Hail and tornadoes in Polk County, NE

Since January 2021, radar estimated hail somewhere in Polk County, NE on 69 days. The biggest estimate: 2 in or larger (hen egg), on Sat, May 16, 2026. Hail was reported to the National Weather Service inside the county on 12 days.

Still loading: radar estimates go back to Wed, Oct 14, 2020, and the earlier years are being added.

Days with hail

since January 2021

1 inch or larger

days, estimated or reported

Largest radar estimate

2+ in

Sat, May 16, 2026

Largest reported

2 in

Sat, May 16, 2026

Radar estimates are NOAA's MESH: the largest hail the radar estimates aloft, on cells about 0.7 mile across, shown as the lower bound of a size band (“1.5+”). They often run larger than what reached the ground, and they aren't evidence of damage at any address.

Hail on record since 1955

NOAA's Storm Events database lists 89 hail reports in Polk County, NE on 59 days, 3 of them 2 inches or larger. The largest: 2.75 in, near Shelby, on Mon, Jun 20, 2011.

By decade: 2000s: 33 · 2010s: 40 · 2020s: 16

Tornadoes since 1950

11 tornadoes have touched Polk County, NE since 1950, 1 of them rated F3/EF3 or stronger.

Strongest

Mon, Jun 20, 2011 · EF3 · 9.49 mi long, 880 yd wide · near Durant
Wed, Dec 15, 2021 · EF1 · 3.31 mi long, 400 yd wide · near Hordville
Wed, Dec 15, 2021 · EF1 · 7.54 mi long, 350 yd wide · near Polk
Wed, May 11, 2011 · EF1 · 2.29 mi long, 75 yd wide · near Osceola
Tue, May 21, 2024 · EF0 · 4.12 mi long, 75 yd wide · near Shelby

Most recent

Wed, Aug 14, 2024 · EFU · 0.01 mi long, 15 yd wide · near Shelby
Tue, May 21, 2024 · EF0 · 4.12 mi long, 75 yd wide · near Shelby
Wed, Dec 15, 2021 · EF1 · 7.54 mi long, 350 yd wide · near Polk
Wed, Dec 15, 2021 · EF1 · 3.31 mi long, 400 yd wide · near Hordville
Sun, May 2, 2021 · EF0 · 1.33 mi long, 100 yd wide · near Stromsburg
Sun, Apr 27, 2014 · EF0 · 0.4 mi long, 45 yd wide · near Swedehome
Mon, Jun 20, 2011 · EF3 · 9.49 mi long, 880 yd wide · near Durant
Thu, May 12, 2011 · EF0 · 0.99 mi long, 30 yd wide · near Swedehome
Thu, May 12, 2011 · EF0 · 0.74 mi long, 30 yd wide · near Stromsburg
Wed, May 11, 2011 · EF1 · 2.29 mi long, 75 yd wide · near Osceola

By decade: 2000s: 1 · 2010s: 5 · 2020s: 5

Still loading: NOAA's record goes back to 1950, and 2003 onward is in so far.

Every hail day since January 2021

Sun, Sep 13, 2026
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1 in or larger (quarter)
No hail reported in the county.
Fri, Sep 11, 2026
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1 in or larger (quarter)
No hail reported in the county.
Wed, Aug 19, 2026
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1 in or larger (quarter)
No hail reported in the county.
Mon, Aug 17, 2026
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)
No hail reported in the county.
Sat, Aug 8, 2026
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1 in or larger (quarter)
No hail reported in the county.
Wed, Jul 8, 2026
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)
No hail reported in the county.
Wed, Jul 1, 2026
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1 in or larger (quarter)
No hail reported in the county.
Sat, Jun 13, 2026
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1 in or larger (quarter)
No hail reported in the county.
Tue, Jun 9, 2026
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)
No hail reported in the county.
Fri, Jun 5, 2026
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1.5 in or larger (ping-pong ball)
No hail reported in the county.
Fri, May 29, 2026
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)
No hail reported in the county.
Sun, May 17, 2026
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1 in or larger (quarter)
No hail reported in the county.
Sat, May 16, 2026
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 2 in or larger (hen egg)
Reported in the county
- 2 in (6 W Osceola, NE)
- 1 in (7 WNW Stromsburg, NE)
Mon, Sep 22, 2025
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1.5 in or larger (ping-pong ball)
No hail reported in the county.
Sun, Aug 17, 2025
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1.5 in or larger (ping-pong ball)
Reported in the county
- 1.75 in (Shelby, NE)
Wed, Aug 13, 2025
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)
No hail reported in the county.
Tue, Jul 29, 2025
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)
No hail reported in the county.
Mon, Jul 21, 2025
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 2 in or larger (hen egg)
No hail reported in the county.
Sat, Jul 19, 2025
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)
No hail reported in the county.
Wed, Jul 9, 2025
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1 in or larger (quarter)
No hail reported in the county.
Mon, Jul 7, 2025
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1 in or larger (quarter)
No hail reported in the county.
Mon, Jun 16, 2025
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1 in or larger (quarter)
No hail reported in the county.
Mon, May 19, 2025
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 2 in or larger (hen egg)
Reported in the county
- 1.75 in (5 W Osceola, NE)
- 1.75 in (7 WSW Bellwood, NE)
Thu, Apr 17, 2025
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)
No hail reported in the county.
Tue, Apr 1, 2025
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)
Reported in the county
- 1 in (Osceola, NE)
Tue, Aug 13, 2024
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)
No hail reported in the county.
Tue, Jun 25, 2024
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1 in or larger (quarter)
No hail reported in the county.
Tue, Jun 18, 2024
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1 in or larger (quarter)
No hail reported in the county.
Mon, Jun 17, 2024
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)
No hail reported in the county.
Fri, Jun 7, 2024
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1 in or larger (quarter)
No hail reported in the county.
Sat, May 25, 2024
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1 in or larger (quarter)
No hail reported in the county.
Mon, May 20, 2024
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1 in or larger (quarter)
No hail reported in the county.
Tue, Apr 16, 2024
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1 in or larger (quarter)
No hail reported in the county.
Wed, Oct 11, 2023
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1 in or larger (quarter)
No hail reported in the county.
Sat, Jul 29, 2023
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1 in or larger (quarter)
No hail reported in the county.
Sat, Jul 22, 2023
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)
No hail reported in the county.
Sat, Jul 15, 2023
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1 in or larger (quarter)
No hail reported in the county.
Mon, Jul 10, 2023
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1 in or larger (quarter)
No hail reported in the county.
Thu, Jul 6, 2023
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1 in or larger (quarter)
No hail reported in the county.
Tue, Jul 4, 2023
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 2 in or larger (hen egg)
Reported in the county
- 1 in (3 NE Shelby, NE)
- 1.25 in (5 N Gresham, NE)
Fri, Jun 16, 2023
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)
No hail reported in the county.
Fri, May 12, 2023
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)
Reported in the county
- 1 in (OSCEOLA, NE)
Tue, Apr 18, 2023
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1.5 in or larger (ping-pong ball)
No hail reported in the county.
Thu, Aug 18, 2022
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1.5 in or larger (ping-pong ball)
Reported in the county
- 1.5 in (6 W OSCEOLA, NE)
Thu, Jul 7, 2022
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)
No hail reported in the county.
Mon, Jul 4, 2022
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)
No hail reported in the county.
Sat, Jun 25, 2022
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 2 in or larger (hen egg)
No hail reported in the county.
Thu, Jun 16, 2022
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1.5 in or larger (ping-pong ball)
No hail reported in the county.
Tue, Jun 14, 2022
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 2 in or larger (hen egg)
No hail reported in the county.
Tue, Jun 7, 2022
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1 in or larger (quarter)
Reported in the county
- 2 in (5 S COLUMBUS, NE)
Mon, Jun 6, 2022
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1.5 in or larger (ping-pong ball)
No hail reported in the county.
Sat, Jun 4, 2022
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1 in or larger (quarter)
Reported in the county
- 1 in (2 E STROMSBURG, NE)
- 1 in (5 S COLUMBUS, NE)
Tue, May 17, 2022
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1 in or larger (quarter)
No hail reported in the county.
Fri, Apr 29, 2022
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)
Reported in the county
- 1 in (3 NE SHELBY, NE)
Thu, Apr 28, 2022
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1 in or larger (quarter)
No hail reported in the county.
Thu, Apr 21, 2022
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)
No hail reported in the county.
Wed, Dec 15, 2021
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)
No hail reported in the county.
Mon, Aug 30, 2021
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1 in or larger (quarter)
No hail reported in the county.
Tue, Aug 24, 2021
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1.5 in or larger (ping-pong ball)
No hail reported in the county.
Fri, Aug 20, 2021
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)
No hail reported in the county.
Sat, Aug 7, 2021
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 2 in or larger (hen egg)
Reported in the county
- 1 in (1 N OSCEOLA, NE)
Fri, Jul 9, 2021
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)
No hail reported in the county.
Fri, Jun 25, 2021
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1 in or larger (quarter)
No hail reported in the county.
Tue, Jun 22, 2021
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 2 in or larger (hen egg)
Reported in the county
- 2 in (OSCEOLA, NE)
Sun, Jun 13, 2021
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1 in or larger (quarter)
No hail reported in the county.
Fri, Jun 11, 2021
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)
No hail reported in the county.
Sat, May 8, 2021
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)
No hail reported in the county.
Sun, May 2, 2021
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 2 in or larger (hen egg)
No hail reported in the county.
Tue, Apr 27, 2021
Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)
No hail reported in the county.

Check your own address →Weather in Polk County, NE now →Get warned before the next storm →

Radar estimates and reports are for anywhere inside the county's boundary. Radar estimates come from NOAA's MRMS estimated hail size (MESH), the largest hail the radar estimates aloft on a ~1 km grid. They often run larger than the hail that reached the ground, and they aren't an observation at any address. Reports are what people reported to the National Weather Service. Neither is proof of damage or an official record for an insurance claim. From NOAA's Storm Events Database (NCEI), which records tornadoes from 1950, hail and thunderstorm wind from 1955, and every kind of storm from 1996. A tornado that crossed county lines is counted in each county it touched. Recent months are added as NCEI publishes them, a few months behind. Damage is in the dollars of its year and is often an estimate.