Nebraska, 2000

Hail and Damaging Winds in Nebraska, May 17 to 18, 2000

May 17 to 18, 2000 · NWS GID · 14 events in 10 counties and zones

A series of thunderstorms moved east across south-central Nebraska during the late afternoon and evening hours. Numerous reports of wind and hail were received.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 1 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. 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

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
$160,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
14

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.

A series of thunderstorms moved east across south-central Nebraska during the late afternoon and evening hours. Numerous reports of wind and hail were received. In fact, Arcadia reported 3/4 inch hail three different times in a span of one hour. Tree limbs felt the most impact of wind speeds in excess of 60 mph. However, a barn was destroyed on a farm just west of Odessa. the contents in the barn sustained some damage as well. Power poles were downed in the York area.Early the next morning, lightning from a lingering thunderstorm struck the Lutheran Church in Saronville. Windows were broken and the bell tower sustained heavy damage. The church had been vacant for 10 years.

The radar

The Grand Island radar (KUEX), 123 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:33 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

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

Thunderstorm Wind, Nance

When
May 17, 2:32 PM CST
Where
Nance County, Fullerton
Measured
54 kt (62 mph)
Property damage
$15,000
Reported by
NEWSPAPER
Coordinates
41.367, -97.983

Thunderstorm Wind, Phelps

When
May 17, 4:15 PM CST
Where
Phelps County, Holdrege Arpt
Measured
56 kt (64 mph)
Property damage
$15,000
Reported by
AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates
40.450, -99.333

Thunderstorm Wind, Buffalo

When
May 17, 4:15 PM CST
Where
Buffalo County, 2 mi W of Odessa
Measured
56 kt (64 mph)
Property damage
$50,000
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
40.700, -99.283

Hail, Gosper

When
May 17, 4:35 PM CST
Where
Gosper County, Elwood
Measured
1.75 in hail
Property damage
$30,000
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
40.600, -99.850

Hail, Sherman

When
May 17, 4:35 PM CST
Where
Sherman County, Loup City
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
41.283, -98.983

Hail, Valley

When
May 17, 5:51 PM CST
Where
Valley County, Arcadia
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
41.433, -99.133

Hail, Sherman

When
May 17, 5:51 PM CST
Where
Sherman County, 1 mi E of Sherman Res
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
41.317, -98.883

Hail, Valley

When
May 17, 6:45 PM CST
Where
Valley County, Arcadia
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
41.433, -99.133

Hail, Valley

When
May 17, 7:01 PM CST
Where
Valley County, Arcadia
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
41.433, -99.133

Thunderstorm Wind, Adams

When
May 17, 7:25 PM CST
Where
Adams County, Holstein
Measured
52 kt (60 mph)
Property damage
$5,000
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates
40.467, -98.650

Thunderstorm Wind, Adams

When
May 17, 7:30 PM CST
Where
Adams County, Roseland
Measured
52 kt (60 mph)
Property damage
$5,000
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates
40.467, -98.550

Thunderstorm Wind, Hall

When
May 17, 7:40 PM CST
Where
Hall County, Wood River
Measured
52 kt (60 mph)
Property damage
$5,000
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
40.817, -98.600

Thunderstorm Wind, York

When
May 17, 8:15 PM CST
Where
York County, York Arpt
Measured
56 kt (64 mph)
Property damage
$10,000
Reported by
AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates
40.883, -97.583

Lightning, Clay

When
May 18, 6:00 AM CST
Where
Clay County, Saronville
Property damage
$25,000
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
40.524, -98.051 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

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.
Hail
Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
Lightning
A lightning strike that killed, injured or caused damage.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Nebraska in 2000Every state in 2000This day in weather historyWarnings in Nebraska, May 2000

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: 5149469, 5149470, 5149471, 5149472, 5149473, 5149474, 5149475, 5149476, 5149477, 5149478, 5149756, 5149834, 5149835, 5149836.