Nebraska Storms — 3-Inch Hail at Scotia & a 116 mph Gust at Norfolk, June 30, 2026

In central Nebraska, a supercell rolled across Greeley and Valley Counties on the afternoon and evening of June 30, 2026 and dropped enormous hail on the Scotia area. The National Weather Service logged a 3-inch (tea cup) hailstone about a mile northwest of Scotia — confirmed by a photo — and baseball-size hail (2.75") right in town off a second photo report, with quarter-size hail scattered around Scotia and up to Greeley. Three-inch hail is bigger than a baseball, well into the range that totals roofs rather than just damaging them: stones that size crack and puncture shingles, cave in skylights, dent gutters and AC units, and shatter vinyl siding in a single pass.

About a hundred miles to the northeast, a separate and even more violent complex tore across Madison and Pierce Counties. A personal weather station near Hadar — four miles from Norfolk — measured a 116 mph wind gust that destroyed a well-anchored carport, with an 85 mph gust clocked nearby. Norfolk itself took an 81 mph gust and wind-driven hail up to walnut size (1.50") that damaged siding, Hoskins was pelted with 2-inch hen-egg hail, and Newman Grove measured a 92 mph gust. A 116 mph wind is stronger than a Category 3 hurricane at landfall — the kind of gust that peels roofs, snaps power poles, and levels outbuildings.

Two damaging storms in one day capped a brutal stretch for the state. Both corridors had already been hit repeatedly this season — North Loup took an 82 mph gust ten days earlier on June 20, and the Norfolk area has seen round after round of wind and hail since mid-May. After a day like June 30, every roof under these two swaths is worth a close, professional look. Much of hail and wind damage never shows from the driveway, and Nebraska's insurance claim window doesn't stay open forever.