Hail and Damaging Wind in Nebraska, June 15, 1997

Name: Hail and Damaging Wind in Nebraska, June 15, 1997
Start: 1997-06-15T18:45
End: 1997-06-15T21:15
Location: Nebraska

June 15, 1997 · NWS GID · 7 events in 4 counties and zones

Thunderstorms developed northwest of Grand Island and moved southward. These storms produced hail generally the size of golf balls but at times a little bigger than tennis balls.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

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The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $420,000
Crop damage: $3.0 million
Events: 7

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS GID wrote it up.

Thunderstorms developed northwest of Grand Island and moved southward. These storms produced hail generally the size of golf balls but at times a little bigger than tennis balls. The hail was propelled by winds around 60 mph. Crops were severely damaged in the area, especially in western Hall County along with tree damage across the area.

The radar

The Grand Island radar (KUEX), 123 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 00:43 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

6 hail, 1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Sherman

When: June 15, 6:45 PM CST
Where: Sherman County, 10 mi W of Loup City
Measured: 2.75 in hail
Property damage: $60,000
Crop damage: $150,000
Coordinates: 41.280, -99.180

Hail, Sherman

When: June 15, 7:15 PM CST
Where: Sherman County, Rockville
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Property damage: $20,000
Crop damage: $150,000
Coordinates: 41.120, -98.850

Hail, Howard

When: June 15, 7:28 PM CST
Where: Howard County, Boelus
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Property damage: $20,000
Crop damage: $100,000
Coordinates: 41.080, -98.720

Thunderstorm Wind, Hall

When: June 15, 7:40 PM CST
Where: Hall County, 7 mi W of Cairo
Measured: 60 kt (69 mph)
Property damage: $30,000
Crop damage: $150,000
Coordinates: 41.000, -98.730

Hail, Hall

When: June 15, 7:50 PM CST
Where: Hall County, 4 mi SW of Cairo
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Property damage: $100,000
Crop damage: $1.0 million
Coordinates: 40.970, -98.650

Hail, Hall

When: June 15, 8:05 PM CST
Where: Hall County, Alda
Measured: 1 in hail
Property damage: $150,000
Crop damage: $1.0 million
Coordinates: 40.870, -98.470

Hail, Furnas

When: June 15, 9:15 PM CST
Where: Furnas County, 6 mi S of Arapahoe
Measured: 1.25 in hail
Property damage: $40,000
Crop damage: $500,000
Coordinates: 40.220, -99.900

What these are

Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
Thunderstorm Wind: Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Nebraska in 1997 Every state in 1997 This day in weather history Warnings in Nebraska, June 1997

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5609438, 5609439, 5609440, 5609441, 5609442, 5609443, 5609444.