | 3 mi W of Clarks | Hail up to the size of ping pong balls fell for 10 minutes. |
| 2011-06-14 19:30 | Hail | 0.75" penny | 2 mi W of Clarks | No narrative filed · source: Trained Spotter |
| 2011-06-14 19:34 | Hail | 1.75" golf ball | 1 mi W of Clarks | Golf ball size hail was accompanied by wind gusts estimated at 50 MPH. |
| 2011-05-12 16:37 | Hail | 1" quarter | 6.39 mi SW of Chapman | No narrative filed · source: Trained Spotter |
| 2010-07-19 23:58 | Hail | 0.88" nickel | 4 mi SW of Clarks | No narrative filed · source: Storm Chaser |
| 2010-06-20 03:30 | Hail | 0.75" penny | 0 mi S of Chapman | No narrative filed · source: Trained Spotter |
| 2010-06-03 20:32 | Hail | 1.75" golf ball | 5.27 mi NNE of Central City | No narrative filed · source: Storm Chaser |
| 2010-06-03 20:47 | Hail | 0.88" nickel | 1.71 mi WSW of Clarks | No narrative filed · source: Public |
| 2010-06-01 15:20 | Hail | 1" quarter | .69 mi N of Silver Creek | No narrative filed · source: Public |
Worst storm days in Merrick County
| Date | Reports that day | Largest hail | Peak gust |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-06-04 | 5 | 1.75" (golf ball) | — |
| 2018-08-06 | 4 | 1.75" (golf ball) | 60 mph |
| 2014-07-07 | 3 | 1.75" (golf ball) | — |
| 2014-06-03 | 3 | 1.75" (golf ball) | — |
| 2011-06-20 | 3 | 1.75" (golf ball) | 60 mph |
| 2011-06-14 | 3 | 1.75" (golf ball) | — |
| 2016-07-05 | 3 | 1.25" (half dollar) | — |
| 2020-06-03 | 3 | 1" (quarter) | 70 mph |
| 2013-10-30 | 3 | 1" (quarter) | — |
| 2020-08-16 | 2 | 3" (teacup) | — |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-08-16 | 3" teacup | .87 mi SW of Chapman | No narrative filed |
| 2012-05-25 | 2.75" baseball | 0 mi N of Palmer | No narrative filed |
When does hail hit Merrick County?
Across 16 years of records, June produced the most reports (35), followed by the months either side of it. Monthly totals:
| Month | Reports | Share |
|---|---|---|
| January | 0 | 0.0% |
| February | 0 | 0.0% |
| March | 1 | 1.1% |
| April | 5 | 5.4% |
| May | 14 | 15.2% |
| June | 35 | 38.0% |
| July | 19 | 20.7% |
| August | 11 | 12.0% |
| September | 2 | 2.2% |
| October | 3 | 3.3% |
| November | 0 | 0.0% |
| December | 2 | 2.2% |
Nearby counties in Nebraska
Lincoln County (799)Cherry County (689)Custer County (525)Douglas County (443)Lancaster County (438)Scotts Bluff County (418)Sheridan County (398)Keith County (366)Cheyenne County (364)Holt County (324)Adams County (322)Buffalo County (318)
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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 31121). 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.