How big was the hail on May 17, 2026?

The maximum estimated stone size anywhere in Nebraska that day was 1.00 inches. Sizes vary street to street inside a single swath, so a city's figure is the largest radar estimated anywhere within about 5 miles of it.

Does this mean roofs were damaged?

Radar measures stone size, not damage. Whether a particular roof was damaged depends on stone size, wind direction, roof age and material — only an inspection settles it. These figures tell you where it is worth looking.

How do I see the actual swath on a map?

A HailMate plan puts the whole of Nebraska on a real interactive map with this swath and three years of others already on it. $79/mo, and the canvassing tools come with it.

Nebraska · May 17, 2026

Nebraska hail map — May 17, 2026

Name: Nebraska hail map — May 17, 2026
Creator: HailMate

NOAA radar detected hail of an inch or more over 2 Nebraska cities on May 17, 2026. The largest stones — 1.00″, quarter size — fell over Norfolk.

Hail swath map for Norfolk, NE on May 17, 2026 showing 1.00 inch hail. — Swath over Norfolk on May 17, 2026 — 1.00″ hail. Each city below has its own map for this storm.

Cities hit: 2; in Nebraska
Largest stone: 1.00″; quarter size
Impact rating: 3/10; from stone size

Sizes come from NOAA MRMS radar (MESH), which runs about ±0.25″ against ground truth. It is canvass-targeting quality, not claim evidence.

Roofing contractors

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HailMate's canvassing map: hail swaths colour-banded by stone size, from yellow through red to purple, laid over a satellite view of a Texas territory, with hail swath and territory controls.

All of Nebraska at street level, with this storm already on it
Three years of hail swaths, filterable by stone size
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Homeowners

Did hail hit your address?

This page covers Nebraska as a whole. Check your own address to see every storm on record for your roof — the date and the stone size for each one — and we'll email you the full report to keep.

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Free, and no account needed to look it up. If hail did hit, you can ask for a free inspection from a vetted local roofer.

Nebraska cities hit on May 17, 2026

Norfolk, NE1.00″ · quarter Columbus, NE1.00″ · quarter

What people on the ground measured in Nebraska on May 17, 2026

12 reports filed with the National Weather Service — 4 from trained spotters or officials. These are measured stones, not radar estimates, so they are the closest thing to proof that hail actually reached the ground.

3.50″ baseball size Emergency Mngr
1 W Palmer, NE5:25 PM CDTMerrick County
3.00″ baseball size Emergency Mngr
Ashton, NE4:43 PM CDTSherman County
3.00″ baseball size Public
1 NE Dannebrog, NE4:58 PM CDTHoward County
Corrects previous hail report from 1 NE Dannebrog.
3.00″ baseball size Public
1 NE Dannebrog, NE5:27 PM CDTHoward County
2.75″ baseball size Public
5 N Cairo, NE4:45 PM CDTHoward County
Delayed report of baseball size hail near Centura Public School. Photo received via Facebook.
2.75″ baseball size 911 Call Center
Elba, NE4:54 PM CDTHoward County
2.75″ baseball size Amateur Radio
Dannebrog, NE4:58 PM CDTHoward County
Corrects previous hail report from Dannebrog.
2.75″ baseball size 911 Call Center
Dannebrog, NE5:04 PM CDTHoward County
2.75″ baseball size Amateur Radio
Dannebrog, NE5:11 PM CDTHoward County
2.50″ hen egg size Public
Ashton, NE4:30 PM CDTSherman County
2.50″ hen egg size Emergency Mngr
Ashton, NE4:51 PM CDTSherman County
Danny near Ashton.
2.50″ hen egg size NWS Employee
5 ESE Saint Paul, NE5:15 PM CDTHoward County

Showing the 12 largest of 54 hail reports filed that day.

Reports come from the National Weather Service Local Storm Report feed, ingested every 15 minutes. A report records where the observer was, not the full extent of the swath — treat it as evidence about the storm, not about any one roof.

Other states hit on May 17, 2026

South Dakota1 city · 1.50″Iowa1 city · 1.50″Michigan2 cities · 1.50″Florida1 city · 1.00″

The full US hail map for May 17, 2026 →

Other Nebraska hail days

August 19, 20261 city · 1.00″August 13, 20261 city · 1.00″August 8, 20261 city · 1.50″July 30, 20262 cities · 1.00″July 9, 20261 city · 1.00″July 8, 20262 cities · 1.50″July 2, 20261 city · 1.50″June 29, 20261 city · 2.00″June 24, 20261 city · 1.50″June 20, 20261 city · 2.00″June 13, 20263 cities · 1.00″June 11, 20264 cities · 1.50″

Every hail day across Nebraska →

FAQ

Nebraska hail on May 17, 2026

NOAA radar put hail of an inch or more over 2 Nebraska cities that day. The largest stones — 1.00 inches, quarter size — were over Norfolk. Every city hit is listed above with its own stone size.

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