Hail, Adams
- When
- May 5, 4:25 PM CST
- Where
- Adams County, Holstein
- Measured
- 1 in hail
- Reported by
- TRAINED SPOTTER
- Coordinates
- 40.467, -98.650
Tornado and Hail in Nebraska, May 5 to 6, 2002
Severe thunderstorms were widespread across south-central Nebraska and produced large hail and at least one tornado. Hail up to three inches in diameter was the main culprit causing millions in dollars in damage.
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
The toll
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- $3.8 million
- Crop damage
- $500,000
- Events
- 24
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.
Severe thunderstorms were widespread across south-central Nebraska and produced large hail and at least one tornado. Hail up to three inches in diameter was the main culprit causing millions in dollars in damage. The most significant damage stretched from Doniphan to east of Grand Island. Dozens of roofs and windows were heavily damaged just west of Doniphan as the tennis ball size hail lasted 10 minutes. Damage to vehicles along Interstate 80 and into southeast Grand Island was also widespread.To the south, a supercell moved north from Smith County Kansas and spawned a brief tornado 5 miles southwest of Guide Rock. The tornado traveled over open country and no damage was reported.
What forecasters said that day
The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Hastings, NE wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at May 5, 2:12 PM CST, 2 hours 13 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, May 5, 2:12 PM CST, 2 hours 13 minutes before
SOUTH CENTRAL NEBRASKA/NORTH CENTRAL KANSAS FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HASTINGS NE 312 PM CDT SUN MAY 5 2002 ...MAIN CONCERN IS TORNADO WATCH IN KANSAS CWA UNTIL 9 PM TONIGHT... LATEST SURFACE ANALYSIS SHOWING LOW PRESSURE CENTER NEAR NE SD. SOUTHERLY WINDS HAVE CONTINUES TO PUMP UP SURFACE MOISTURE INTO THE REGION WITH DEW POINTS ACROSS KS PUSHING INTO THE 60S. AN SPC CONFERENCE CALL HAS ELUDED TO A CONCERN FOR TORNADIC SUPERCELLS DEVELOPING IN THE EARLY EVENING AS CONVECTION BECOMES BETTER ORGANIZED. VIS SATL PIX ALREADY SHOW STUFF STARTING TO BLOSSOM IN SW KS. PROGGED ETA BRN SHEAR...AS WELL AS VGP AND EHI THIS EVENING DO LOOK IMPRESSIVE FOR SUSTAINING A SHEARING ENVIRONMENT ALLOWING STORMS TO DEVELOP A FEW MESOS. WITH MOISTURE CONTINUING TO STREAM IN...THE AIR MASS SHOULD BECOME LESS STABLE WITH TIME AS SUGGESTED BY PROGGED LI/CAPE/TT. ALSO...LCL HGTS GRADUALLY DECREASE AFTER OOZ THIS EVENING OVER MOST OF KS. OTHERWISE...EXPECT CONVECTION TO BE PREVALENT IN KS CWA AND EAST OF THE TRI CITIES. HAIL WILL BE A BIG CONCERN FOR ANY STORMS THAT DO DEVELOP WITHIN THE NEBR CWA AS HEFTY 700-500MB LRS LAY OVER STRONG THETA-E CONVERGENCE. THUNDER CHANCES RETURN MONDAY AND TUESDAY NIGHT AS STRONG LOW LEVEL FRONTOGENETIC BOUNDARY ENVELOPES THE AREA...SUGGESTING AN MCS TYPE EVENT. BUT LACKING LOW LEVEL JET AND EASTWARD SKEWED BOUNDARY LAYER MOISTURE ALLOW ONLY SMALL POPS FOR THOSE PERIODS. WILL CONTINUE SMALL POPS INTO WEDNESDAY MORNING FOR LINGERING SHOWERS. NO BIG CHANGES TO THE EXTENDED. .GID...NONE. DEE
In the hours before
Special weather statement, May 5, 10:36 AM CST, 5 hours 49 minutes before
KSZ005>007-017>019-NEZ039>041-046>049-060>064-072>077-082>087-061200- HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HASTINGS NE 1136 AM CDT SUN MAY 5 2002 ...SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS LIKELY THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH TONIGHT...ESPECIALLY DURING THE EVENING HOURS... THERE IS A RISK FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS OVER ALL OF SOUTH CENTRAL NEBRASKA AND NORTH CENTRAL KANSAS LATE THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH TONIGHT. INITIAL DEVELOPMENT IS POSSIBLE LATE THIS AFTERNOON AS TEMPERATURES REACH OR SURPASS THE 80 DEGREE MARK. LARGE HAIL APPEARS TO BE THE MAIN THREAT DUE TO VERY COLD TEMPERATURES IN THE UPPER ATMOSPHERE. THE BEST CHANCE FOR SEVERE WEATHER WILL FOCUS ALONG A DRY LINE EARLY THIS EVENING. IN ADDITION TO LARGE HAIL...ISOLATED TORNADOES WILL BE POSSIBLE. BY MIDNIGHT...THE GREATEST SEVERE WEATHER THREAT WILL SHIFT NORTHEAST OF A LINE FROM KEARNEY TO SUPERIOR. INCREASING WIND FIELDS ARE EXPECTED TO ESCALATE THE THREAT FOR DAMAGING STRAIGHT LINE WIND GUSTS. DROZD
Special weather statement, May 5, 2:02 PM CST, 2 hours 23 minutes before
KSZ005>007-017>019-NEZ039>041-046>049-060>064-072>077-082>087-061200- HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HASTINGS NE 302 PM CDT SUN MAY 5 2002 ...SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS LIKELY THIS EVENING AND TONIGHT... THERE IS A RISK FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS OVER ALL OF SOUTH CENTRAL NEBRASKA AND NORTH CENTRAL KANSAS THROUGH TONIGHT. A TORNADO WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR NORTH CENTRAL KANSAS UNTIL 9 PM. THUNDERSTORMS OVER WEST CENTRAL KANSAS WILL DEVELOP NORTHEASTWARD. SOME MAY BECOME SEVERE WITH LARGE HAIL AND POSSIBLY TORNADOES. THESE STORMS MAY CROSS THE NEBRASKA BORDER AS THE EVENING PROGRESSES. OTHER STORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP ALONG A BOUNDARY IN NORTH CENTRAL NEBRASKA AND SWEEP INTO AREAS NORTH OF INTERSTATE 80 TOWARD DUSK. BY MIDNIGHT...THE GREATEST SEVERE WEATHER THREAT WILL BE CONFINED TO AREAS NORTHEAST OF A LINE FROM KEARNEY TO SUPERIOR. INCREASING WIND FIELDS ARE EXPECTED TO ESCALATE THE THREAT FOR DAMAGING STRAIGHT LINE WIND GUSTS. DROZD
Local storm report, May 5, 3:52 PM CST, 33 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HASTINGS NE
452 PM CDT SUN MAY 05 2002
TIME(CDT) .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE ...EVENT/REMARKS...
....COUNTY LOCATION....
0450 PM 7 S ZURICH KS TORNADO
05/05/02 ROOKS REPORTED BY STORM
SPOTTER.Local storm report, May 5, 4:10 PM CST, 15 minutes before
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HASTINGS NE
510 PM CDT SUN MAY 05 2002
TIME(CDT) .....CITY LOCATION..... STATE ...EVENT/REMARKS...
....COUNTY LOCATION....
0510 PM 2 W REAMSVILLE KS TORNADO
05/05/02 SMITH REPORTED BY LAW
ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL.The radar
The Grand Island radar (KUEX), 24 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:23 UTC.
Event by event
21 hail, 1 funnel cloud, 1 tornado, 1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Hail, Adams
- When
- May 5, 4:31 PM CST
- Where
- Adams County, 4 mi N of Hastings
- Measured
- 1.5 in hail
- Property damage
- $50,000
- Reported by
- OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
- Coordinates
- 40.633, -98.383
Hail, Webster
- When
- May 5, 4:40 PM CST
- Where
- Webster County, Red Cloud
- Measured
- 1.5 in hail
- Property damage
- $50,000
- Reported by
- AMATEUR RADIO
- Coordinates
- 40.100, -98.533
Hail, Hall
- When
- May 5, 4:47 PM CST to 4:57 PM CST
- Where
- Hall County, Doniphan
- Measured
- 2.75 in hail
- Property damage
- $1.0 million
- Reported by
- TRAINED SPOTTER
- Coordinates
- 40.767, -98.367
Hail, Hall
- When
- May 5, 4:52 PM CST
- Where
- Hall County, 4 mi S of Wood River
- Measured
- 1 in hail
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 40.767, -98.600
Hail, Hall
- When
- May 5, 4:55 PM CST
- Where
- Hall County, Grand Is
- Measured
- 3 in hail
- Property damage
- $2.0 million
- Crop damage
- $100,000
- Reported by
- GENERAL PUBLIC
- Coordinates
- 40.917, -98.350
Funnel Cloud, Webster
- When
- May 5, 4:58 PM CST
- Where
- Webster County, Red Cloud
- Reported by
- AMATEUR RADIO
- Coordinates
- 40.176, -98.500 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Hail, Hamilton
- When
- May 5, 5:00 PM CST
- Where
- Hamilton County, Phillips
- Measured
- 1.75 in hail
- Property damage
- $50,000
- Crop damage
- $100,000
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 40.900, -98.217
Tornado, Webster
- When
- May 5, 5:10 PM CST
- Where
- Webster County, 5 mi SW of Guide Rock
- Rating
- F0
- Path length
- 0.1 mi
- Path width
- 25 yd
- Reported by
- STORM CHASER
- Coordinates
- 40.033, -98.400
Brief touchdown of a tornado reported by a storm chaser.
Hail, Merrick
- When
- May 5, 5:10 PM CST
- Where
- Merrick County, 5 mi SW of Central City
- Measured
- 2.5 in hail
- Property damage
- $250,000
- Crop damage
- $100,000
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 41.067, -98.067
Hail, Kearney
- When
- May 5, 5:30 PM CST
- Where
- Kearney County, Axtell
- Measured
- 0.75 in hail
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 40.483, -99.117
Hail, Nance
- When
- May 5, 5:58 PM CST
- Where
- Nance County, 3 mi S of Genoa
- Measured
- 1 in hail
- Reported by
- TRAINED SPOTTER
- Coordinates
- 41.400, -97.733
Hail, Merrick
- When
- May 5, 6:23 PM CST
- Where
- Merrick County, Central City
- Measured
- 1.75 in hail
- Property damage
- $150,000
- Crop damage
- $50,000
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 41.117, -98.000
Hail, Furnas
- When
- May 5, 6:25 PM CST
- Where
- Furnas County, Oxford
- Measured
- 1 in hail
- Reported by
- GENERAL PUBLIC
- Coordinates
- 40.250, -99.633
Hail, Merrick
- When
- May 5, 6:45 PM CST
- Where
- Merrick County, 4 mi SW of Silver Creek
- Measured
- 1.75 in hail
- Property damage
- $50,000
- Crop damage
- $100,000
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 41.283, -97.717
Hail, Polk
- When
- May 5, 6:55 PM CST
- Where
- Polk County, Osceola
- Measured
- 0.75 in hail
- Reported by
- GENERAL PUBLIC
- Coordinates
- 41.183, -97.550
Hail, Phelps
- When
- May 5, 6:55 PM CST
- Where
- Phelps County, Holdrege
- Measured
- 0.75 in hail
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 40.450, -99.367
Hail, Franklin
- When
- May 5, 7:30 PM CST
- Where
- Franklin County, Upland
- Measured
- 0.75 in hail
- Reported by
- LAW ENFORCEMENT
- Coordinates
- 40.317, -98.900
Hail, Greeley
- When
- May 5, 8:25 PM CST
- Where
- Greeley County, Greeley
- Measured
- 0.75 in hail
- Reported by
- GENERAL PUBLIC
- Coordinates
- 41.550, -98.533
Hail, Webster
- When
- May 5, 8:30 PM CST
- Where
- Webster County, Guide Rock
- Measured
- 0.75 in hail
- Reported by
- GENERAL PUBLIC
- Coordinates
- 40.083, -98.333
Hail, Thayer
- When
- May 5, 9:35 PM CST
- Where
- Thayer County, Hubbell
- Measured
- 1.75 in hail
- Property damage
- $150,000
- Crop damage
- $50,000
- Reported by
- TRAINED SPOTTER
- Coordinates
- 40.017, -97.500
Hail, Thayer
- When
- May 5, 9:40 PM CST
- Where
- Thayer County, Bruning
- Measured
- 0.75 in hail
- Reported by
- GENERAL PUBLIC
- Coordinates
- 40.467, -97.533
Hail, Thayer
- When
- May 5, 9:45 PM CST
- Where
- Thayer County, Hebron
- Measured
- 0.75 in hail
- Reported by
- GENERAL PUBLIC
- Coordinates
- 40.167, -97.583
Thunderstorm Wind, York
- When
- May 6, 12:30 AM CST
- Where
- York County, 9 mi NE of Mc Cool Jct
- Measured
- 62 kt (71 mph)
- Property damage
- $25,000
- Reported by
- NEWSPAPER
- Coordinates
- 40.850, -97.467
What these are
- Hail
- Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
- Funnel Cloud
- A rotating column of cloud extending from a thunderstorm that did not reach the ground.
- Tornado
- A violently rotating column of air in contact with the ground and extending from a thunderstorm, filed with its path, width and Fujita or Enhanced Fujita rating from the damage survey.
- 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
- Tornadoes and Hail in Texas, May 5, 2002
- Tornadoes and Hail in Kansas, May 5, 2002
- Tornadoes and Hail in Texas, May 5, 2002
- Tornadoes and Hail in Kansas, May 5, 2002
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Minnesota, May 5, 2002
- Tornadoes and Hail in Kansas, May 5, 2002
- Tornado and Hail in Nebraska, May 5 to 7, 2002
- Tornadoes and Hail in Oklahoma, May 5 to 6, 2002
- Damaging Winds in Iowa, May 5, 2002
- Tornado and Hail in Kansas, May 5, 2002
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Iowa, May 5, 2002
- High Wind in Iowa, May 5, 2002
More
Every storm in Nebraska in 2002Every state in 2002This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Nebraska, 2002Warnings in Nebraska, May 2002
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: 5303142, 5303143, 5303144, 5303146, 5303147, 5303148, 5303145, 5303149, 5303150, 5303151, 5303152, 5303153, 5303154, 5303155, 5303156, 5303157, 5303158, 5303159, 5303160, 5303161, 5303162, 5303163, 5303164, 5301803.